Hot Port News from GAC
30-Dec-2020
TRANSIT VISA FEE
Turkey
PREVENTION OF POLLUTION OF THE SEA (NOXIOUS LIQUID SUBSTANCES IN BULK)
Singapore
NOTIFICATION OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION
Australia
UPDATES ON TRAVEL BAN
Philippines
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
Taiwan
14-DAY QUARANTINE FOR VESSELS FROM ABROAD
Bahia Blanca Port, Argentina
CHEMICAL CARRIERS & OTHER LIQUID BULK CARRIERS
Suez Canal, Egypt
Transit visa fee
Wednesday, December 30, 2020, Turkey
The transit visa fee will be revised to 758.90 Turkish Liras (approx. USD105 based on current exchange rate) with effect from 01 January 2021.
For information about operations in Turkey contact GAC Turkey at turkey@gac.com
Prevention of pollution of the sea (Noxious liquid substances in bulk)
Wednesday, December 30, 2020, Singapore
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) had adopted amendments to Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 at its seventy fourth session through Resolution MEPC.315(74).
The amendments to the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations give effect to the resolution.
MEPC.315(74) adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex II to include a new definition for “persistent floaters” and additional requirements to control the discharges of residues of persistent floating products into North West European waters, Baltic Sea, West European waters and Norwegian Sea.
For further details or information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Shipping Circular No. 19 of 2020 dated 29 December 2020
Notification of industrial action
Wednesday, December 30, 2020, Australia
Svitzer Australia has received further notification from the Maritime Union of Australia of protected industrial action by members.
The protected industrial action is planned to take place from 12:01 am on Monday 4 January 2021 through to 11:59 pm on Sunday 31 January 2021 and involves MUA members of Svitzer’s workforce engaging in bans on:
The performance of overtime;
Use of Svitzer Australia’s planned maintenance system Sertica; and
The use of Svitzer Australia’s online training courses.
This is an extension of previously notified protected industrial action being undertaken in Svitzer Australia ports and are covered by Svitzer Australia’s National Towage Enterprise* agreement.
Svitzer expect to be able to mitigate the risk of disruption by adjusting schedules and absorbing the additional costs. They will continue to review schedules and crewing requirements to minimise any potential disruption.
*Svitzer Australia National Towage Enterprise Agreement covered ports include: Adelaide – SA, Albany – WA, Bowen – QLD, Brisbane – QLD, Cairns (including services for Mourilyan) – QLD, Eden – NSW, Fremantle – WA, Geelong – VIC, Geraldton – WA, Kwinana – WA, Melbourne – VIC, Newcastle – NSW, Port Kembla – NSW, Port Pirie – SA, Spencer Gulf (inc Whyalla), Sydney (Port Jackson and Port Botany) – NSW and Westernport – VIC
For further details or information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Updates on travel ban
Wednesday, December 30, 2020, Philippines
Reference is made to the travel ban on all travellers from countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19 B117 strain. According to an advisory from the Bureau of Immigration, additional measures have now been implemented.
The temporary suspension of flights from, and the prohibition of entry on all travellers coming from or transiting through the United Kingdom, imposed pursuant to IATF Resolution No. 90 issued on 23 December 2020, has now been extended to 15 January 2021, with the exception of Filipino citizens.
All foreign travellers coming from, or transiting through the countries/jurisdictions listed below, or who have been to the same within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, will also be prohibited from entering the country effective from 0001H on 30 December 2020 until 15 January 2021:
Denmark
Ireland
Japan
Australia
Israel
The Netherlands
Hong Kong, SAR
Switzerland
France
Germany
Iceland
Italy
Lebanon
Singapore
Sweden
South Korea
South Africa
Canada
Spain
Effective immediately, passengers who are already in transit and arrive before 0001H, 30 December 2020 from these countries/jurisdictions including those who have been to the same countries/jurisdictions within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines will not be prohibited from entering the country, but will be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period notwithstanding a negative Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) result. The same applies to Filipino citizens.
All foreigners coming from or transiting through the above-mentioned countries, regardless of their visa category and previously issued endorsement/exemption will not be allowed to enter the country during the duration of the travel ban.
Existing guidelines for arriving crew member(s) will still be observed.
For further details or information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at philippines@gac.com
Travel restrictions
Wednesday, December 30, 2020, Taiwan
The following regulations concerning entry into Taiwan will take effect from 01 January 2021:
Foreign personnel are forbidden to transfer/transit through Taiwan (departure flight 0:00 hours on 01 Jan)
All foreign personnel are forbidden entry into Taiwan, with the following exceptions:
Holders of Alien Resident Certificate or a resident visa
Foreign diplomats
For humanitarian reasons or emergency situations
To fulfill contractual obligations
If they are the spouse or child of an R.O.C. national
Holder of other special permits
For further details, or information about operations in Taiwan, contact GAC Taiwan at shipping.taiwan@gac.com
14-day quarantine for vessels from abroad
Wednesday, December 30, 2020, Bahia Blanca Port, Argentina
At Bahia Blanca Port, the Stevedores Union is requesting a 14-day quarantine for all vessels coming from abroad. Vessels carrying gas and other products that are essential to the domestic economy are exempted from the quarantine. Port Administration Authorities may grant quarantine exemption on a case-by-case basis for vessels coming from Uruguayan and Brazilian ports.
For further details or information about operations in Argentina, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com
Chemical Carriers & Other Liquid Bulk Carriers
Wednesday, December 30, 2020, Suez Canal, Egypt
Circular No. (9/2020)
Chemical Carriers & Other Liquid Bulk Carriers
Concerning tankers (laden\ ballast) that their transit dues are levied on the basis of “Chemical Tankers” rates and operating between ports at the “Americas” and “India & its Eastern ports”.
As a notice for tankers (laden\ballast) that their transit dues are levied on the basis of “Chemical Tankers” rates to transit the Suez Canal, the Suez Canal Authority has advised of the following.
Article No. (1)
1) Tankers (laden\ ballast) that their transit dues are levied on the basis of “Chemical Tankers” rates and operating between the “American Gulf” (starting from Miami port and its western ports within the “American Gulf” also ports located southern of the “American Gulf”) and the below areas at India and its eastern ports in both directions; shall be granted the following rebate percentages:
Ports West of India till port of Kochi a rebate of 30% of Suez Canal normal tolls.
Eastern ports to the port of Kochi up to Singapore a rebate of 55% of Suez Canal normal tolls.
Singapore ports and its eastern ports a rebate of 75% of Suez Canal normal tolls.
2) Tankers (laden\ ballast) that their transit dues are levied on the basis of “Chemical Tankers” rates and operating between the American East Coast (all ports northern of Miami port at the East Coast of North America) and “Singapore ports and its eastern ports” in both directions shall be granted a rebate of 45% of Suez Canal normal tolls.
Article No. (2)
Conditions of applying the Circular
1) Any operating company wishing to benefit from this circular must submit a request through its shipping agency before sailing from port of origin. The request must state:
vessel’s particulars
origin port and sailing date
destination port
ETA to Suez Canal
vessel’s condition (laden\ballast)
type and quantity of cargo
2) The vessel must not call any intermediate ports during its voyage between origin port and destination port for commercial purposes. In case the vessel called any intermediate ports for non-commercial purposes a certificate issued by the port authority or other competent authorities will be required stating the reason of calling.
3) Full normal Suez Canal transit tolls to be paid upon transit and the rebate amount will be refunded after submitting all the required documents within one calendar year starting the following day of transit (where all the required documents related to the rebate case must be submitted as one package).
Required documents to refund the rebate amount
1) “Origin port” certificate from the last port that the vessel sailed from stating the departure date, quantity of cargo in metric tons and type of cargo on departure to be duly signed and stamped by the port authority or other competent authorities.
2) “Destination port” certificate from the first port of arrival stating the arrival date, quantity of cargo in metric tons and type of cargo on arrival duly signed and stamped by the port authority or other competent authorities.
3) “Principals Claim” requesting to refund the rebate amount stating the circular number, vessel’s particulars, port of origin and sailing date, destination port and arrival date, Suez Canal transit date, claimed rebate percentage and a clear disclaimer that the vessel had not called any intermediate ports for commercial purposes.
4) Failing to submit all the required documents in due time or calling any intermediate ports for commercial purposes or breaching any of the pre-set circular conditions will lead to the cancellation of the rebate previously granted to the vessel as per this circular.
Article No. (3)
This circular is applicable to vessels sailing from port of origin from 1st of January 2021 till 30th of June 2021.
For information about operations in Egypt, contact GAC Egypt at egypt@gac.com
