Hot Port News from GAC
RECLAMATION SOUTHWEST OF SHEK KWU CHAU FOR INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES
Hong Kong
UNLOADING OF CAISSON UNITS FROM SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE BARGE SOUTHEAST OF SHEK KWU CHAU
Hong Kong
IMPROVEMENT TO BAYSHORE PARK OUTLET DRAIN
Singapore
COUNTRIES LISTED AS HIGH-RISK
South Korea
COVID-19 TEST REQUIREMENT FOR ARRIVING AIR PASSENGERS
United States
PORTS CLOSE AS TROPICAL CYCLONE KIMI APPROACHES
North East Australia, Australia
CYCLONE RESPONSE PROCEDURE ACTIVATED
Dampier, Australia
HUB CLOSED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
Buckeye Bahamas Hub, Bahamas
Reclamation southwest of Shek Kwu Chau for integrated waste management facilities
Monday, January 18, 2021, Hong Kong
For approximately 12 months, reclamation works involving sand filling, hydrographic survey, and construction of seawall and breakwater will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (I) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22° 11.334’N 113° 59.462’E
(B) 22° 11.149’N 113° 59.466’E
(C) 22° 11.144’N 113° 59.289’E
(D) 22° 11.237’N 113° 58.828’E
(E) 22° 11.373’N 113° 58.744’E
(F) 22° 11.491’N 113° 58.709’E
(G) 22° 11.596’N 113° 58.764’E
(H) 22° 11.656’N 113° 58.821’E
(I) 22° 11.656’N 113° 58.942’E
Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights, radar reflectors and AIS will be laid at co-ordinates from (B) to (H) to mark the boundary of the works area.
The works will be carried out by a flotilla of vessels including flat top barges, derrick lighters, and special purpose vessels at various stages. Some tugboats, guard boats and self-propelled delivery barges 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 working vessel will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the working vessels.
Silt curtains, 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 markers fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the extent of the silt curtains.
The hours of work will be round-the-clock.
Diving operations will be carried out from time to time during 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 and keep clear of the works area at slow speed, bearing in mind there are divers working in the works area.
(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. 4/2021
Unloading of caisson units from semi-submersible barge southeast of Shek Kwu Chau
Monday, January 18, 2021, Hong Kong
For approximately 12 months, unloading of caisson units from a semi-submersible barge for construction of seawall and breakwater will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (F):
(A) 22° 11.367’N 113° 59.655’E
(B) 22° 11.367’N 113° 59.794’E
(C) 22° 11.156’N 113° 59.794’E
(D) 22° 11.091’N 113° 59.546’E
(E) 22° 11.108’N 113° 59.467’E
(F) 22° 11.272’N 113° 59.464’E
The unloading operation will be carried out by one semi-submersible barge. One crane barge, one dumb lighter, two tugboats and two guard 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 250 metres around the semi-submersible barge will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the semi-submersible barge.
A working area of approximately 100 metres around the crane barge and dumb 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 crane barge and dumb lighter.
The caisson units unloaded from the semi-submersible barge at the works area will be towed to the southwest of the Shek Kwu Chau for seawall and breakwater construction.
The hours of work will be from 0700 to 1900 hours including Sundays and public holidays. Vessels employed for the operations 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. 3/2021
Improvement to Bayshore Park outlet drain
Monday, January 18, 2021, Singapore
From 15 February to 14 August, works to improve the Bayshore Park outlet drain will be carried out.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.001 of 2021 dated 11 January 2021, the work will be conducted between 0800–1900 hours, Monday to Saturday, within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01⁰ 18.428’N / 103⁰ 56.315’E
2) 01⁰ 18.404’N / 103⁰ 56.324’E
3) 01⁰ 18.397’N / 103⁰ 56.304’E
4) 01⁰ 18.421’N / 103⁰ 56.296’E
The improvement works will be carried out from shore.
When in the vicinity of the working area, mariners are reminded to:
a) Keep well clear of the working area;
b) Maintain a proper lookout;
c) Proceed at a safe speed and to navigate with caution;
d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 12 (East Control);
and
e) Communicate with East Control on VHF Channel 12 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Countries listed as high-risk
Monday, January 18, 2021, South Korea
The South Korean government put the following 8 countries under COVID-19 High risk countries:
- Nepal
- Bangladesh
- Kyrgyzstan
- Philippines
- United Kingdom
- South Africa
- Uzbekistan
- Russia
All personnel onboard who joined vessel on/after August 2020 from high risk countries should submit a negative COVID-19 certificate to the quarantine authorities through their agency before arrival at a Korean port.
A negative COVID-19 certificate is deemed to be valid ONLY when it has been issued at one of the facilities that Korean government designated in the joining country (not their home country) and only when it has been issued within 72 hours of vessel’s departure time. If the certificate does not meet those conditions, it will not be accepted.
For UK and South Africa, there is no designated facility yet. The certificate can be issued at any hospital.
If a vessel has called at two different non-high risk countries after sailing from a high risk country and her sailing time exceeds 28 days before arriving at a Korean port, joiners are not required to have the certificate.
For all countries other than those deemed high risk, all personnel onboard who joined the vessel on/after 15 January 2021 must obtain PCR test and submit a negative COVID-19 certificate to the Korean quarantine authorities before arrival. The certificate is valid when it has been issued within 72 hours of vessel’s departure time. There is no designated facility for non-high risk countries yet, so the certificate can be issued at any facilities.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in South Korea, contact gac-unipros.korea@gac.com
COVID-19 test requirement for arriving air passengers
Monday, January 18, 2021, United States
Air passengers are required to get a viral test within the 3 days before their flight to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19.
Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
Ports close as Tropical Cyclone Kimi approaches
Monday, January 18, 2021, North East Australia, Australia
The ports of Cape Flattery, Cairns and Mourilyan have closed due to Tropical Cyclone Kimi, which is moving slowly towards the North Queensland coast.
The Category 1 system is estimated to be 110 km northeast of Cairns and 330 kilometres north of Townsville and moving south at 7 km per hour. It moved slowly southwards through most of Sunday, but is expected to turn a little more to the south-southwest during today (18 January).
The system is most likely to approach, and may cross, the coast late today or early Tuesday between about Innisfail and Lucinda, however there remains considerable uncertainty with the crossing time and location.
The system may intensify further during today and is likely to be at least at least a category 2 system as it approaches the coast.
For information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Cyclone response procedure activated
Monday, January 18, 2021, Dampier, Australia
The Port of Dampier is at Cyclone Alert Stage 1 – Monitor in response to Tropical Low 08U which at 0800 hours local time today (18 January) was located north of the Top End in position 10.9S 132.5E.
For information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Hub closed due to inclement weather
Monday, January 18, 2021, Buckeye Bahamas Hub, Bahamas
Due to inclement weather conditions, Buckeye Bahamas Hub went to Port Condition Closed at 00.42 hours local time today (18 January).
Further updates will be provided as conditions change.
(For information about operations in the Bahamas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Elnet Maritime – GAC agency
