Hot Port News from GAC
25-Mar-2021
CONSTRUCTION OF TEMPORARY RORO RAMP AT TUAS SOUTH
Singapore
LOCK CLOSURES
Hull, United Kingdom
UNDERWATER NOISE RECORDING OFF ST JOHN’S ISLAND
Singapore
MOORING AND UNMOORING OF VESSELS OFF PULAU TEKONG
Singapore
RECLAMATION WORK AT PULAU TEKONG
Singapore
NEW SEA PILOTS TARIFF
Port Philip, Australia
DREDGERS JOIN EFFORTS TO REFLOAT GROUNDED VESSEL
Suez Canal, Egypt
ADDITIONAL COVID MEASURES AT PANAMA CANAL
Panama Canal, Panama
FIRST CAPESIZE VESSEL AT MANGALORE PORT
Mangalore, India
SUBMARINE CABLE LAYING OPERATIONS
Hong Kong
MARINE WORKS AT LAMMA POWER STATION
Hong Kong
OPERATIONS SUSPENDED AT IEC TERMINAL (ASHDOD)
IEC Terminal, Israel
BERTHING OPERATIONS SUSPENDED AT CEYHAN MARINE TERMINAL
Ceyhan Marine Terminal, Turkey
Construction of temporary Roro ramp at Tuas South
Thursday, March 25, 2021, Singapore
The working period for the construction of a Roro ramp at Tuas South has been extended and the working area revised.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.004 of 2021, the works will be carried out 24hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – from 1 February to 15 April 2021 within the working area bounded by the following coordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01° 17·235’N / 103° 38·991’E
2) 01° 17·187’N / 103° 39·017’E
3) 01° 17·163’N / 103° 38·969’E
4) 01° 17·210’N / 103° 38·943’E
The boundary of the temporary Roro ramp will be marked by land surveyor. Land excavators will be used in the construction of the Roro ramp by placing the rocks from the bottom of the slope. Upon completion, a post survey will be conducted for the work area.
Craft involved in the works will exhibit the appropriate local and international day signals.
When in the vicinity of the working area, mariners are reminded to:
a) Keep well clear and not to enter the working area;
b) Maintain a proper lookout;
c) Proceed at a safe speed and navigate with caution;
d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 22 (Jurong Control);
and
e) Communicate with Jurong Control for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Lock closures
Thursday, March 25, 2021, Hull, United Kingdom
According to Associated British Ports, the following locks will be closed for carrying out essential works:
King George lock will be closed to all shipping on:
12 April, 0830 – 1500hrs
13 April, 0900 – 1530hrs
14 April, 0930 – 1600hrs
15 April, 1000 – 1615hrs
16 April, 1030 – 1645hrs
Alexandra lock will be closed to all shipping on:
10 May, 0730 – 1345hrs
11 May, 0800 – 1430hrs
Albert lock will be closed to all shipping on:
12 May, 0830 – 1515hrs
13 May, 0900 – 1545hrs
14 May, 0930 – 1615hrs
17 May, 1100 – 1745hrs
For information about operations in the United Kingdom, contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com
Underwater noise recording off St John’s island
Thursday, March 25, 2021, Singapore
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.022 of 2021, underwater noise recording off St John’s island will be carried out with effect from 29 March to 9 April 2021 within the working area bounded by the following coordinates:
(WGS 84 Datum)
1) 01 ̊ 12.950′ N 103 ̊ 51.150′ E
2) 01 ̊ 12.920′ N 103 ̊ 51.200′ E
3) 01 ̊ 13.030′ N 103 ̊ 51.320′ E
4) 01 ̊ 13.050′ N 103 ̊ 51.189′ E
5) 01 ̊ 13.060′ N 103 ̊ 51.150’ E
The working hours are from 0900 to 1700 hours from Monday to Friday.
Craft involved in the works will exhibit the appropriate local and international day signals.
Five (5) units of noise measurement equipment will be deployed onto the seabed via workboat. The equipment will be marked by buoys. All equipment will be retrieved daily after the test. A safety boat will be deployed during the testing to alert other vessels from entering the designated testing area.
When in the vicinity of the working area, mariners are reminded to:
a) Keep well clear and not to enter the working area;
b) Maintain a proper lookout;
c) Proceed at a safe speed and navigate with caution;
d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 68 (West Control); and
e) Communicate with West Control on VHF Channel 68 for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Mooring and unmooring of vessels off Pulau Tekong
Thursday, March 25, 2021, Singapore
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.021 of 2021, the working period for Pulau Tekong Reclamation Project has been extended. The work will be carried from 29 Mar to 28 Sep 2021. The locations of the mooring buoys at Pulau Tekong Reclamation Project Area are as follows (WGS 84 Datum):
TK-MB-7) 01° 20.711’N / 104° 04.205’E (Fl.Y.8s)
TK-MB-8) 01° 20.834’N / 104° 04.060’E (Fl.Y.8s)
TK-MB-11) 01° 23.264’N / 104° 01.205’E (Fl.Y.3s)
TK-MB-12) 01° 23.125’N / 104° 01.348’E (Fl.Y.3s)
The mooring buoys will be removed upon completion of the reclamation.
Working Hours: From 0700H to 1900H Daily, including Sundays and Public Holidays.
During this period, bulk carriers, self-propelled barges and tug boats with barges in composite unit carrying bulk sand will be transiting to Pulau Tekong reclamation project area. All vessels shall navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the mooring buoys off Pulau Tekong.
For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Reclamation work at Pulau Tekong
Thursday, March 25, 2021, Singapore
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.020 of 2021 dated 24 Mar 2021, the working period for reclamation work at Pulau Tekong has been extended. The work will now be carried out from 29 Mar to 28 Sep 2021.
The work will be conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – within the working area bounded by the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01˚ 25.910’N / 104˚ 03.472’E
2) 01˚ 26.260’N / 104˚ 03.480’E (Yellow/ Pillar/ Fl Y 2s/ Tekong-20)
3) 01˚ 26.544’N / 104˚ 02.353’E (Black/ Yellow/ Pillar/ Q Fl/ Tekong-19)
4) 01˚ 26.271’N / 104˚ 01.343’E (Yellow/ Pillar/ Fl Y 4s/ Tekong-18)
5) 01˚ 25.488’N / 104˚ 00.444’E (Green/ Conical/ Fl (3) G 15s/ Tekong)
6) 01˚ 25.167’N / 104˚ 00.434’E (Yellow/ Black/ Yellow/ Pillar/ Q(9)15s/West Tekong)
7) 01˚ 23.350’N / 104˚ 01.057’E (Green/ Conical/ Fl G 2s/ Tekong-3)
8) 01˚ 20.090’N / 104˚ 04.899’E
9) 01˚ 20.090’N / 104˚ 05.009’E (Yellow/ Black/ Pillar/ Q(6) + LFl 5s/South Nelayan)
10) 01˚ 20.313’N / 104˚ 05.215’E
11) 01˚ 20.375’N / 104˚ 05.212’E
12) 01˚ 20.752’N / 104˚ 04.944’E
13) 01˚ 21.406’N / 104˚ 04.608’E
14) 01˚ 21.750’N / 104˚ 04.690’E (Red/ Can/ Fl R 4s/ Red Calder)
15) 01˚ 23.489’N / 104˚ 05.338’E
16) 01˚ 23.661’N / 104˚ 05.391’E (Red/ Can/ Fl R 10s/ Tekong-22)
17) 01˚ 23.985’N / 104˚ 05.423’E
18) 01˚ 24.237’N / 104˚ 05.408’E
19) 01˚ 24.376’N / 104˚ 05.375’E (Red/ Can/ Fl R 2s/ Tekong-23)
20) 01˚ 24.481’N / 104˚ 05.260’E
21) 01˚ 24.535’N / 104˚ 05.110’E
22) 01˚ 24.310’N / 104˚ 01.759’E
23) 01˚ 24.227’N / 104˚ 01.665’E
24) 01˚ 24.294’N / 104˚ 01.571’E
25) 01˚ 24.574’N / 104˚ 01.623’E
26) 01˚ 24.589’N / 104˚ 01.772’E
Reclamation work will involve filling, dredging and construction of revetment, soil investigation and soil improvement works.
Soil improvement works will entail stabilized dredging, sand piling and deep cement mixing. The dredgers will be used for the bund construction within the working area.
Safety boats will be in attendance at all times to warn and direct craft in the vicinity to keep clear of working area.
Craft involved in the works will exhibit the appropriate local and international day and night signals.
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 21 (Sembawang Control);
and
e) Communicate with Sembawang Control for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
New Sea Pilots tariff
Thursday, March 25, 2021, Port Philip, Australia
Port Philip sea pilots have announced a new tariff to come into effect from 1 July. While the rate has increased, the tariff has been simplified.
Under the new charges there will be a large increase for vessels which go direct from sea to berth, as follows:
- 25000 GRT: increase 27%
- 35000 GRT: increase 25%
- 45000 GRT: increase 24%
- 55000 GRT: increase 23%
However, for vessels which berth via the anchorage there is a large reduction
- 25000 GRT: decrease 39%
- 35000 GRT: decrease 39%
- 45000 GRT: decrease 39%
- 55000 GRT: decrease 38%
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Dredgers join efforts to refloat grounded vessel
Thursday, March 25, 2021, Suez Canal, Egypt
Efforts are continuing today (25 March) to refloat the container vessel that ran aground on Tuesday, bringing Suez Canal transits to a halt. Two dredgers have now been sent to assist the operation, which is still ongoing.
The Suez Canal Authority is arranging for three ships located behind the grounded vessel to exit the Canal and to wait at Suez outer anchorage, awaiting further developments.
About 29 ships are reported to be waiting at Suez anchorage, and about 36 at Port Said outer anchorage.
For further updates, as well as information about operations in the Suez Canal, contact GAC Egypt at suezcanal@gac.com
Additional Covid measures at Panama Canal
Thursday, March 25, 2021, Panama Canal, Panama
The Panama Canal has issued updates to various policies including those covering:
Transit of vessels with positive or suspected COVID-19 cases
Booking rules for Panamax Plus vessels
Biosecurity measures and protections
Modifications to rates and tariffs
Adjustments for Neopanamamax locks
The Panama Canal is closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 outbreak and has adopted a series of measures to protect its personnel and prevent further spread of the virus, and continue providing a safe and uninterrupted service to its customers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Since January, ships arriving at the waterway have been required to report their last 10 ports of call and if they have visited countries with confirmed cases prior to their arrival. This builds off, and has been followed by, a series of additional actions taken at the waterway.
Vessel Transit Measures
The Panama Canal’s inspection and control personnel already work tirelessly to ensure compliance with regulations on health and prevention of contagious diseases within its waters. These inspections for contagious risk issues have been carried out for years and are required for all vessels that arrive in the Panama Canal waters.
Existing controls are:
The vessel is required to report its conditions on board and does so through the Panama Maritime Single Window System (VUMPA, its acronym in Spanish). In the case of non-compliance and/or providing false information, it is subject to penalties and/or restrictions.
A Panama Canal admeasurer embarks and confirms the questions included in the Maritime Health Declaration through a form previously completed in the VUMPA.
The admeasurer also questions the vessel’s captain or official in charge once again in order to confirm that there are no confirmed or suspected cases on board.
If there are any confirmed or suspected cases on board and depending on the symptoms presented it is concluded that the virus is present, the maritime health arm of Panama’s Ministry of Health (MINSA, its acronym in Spanish) is called onboard. During this time, boarding and disembarking is prohibited for people and the yellow flag is flown, denoting that the ship is under quarantine.
Next steps are determined following MINSA’s inspection.
In response to COVID-19, the following additional measures have also been taken at the Panama Canal:
Vessels are required to report if and when crew changes occurred within 14 days of arrival at ports with COVID-19 cases to MINSA.
Panama Canal admeasurers must contact vessels via radio before boarding to confirm all crewmembers onboard are healthy and to verify any recent crew changes.
Panama Canal personnel boarding the vessel are always equipped with alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel. The use of masks is optional.
The Panama Canal has rigorous processes to ensure that all personnel boarding vessels are healthy and have not been in contact with any positive or suspicions cases.
Constant communication is maintained between the Panama Canal and MINSA’s maritime health doctors.
MINSA has sent a communication to all shipping companies, requiring that they report any person who has any illness-related symptoms, regardless of whether or not they are related to COVID-19.
For information about operations in Panama, contact GAC Panama at operations.panama@gac.com
Source: Various Panama Canal Authority Advisories to Shipping
First Capesize vessel at Mangalore port
Thursday, March 25, 2021, Mangalore, India
Mangalore Port berthed their first Capesize vessel at Berth No. 16 yesterday (24 March 2021.
The vessel, MV Cape Keystone, arrived at New Mangalore at 2200 hours on 23 March and came alongside at Berth No. 16 at 0718 hours on 24 March to discharge 52014 MT coking coal.
Mangalore Coal Terminal advises that henceforth Capesize vessels can be accepted at Berth no.16 subject to arriving cargo being stowed in hold Nos. 1 to 7 due to the shore mechanical unloaders outreach being limited to these holds.
The Port authorities have informed Capesize vessels will be accepted provided the arrival draft is below 13.50 m and inward/outward movements are done only during daylight hours. Currently, the maximum LOA acceptable at this berth is upto 293 m.
(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Submarine cable laying operations
Thursday, March 25, 2021, Hong Kong
With immediate effect and for a period of approximately seven months, submarine cable laying operations from Chung Hom Kok to waters east of Hong Kong will be carried out along the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (V):
(A) 22° 12.908’ N 114° 12.373’ E
(B) 22° 12.966’ N 114° 12.491’ E
(C) 22° 12.924’ N 114° 12.624’ E
(D) 22° 12.772’ N 114° 12.683’ E
(E) 22° 12.122’ N 114° 12.555’ E
(F) 22° 11.999’ N 114° 12.335’ E
(G) 22° 11.543’ N 114° 12.503’ E
(H) 22° 11.249’ N 114° 12.767’ E
(I) 22° 11.298’ N 114° 13.098’ E
(J) 22° 11.301’ N 114° 13.434’ E
(K) 22° 11.580’ N 114° 14.412’ E
(L) 22° 11.807’ N 114° 15.648’ E
(M) 22° 11.916’ N 114° 15.951’ E
(N) 22° 12.117’ N 114° 17.800’ E
(O) 22° 12.048’ N 114° 22.762’ E
(P) 22° 12.120’ N 114° 23.147’ E
(Q) 22° 13.335’ N 114° 24.411’ E
(R) 22° 13.630’ N 114° 25.370’ E
(S) 22° 14.425’ N 114° 25.811’ E
(T) 22° 14.769’ N 114° 28.629’ E
(U) 22° 14.710’ N 114° 29.064’ E
(V) 22° 14.907’ N 114° 30.147’ E
The works will be carried out by a flotilla of vessels including one dumb lighter, one flat-top work barge, one special purpose vessel and three tugboats.
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 the lighter and 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 lighter and barge.
The hours of work will be from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the area outside the hours of work.
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 area at slow speed, bearing in mind there are divers working in the 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.66/2021
Marine Works at Lamma Power Station
Thursday, March 25, 2021, Hong Kong
With immediate effect and for a period of approximately two months, marine works involving installation of a baffle plate will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D) and the adjacent shoreline:
(A) 22° 12.806’N 114° 06.190’E
(B) 22° 12.806’N 114° 06.132’E
(C) 22° 12.939’N 114° 06.132’E
(D) 22° 12.939’N 114° 06.190’E
The works will be carried out by one dumb lighter. One tugboat and one work boat will provide assistance.
A working area of approximately 50 metres around the lighter will be established. Yellow flashing buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the lighter.
The hours of work will be from 0800 to 1800 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works area outside the hours of work.
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 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.67/2021
Operations suspended at IEC terminal (ASHDOD)
Thursday, March 25, 2021, IEC Terminal, Israel
Operations have been suspended at IEC Terminal due to bad weather.
They are expected to resume on Monday 29 March if there are no further delays.
For further information, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com
Berthing operations suspended at Ceyhan Marine Terminal
Thursday, March 25, 2021, Ceyhan Marine Terminal, Turkey
Berthing operations have been suspended at Ceyhan Marine Terminal (CMT) due to rough seas, and are expected to resume tomorrow afternoon (26 March).
For more information about operations in Turkey, contact GAC Turkey at turkey@gac.com
