Hot Port news from GAC
14-Apr-2021
IMPLEMENTATION OF TRANSIT RESERVATION SYSTEM TARIFFS POSTPONED
Panama Canal, Panama
GULF OF GUINEA STILL PIRACY HOTSPOT: IMB LATEST FIGURES
Worldwide
VESSEL MOVEMENTS SUSPENDED
Shuaiba, Kuwait
UPDATED CREW CHANGE PROCESS
Ras Laffan, Qatar
Implementation of Transit Reservation System tariffs postponed
Wednesday, April 14, 2021, Panama Canal, Panama
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) hereby announces that the implementation date of the new booking tariffs, originally published in Advisory to Shipping A-09-2021, is being postponed until June 1, 2021. This change in the implementation date will provide the maritime industry more time to prepare for the adjustment to the new booking fees.
As stated in Advisory to Shipping A-09-2021, the new booking fees are based on the actual booked dates, not the transit dates. Likewise, booking cancellations submitted prior to June 1, 2021, will be based on the current booking tariffs, regardless of the booking date.
The modifications to the base amounts of all auctioned slots, including the new special auction, will become effective on April 15, 2021.
(For information about operations in Panama, contact GAC Panama at operations.panama@gac.com)
Source: Panama Canal Authority Advisory to Shipping No.A-22-2021 dated 13 April 2021
Gulf of Guinea still piracy hotspot: IMB latest figures
Wednesday, April 14, 2021, Worldwide
The Gulf of Guinea accounted for nearly half (43%) of all reported piracy incidents in the first three months of 2021, according to the latest figures from the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
IMB’s latest global piracy report records 38 incidents since the start of 2021 – compared with 47 incidents during the same period last year. In the first three months of 2021, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) reported 33 vessels boarded, two attempted attacks, two vessels fired upon, and one vessel hijacked.
Despite a drop in the number of reported piracy incidents for Q1 2021, violence against crew is on the rise in comparison to previous years. Since the start of 2021, 40 crew have been kidnapped compared to 22 crew in Q1 2020. A crew member was also killed in Q1 2021.
The Gulf of Guinea continues to be particularly dangerous for seafarers with 43% of all reported piracy incidents occurring in the region. In addition, the region accounted for all 40 kidnapped crew incidents, as well as the sole crew fatality, according to IMB…
…The furthest recorded kidnapping occurred on 11 March 2021 when pirates kidnapped 15 crew from a Maltese flagged Chemical Tanker, 212nm south of Cotonou, Benin. In another incident, a fishing vessel hijacked on 8 February 2021 was used by pirates as a mother vessel to facilitate other attacks.
The IMB PRC commends the Coastal response agencies and independent international navies tasked in the Region for actively responding to reported incidents and encourages their continued efforts in making the GoG waters safer for the seafarers.
During the first three months of 2021, there was only one incident of reported piracy around Somalia. A bulk carrier reported a skiff with armed persons and a ladder approaching it while underway in the Gulf of Aden. The onboard armed security team fired warning shots resulting in the skiff moving away.
Despite the decline of piracy incidents around Somalia and neighbouring waters, the IMB PRC encourages vessels to implement BMP5 recommended practices while transiting these waters as Somali pirates continue to possess the capacity to carry out attacks…
…The Singapore Straits recorded six piracy incidents in Q1 2021 compared to five during the same period last year. Although these incidents are opportunistic in nature, the IMB PRC warns that the perpetrators were armed with knives in some cases and that seafarers should remain vigilant when travelling through the region.
The information sharing cooperation between the Indonesian Marine Police and the IMB PRC continues to produce positive results. During the first three months of 2021, only two anchored vessels were reported, in comparison to five in the same period last year.
There has been an uptick of reported piracy incidents in Callao Anchorage, Peru with five incidents occurring in the first three months of 2021 compared to just three in Q1 2020. Meanwhile, container vessels are the target of attacks while underway or at anchor in Colombian waters. Perpetrators have been known to open containers and steal cargoes even while vessels are under pilotage, according to the IMB PRC. Masters are encouraged to report all incidents in these waters.
(For information about operations around the world contact the respective GAC office. Details may be found at www.gac.com)
Source: Extracts from International Maritime Bureau (www.icc-ccs.org) update dated 13 April 2021
Vessel movements suspended
Wednesday, April 14, 2021, Shuaiba, Kuwait
All vessel movements at the port of Shuaiba were suspended due to bad weather conditions including high winds and sea swell, at 23:00 hours local time last night (13 April).
For updates, as well as information about operations in Kuwait, contact GAC Kuwait at kuwait@gac.com
Updated crew change process
Wednesday, April 14, 2021, Ras Laffan, Qatar
GAC Qatar has been granted approval to proceed using existing/issued multi-entry visas for crew sign- on & -off at Ras Laffan port, for the crew holding a valid seaman book instead of Multiple entry visa cancellation. Future crew movements of crew sign on /off should be used seaman visa instead of multi-entry visa.
The process using multi-entry visa will be same as seaman visa process below.
SIGNING -ON PROCESS REQUIREMENTS
Clear copies of valid seaman book & passport copies (with at least 6 months’ validity) to process seaman visa, which takes 2-3 working days to release.
Quarantine hotel to be booked through Discover Qatar after visa receipt. Air ticket to be booked based on quarantine hotel availability.
Air ticket for OKTB with airline.
Upon arrival at the airport, Mobile Sim card (Local) to be arranged to install Ehteraz App on smart phones from App Store / play store and to be activated by adding seaman visa details which shows the health status after swab test and are mandatory for travel purpose. Health status to be green color code. Original passport required to purchase Sim card.
Transport from airport to Hotel TO be arranged by Discover Qatar.
Proceed for Hotel quarantine for 7 days and a swab test will be arranged on 6th day of quarantine.
GAC to be notified on crew arrival for seaman visa extension after crew arrival and visa used inside country.
GAC will be able to extend the seaman visa for 30 days (cost QR 100.00 or penalty of QR 200 applied each additional of overstay after 48 hours).
Test results will be released within 24-48 hours and Ehteraz status will change to green based on negative results.
Seaman transit pass and transportation to Ras Laffan will be arranged for sign on.
Screening at clinic RLIC will be arranged prior proceeding to immigration for clearance.
Crew joining to vessel after completion of security & immigration clearance.
SIGNING-OFF PROCESS REQUIREMENTS
Clear copies of seaman book, passport copies (with at least 6 months’ validity) to process seaman visa, which takes 2-3 working days to release.
Mobile Sim card (Local) to be arranged to install Ehteraz App on smart phones from App Store / play store and to be activated by adding seaman visa details which shows the health status after swab test and are mandatory for travel purpose. Health status to be green color code. Original passport required to purchase Sim card.
Shore leave pass, gate pass and temporary accommodation to arrange for the crew at Shaqab camp till the swab test results arrives. There is no requirement of 7 days’ quarantine for off-signers holding seaman visa.
Mandatory swab test to be arranged at Ras Laffan port clinic or Medina clinic with advance notice (minimum 3 working days). Results take a minimum of 24 -48 hours.
Departure flight ticket to be issued for next day pm hours of swab test results (2nd day of swab test) as the test results are valid for 72 hours only.
Seaman transit pass to be prepared (requires passport, seaman book, visa, blue background JPEG photo & flight ticket)
Upon issuance of swab test results with green status & valid seaman transit pass is sufficient to arrange transportation 6 hours prior flight departure from RLC to airport for smooth repatriation.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Ras Laffan, contacvt GAC Qatar at operations.raslaffan@gac.com
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