Hot Port News from GAC
15-Jan-2021
CONSTRUCTION OF CROSS BAY LINK MARINE WORKS AT JUNK BAY
Hong Kong
SUBMARINE OUTFALL CONSTRUCTION WORKS IN STARLING INLET
Hong Kong
VAT ON PORT CHARGES
Cameroon
LAUNCH TARIFF UPDATE
Kome Kribi, Ebome, Hilli & Kribi, Cameroon
REQUIREMENTS FOR SHORE-BASED PERSONNEL BOARDING VESSELS
Singapore
ANCHORAGE CLOSED TO SHIPPING
Port Kembla, Australia
FLIGHTS FROM UAE & HUNGARY TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
Philippines
BAN ON TRAVELERS ARRIVING FROM SOUTH AMERICA, PANAMA, PORTUGAL & CAPE VERDE
United Kingdom
DOORS OPENED TO VACCINATED TRAVELLERS
Seychelles
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS EXTENDED
Philippines
NEW BERTHING POLICY & TARIFF STRUCTURE
Dahej, India
Construction of Cross Bay Link marine works at Junk Bay
Friday, January 15, 2021, Hong Kong
For approximately 3 months, marine works involving construction of piers and viaducts will be carried out within the following Works Areas:
WORKS AREA 1
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D):
(A) 22° 17.732’ N 114° 15.462’ E
(B) 22° 17.696’ N 114° 15.543’ E
(C) 22° 17.623’ N 114° 15.509’ E
(D) 22° 17.657’ N 114° 15.425’ E
WORKS AREA 2
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (E) to (H):
(E) 22° 17.684’ N 114° 15.570’ E
(F) 22° 17.607’ N 114° 15.757’ E
(G) 22° 17.536’ N 114° 15.724’ E
(H) 22° 17.613’ N 114° 15.535’ E
WORKS AREA 3
This area is bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (I) to (O) and the adjacent shoreline:
(I) 22° 17.513’ N 114° 16.017’ E
(J) 22° 17.488’ N 114° 16.017’ E
(K) 22° 17.487’ N 114° 15.847’ E
(L) 22° 17.526’ N 114° 15.750’ E
(M) 22° 17.598’ N 114° 15.784’ E
(N) 22° 17.571’ N 114° 15.863’ E
(O) 22° 17.561’ N 114° 16.003’ E
The works will be carried out by a flotilla of vessels including dumb lighters and special purpose vessel. Tugboats and work boats will provide assistance. The number of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.
A working area of approximately 50 metres around each lighter will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the lighters.
Two one-way channels with a width of about 50 meters will be provided between the three Works Areas. The channel will be marked by lateral light buoys. The particulars of the buoys are as follows:
I) Red lateral light buoys at co-ordinates (E), (F), (G) and (H):
Shape : Pillar
Colour : Red
Top Mark : Can
Light Characteristics : Q.R
Radar Reflector : Fitted
II) Green lateral light buoys at co-ordinates (B), (C), (L) and (M):
Shape : Pillar
Colour : Green
Top Mark : Cone
Light Characteristics : Q.G
Radar Reflector : Fitted
Silt curtains extending from the sea surface to the seabed will be established within the works areas. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediments. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the extent of the silt curtains.
The hours of work will be from 0700 to 2200 hours daily. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works areas outside the hours of work.
Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.
(For information about operations in Hong Kong, contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com)
Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No. 8/2021
Submarine outfall construction works in Starling Inlet
Friday, January 15, 2021, Hong Kong
For approximately 5 months, submarine outfall construction works will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D):
(A) 22° 32.759’N 114° 14.262’E
(B) 22° 32.661’N 114° 14.312’E
(C) 22° 32.615’N 114° 14.206’E
(D) 22° 32.713’N 114° 14.157’E
The works will be carried out by one dumb lighter and one flat top barge. Two tugboats will provide assistance.
A working area of approximately 100 metres around the barge and the lighter will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the barge and the lighter.
A silt curtain, extending from the sea surface to the seabed, will be established within the works area. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediments. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the extent of the silt curtain.
The hours of work will be from 0700 to 2300 hours daily. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works area outside the hours of work.
Vessels engaged in the operations will display signals as prescribed in international and local regulations.
Vessels navigating in the vicinity should proceed with caution.
(For information about operations in Hong Kong, contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com)
Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No. 7/2021
VAT on port charges
Friday, January 15, 2021, Cameroon
19.25% VAT is applicable on port charges at all ports in Cameroon (Douala, Massongo, Kome Kribi, Ebome, Limbe) from 1 January 2021.
For Kome Kribi only, below two charges also included under 19.25% VAT:
- Pilot transport back & forth (VAT included): 3 428 437 XAF / 5226,61 Euros
- Health officer transportation back & forth (VAT included): 1 192 500 XAF / 1817, 95 Euros
(For information about operations in Cameroon, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: AFRITRAMP – GAC network agent
Launch tariff update
Friday, January 15, 2021, Kome Kribi, Ebome, Hilli & Kribi, Cameroon
New tariffs for the launch used to transport pilots and health authority representatives are in force since 1 January 2021 at Kome Kribi, Ebome, Hilli and Kribi anchorage.
(For information about operations in Cameroon, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: AFRITRAMP – GAC network agent
Requirements for shore-based personnel boarding vessels
Friday, January 15, 2021, Singapore
From 15 January 2021, any shore-based personnel who is going on board a vessel must produce proof that they have a valid negative result from a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken as part of the rostered routine testing (RRT) programme within the last 7 days before boarding the vessel.
Shore-based personnel who are not on a RRT programme will be required to show a valid negative test result from a COVID-19 PCR test or Antigen Rapid Test (ART) within 72 hours prior to boarding the vessel. The COVID-19 PCR test or ART may be done at any of the MOH-approved COVID-19 test providers (https://www.moh.gov.sg/licensing-and-regulation/regulations-guidelines-andcirculars/details/list-of-covid-19-swab-providers). After disembarking, these shorebased personnel must take a PCR test between the 5th and 7th day, and a final PCR test on the 11th day. The costs of these tests for shore-based personnel who are not on a RRT programme would be at the shore-based personnel’s own or their employers’ expense.
As advised in the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Circular No.04 of 2021 dated 14 January 2021, proof of the tests may be on paper or by electronic means (e.g. HealthHub SG app, SGWorkPass app etc.) which must show the date/time of the test and the test result.
All owners, occupiers and managers of any waterfront facility must ensure that any shore-based personnel going on board a vessel in the port, produce proof of the requisite test before allowing the shore-based personnel to go on board. No shore-based personnel who has any specified symptom (coughing, sneezing, breathlessness, a runny nose, loss of sense of smell or anosmia) or is otherwise physically unwell may go on board the vessel.
The owner, agent and master of the vessel which the shore-based personnel is boarding, must check and not allow the shore-based personnel to board if they do not have the requisite test result or if they have any specified symptom or are otherwise physically unwell.
All shore-based personnel must check-in and check-out with SafeEntry@Sea at the departure points or the waterfront facilities, as appropriate. These departure points are the gazette public landing steps (i.e. Marina South Pier and West Coast Pier), cargo, oil or cruise terminals, wharves, marinas and shipyards. Owners, occupiers and managers of departure points or waterfront must ensure that all shore-based personnel comply with the SafeEntry@Sea requirements.
The owner, agent or master of a vessel in port must maintain full and complete records, for the purposes of contact tracing, of all shore-based personnel embarking and disembarking the vessel. The records must contain: (a) date and time of embarkation and disembarkation, (b) person’s name in full, passport/NRIC/FIN number, (c) person’s mobile number(s), and (d) enterprise’s or company’s name in full.
Shore-based personnel who have carried out a job on board an ocean-going vessel in the port of Singapore must not, in the next 7 days, go on board a harbour craft or pleasure craft, to carry out a job.
Enterprises which deploy their shore-based personnel to go on board vessels in the port to carry out a job must ensure that the personnel wears an appropriate level of personal protection equipment, and that the personnel does not (a) remain on board for longer than necessary and does not, in any case, stay on board overnight, (b) consume any food or drink from the ship’s stores and (c) convene or take part in any gathering while on board.
When the shore-based personnel are on board, physical interaction between the shore-based personnel and members of the crew must be minimised.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Anchorage closed to shipping
Friday, January 15, 2021, Port Kembla, Australia
Port Kembla Port Authority has advised the closure of the anchorage to shipping at 1700 hours local time today (15 January) due to adverse weather (gale wind warning).
All ships at anchorage to return to sea, more than 12NM from the coast.
The port harbour remains open to shipping movements.
For information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Flights from UAE & Hungary temporarily suspended
Friday, January 15, 2021, Philippines
The Philippines’ Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has announced the temporary suspension of flights from United Arab Emirates and Hungary, where the new variant of SARS-COV-2 has been reported.
Foreign travelers coming from or transiting through the United Arab Emirates and Hungary shall be prohibited from entering the country from 0001 hours on 16 January until 31 January.
Passengers already in transit from countries with the reported new variant and all those who have been to the same within 14 days immediately before arriving in the Philippines 16 January 16, 2021, shall not be subject to the above restriction, but shall nevertheless be required to undergo stricter quarantine and testing protocols, including an absolute facility-based fourteen-day quarantine period notwithstanding a negative Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) result.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at philippines@gac.com
Ban on travelers arriving from South America, Panama, Portugal & Cape Verde
Friday, January 15, 2021, United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has issued a ban on travelers arriving from South America, Portugal and Cape Verde from today (Friday, 15 January).
British and Irish citizens and foreign nationals with residence rights will still be able to travel but must isolate for 10 days.
The new travel ban applies to people who have travelled from or through Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela in the last 10 days. It also applies to Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Panama and Cape Verde.
Portugal had been included due to its strong travel links with Brazil, but there would be an exemption for hauliers travelling from the country to allow the transportation of essential goods.
Qatar and the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba have been removed from the UK’s travel corridor lists, meaning anyone arriving from these countries after 04:00 GMT tomorrow must quarantine for 10 days.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the United Kingdom, contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com
Doors opened to vaccinated travellers
Friday, January 15, 2021, Seychelles
As of 14 January, Seychelles has opened its doors to visitors/crew from anywhere in the world as long as they have taken both doses of the COVID-19 vaccination.
In addition to the vaccine, travellers must also produce a negative PCR test taken within the prior 72 hours. Arriving crew and passengers must provide proof of the vaccination through an authenticate certificate.
If all those requirements are met, visitors/crew will not need to go into quarantine upon arrival.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Seychelles, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: Mahe Shipping Company Limited – GAC network agent
Travel restrictions extended
Friday, January 15, 2021, Philippines
The Philippines has extended entry travel restrictions for travelers coming from/transiting through the following countries/jurisdictions are extended until 31 January:
United Kingdom,
Denmark,
Ireland,
Japan,
Australia,
Israel,
The Netherlands,
People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,
Switzerland,
France,
Germany,
Iceland,
Italy,
Lebanon,
Singapore,
Sweden,
South Korea,
South Africa,
Canada,
Spain,
United States of America,
Portugal,
India,
Finland,
Norway,
Jordan,
Brazil,
Austria,
Pakistan,
Jamaica,
Luxembourg,
Oman.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at philippines@gac.com
New Berthing Policy & Tariff Structure
Friday, January 15, 2021, Dahej, India
A revised Berthing Policy & Tariff Structure comes into effect today (15 January) for vessels calling at Adani Petronet (Dahej) Port Pvt. Ltd. (APDPPL), Dahej.
For details of the new tariff structure, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
