| TROPICAL LOW 22U – UPDATE 3 Dampier/Port Walcott/Port Hedland, Australia |
| THREE-RUNWAY SYSTEM INSTALLATION OF SUBMARINE CABLE WORKS Hong Kong |
| NEW PORTS TARIFF South Africa |
| WATER SHORTAGES Cape Town/Saldanha Bay/Mossel Bay, South Africa |
| Tropical low 22U – Update 3 |
| Wednesday, March 22, 2017, Dampier/Port Walcott/Port Hedland, Australia |
| A weak tropical low is developing well north of the Pilbara. Squally showers and thunderstorms are expected on the southern quadrant, along the central Pilbara Coast and will persist till late Thursday (23 March) and early Friday (24 March).
Recent model guidance continues to suggest the system will track in a general southerly direction towards the Pilbara coast during today, remaining below Tropical Cyclone intensity. The environment is not especially favourable for development into a tropical cyclone. However, if the system does show improvement in its organisation during Wednesday, there is a chance it could reach Category 1 intensity before landfall early Friday morning. DAMPIER 22nd March 2017 PORT WALCOTT PORT HEDLAND The weather forecasts will continue to be monitored with further advice to be issued in next 24 hours or earlier if there is a substantial change/escalation to the situation. For information about operations at Australian ports contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com |
| Three-runway system installation of submarine cable works |
| Wednesday, March 22, 2017, Hong Kong |
| For approximately six months, marine works involving installation of submarine cable works will be carried [northwest of Hong Kong International Airport] out in the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (L): (A) 22 deg. 19.722’N / 113 deg. 53.193’E (B) 22 deg. 19.584’N / 113 deg. 53.220’E (C) 22 deg. 19.344’N / 113 deg. 52.515’E (D) 22 deg. 19.200’N / 113 deg. 52.338’E (E) 22 deg. 18.981’N / 113 deg. 52.331’E (F) 22 deg. 18.231’N / 113 deg. 52.899’E (G) 22 deg. 18.138’N / 113 deg. 53.882’E (H) 22 deg. 18.032’N / 113 deg. 53.846’E (I) 22 deg. 18.102’N /113 deg. 52.829’E (J) 22 deg. 19.013’N / 113 deg. 52.167’E (K) 22 deg. 19.218’N / 113 deg. 52.199’E (L) 22 deg. 19.431’N / 113 deg. 52.370’EThe works will be carried out by one cable-laying barge. One flat top barge, one derrick barge and two tugboats 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 100 metres will be established around each barge. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the barges. The hours of work will be from 0700 to 2300 hours. 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. (For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com) Source: Government of Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No. 43 of 2017 dated 21 March 2017 |
| New ports tariff |
| Wednesday, March 22, 2017, South Africa |
| South Africa’s national ports authority Transnet has announced a 7.9% tariff increase across all services to come into effect from from 1 April 2017.
For details of the new tariffs, or information about operations in South Africa, contact GAC South Africa at shipping.durban@gac.com |
| Water shortages |
| Wednesday, March 22, 2017, Cape Town/Saldanha Bay/Mossel Bay, South Africa |
| Due to severe drought & water shortages in South Africa’s Western Cape – South Africa (ports of Cape Town, Saldanha Bay and Mossel Bay) supplies of fresh water to vessels will be limited, and in some cases unavailable.
Vessels calling at the affected ports are urged to check status before scheduling fresh water supplies. For further information and updates, contact the following GAC Shipping offices: |
