Hot Port News from GAC
05-Apr-2020
BOARDING RESTRICTION AT TERMINAL
Djeno Terminal, Congo
SHIP CONTACT PROCEDURES
Turkey
MEASURES TO FACILITATE CREW CHANGES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
United Arab Emirates
REVISION OF ISLAND-WIDE CURFEW EXTENSION
Sri Lanka
PILOT EMBARKATION PROCEDURE
Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
MARITIME DECLARATION OF HEALTH
Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
DRY BULK VESSEL OPERATIONS SUSPENDED
Haldia, India
FORCE MAJEURE & REMISSION ON PORT CHARGES
Haldia, India
Boarding restriction at terminal
Sunday, April 5, 2020, Djeno Terminal, Congo
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 contamination, the number of people boarding tankers calling at Djeno terminal has been reduced.
Boarding agents may no longer attend vessel until prior notice.
(For information about operations in Congo, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: Société Générale de Consignation (SOGECO), Congo – GAC agent
Ship contact procedures
Sunday, April 5, 2020, Turkey
In order to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, the contact procedures for the ships will be carried out as follows during the outbreak.
The contact procedures for the ships will only be made for repairs, refueling, water/food supply and similar mandatory needs.
The contact procedures will be carried out to the ship as soon as possible and with fewer people.
Persons contacting ships and persons on board will use personal protective equipment (medical mask, gloves, goggles, if necessary, and additional personal protective equipment).
The contact procedures for the ships will be carried out under the permission and supervision of the relevant Coastal Health Inspection Centers. Administrative sanctions will be imposed on ships performing contact procedures without the permission and supervision of the centers.
Ships that obtain free practice do not need to obtain contact permission again. Ships requesting to make contact procedures during transit passage through the Turkish Straits or Turkish ports will apply to the relevant Coastal Health Inspection Center with two copies of the petition. The petition will include the information of the ship, the reason for the contact and the health measures to be taken, and the petition annex will include the Marine Health Notice and the List of Last 10 Ports.
Applications will be examined by the relevant Center, the reason for the contact and the measures to be taken during the contact will be checked, and if necessary, fever measurements or additional information will be requested from the passenger and personnel on board.
If there is no health problem in contact with the ship, the following statement will be written on the copy of the petition: “There is no health problem in contact with the ship.”, it will be signed and sealed by the central physician/health administration chief and will be submitted to the applicant. The second copy of the petition will be archived at the center.
Additional measures taken by the administrative authorities for ship contact procedures will be followed.
The effectiveness of the health measures to be implemented will only be possible by the full cooperation of all relevant stakeholders.
(For information about operations in Turkey, contact GAC Turkey at turkey@gac.com)
Source: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health, Directorate General of Health Services for Borders and Coasts of Turkey notice No: 37916317-134.99
Measures to facilitate crew changes during COVID-19 pandemic
Sunday, April 5, 2020, United Arab Emirates
The Federal Transport Authority (FTA) has decided on lifting the ship’s crew change restrictions gradually, and in the first stage under special circumstances the priorities will be given to:
Seafarers with resident visa who are stuck on board their ships.
Crews of passenger ships currently laid up in UAE.
Crew who are no longer medically fit to work onboard the ship.
Seafarers with urgent medical or humanitarian cases.
In order to implement the above, the following requirements must be met:
The seafarer should be on board a ship which has left her last international port at least 14 days ago, and there was no contact with any person outside the ship from outside UAE in the last 14 days.
Providing air ticket for the seafarer.
Submitting a medical statement for the seafarer suffering from the health condition that he is not fit to serve on board the ship and he is able to travel on the flight to his home country.
All port authorities, ship managers, operators, agents and any person involved in providing services to seafarers should ensure that the crew change will not violate the minimum safe manning requirements document determined by the flag state authority.
FTA will review global health developments and the smooth flow of global air traffic from time to time, and will gradually reduce these requirements to ensure the return to normal procedures of crew change in UAE as soon as possible.
For further clarification, please contact: SHIPPING@fta.gov.ae
(For information about operations in the United Arab Emirates, contact GAC at abudhabi@gac.com, dubai@gac.com, fujairah@gac.com, rasalkhaimah@gac.com or sharjah@gac.com)
Source: Federal Transport Authority – Land & Maritime Circular No (7) 2020 dated 5 April 2020
Revision of island-wide curfew extension
Sunday, April 5, 2020, Sri Lanka
The existing curfew in the districts Colombo (where the Port of Colombo is), Gampaha, Kaluthara, Puttalam, Kandy and Jaffna will continue until further notice.
The curfew in the rest of the country (areas including Ports of Galle, Hambantota and Trincomalee) will be in force until 0600 hours local time on tomorrow (6 April), and re-imposed on the same day at 1400 hours.
During the hours of curfew, movement from one district to another has been completely banned except for essential services.
The week from 6 to 10 April has been declared as “work from home” period for government and private sector employees.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Sri Lanka, contact GAC Sri Lanka at srilanka@gac.com
Pilot embarkation procedure
Sunday, April 5, 2020, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
All ship Masters, agents and vessel owners and managers are alerted to the following information regarding pilotage in Ras Al Khaimah.
Pilot Embarkation additional procedures:
All vessels must have submitted the required Health Declaration to RAK Ports as per NtMs No.06 of 2020 (further protocols in this regard may supersede NtMs 6 of 2020, therefore later NtMs to be monitored).
Where possible, one hour before the pilot embarkation time, non-essential crew should remain clear of the designated route from the pilot embarkation point (either pilot ladder, accommodation ladder etc.) to the wheelhouse, especially where the route is within enclosed spaces.
Immediately prior to pilot embarkation, all surfaces and equipment in the wheelhouse, or on the bridge wings, that the pilot may touch must be cleaned with a suitable cleaning solution.
The wheelhouse, where possible, should remain well ventilated via the opening of external doors or windows.
All crew at the embarkation point must wear suitable PPE, including face mask.
The crew member assigned to escort the pilot from the embarkation point to the wheelhouse must wear suitable PPE, including face mask.
Where possible, the route from the embarkation point to the wheelhouse should be via the open deck, as opposed to within enclosed spaces.
The wheelhouse should be cleared of all crew not essential to the navigation of the vessel, and all crew member’s present must wear appropriate PPE, including face mask. Hand sanitising solution should be available to the pilot when on the bridge.
Unless necessary for the safety of the pilot (i.e. during the embarkation process), crew or vessel, the pilot and crew should remain at least 2m apart.
Similar precautions must be taken during disembarkation of the pilot either ashore or to the pilot launch.
Vessels must confirm compliance with this notice to the Control Tower before pilot is dispatched.
If any vessel is not able to comply with the requirements of this notice they are required to notify the relevant Control Tower, this information can then be relayed to the pilot prior to their arrival at the vessel.
Failure to comply with this notice may result in your Pilot being cancelled or your vessel delayed.
Please note:
– Hand sanitiser will be available at the bottom of every gangway.
– Health officials will undertake crew checks soon after arrival.
– The pilot will be equipped with face mask and disposable gloves.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Ras Al Khaimah, contact GAC Ras Al Khaimah at rasalkhaimah@gac.com)
Source: RAK Ports Notice to Mariners No. 09
Maritime Declaration of Health
Sunday, April 5, 2020, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
All vessels calling RAK Ports from foreign ports are required to submit the updated Maritime Declaration of Health. The form is available at RAK Ports website: https://www.rakports.ae/marine/
The above form must be submitted to the port authority (Port Control) 72 hours before arrival at RAK Ports.
Note: In order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) into the United Arab Emirates, the Master of every vessel calling RAK Ports is recommended to implement the following additional precautionary measures:
a) Educate crew/passengers of the symptoms of COVID-19. The common symptoms include:
– fever (i.e. temperature above 37.5 degree Celsius)
– tiredness
– dry cough
– other symptoms include: shortness of breath, aches and pains, sore throat, and very few people will report diarrhoea, nausea or a runny nose.
b) Carry out daily temperature checks for all crew/passengers at least twice daily;
c) Isolate unwell crew/passengers when his/her temperature is above 37.5 degree Celsius. The unwell crew/passengers should also wear a mask;
d) Disinfect common areas and rooms in the vessel before arrival in the United Arab Emirates.
e) In addition, all vessels should adhere to the guidance and measures specified in the following Notices:
– Notice to Mariners No. 09 of 2020 – Pilot Embarkation Procedure
– Notice to Mariners No. 06 of 2020 – updated Novel CoronaVirus_29.02.2020
– Notice to Mariners No. 02 of 2020 – Coronavirus Alert
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Ras Al Khaimah, contact GAC Ras Al Khaimah at rasalkhaimah@gac.com)
Source: RAK Ports Notice to Mariners No. 10
Dry bulk vessel operations suspended
Sunday, April 5, 2020, Haldia, India
All dry bulk vessel operations at Haldia Port remain suspended following the refusal of workers to perform their duties on Friday (3 April) after learning a supervisor had tested positive for COVID-19. However, mechanical loading of thermal coal vessels is continuing without interruption.
The port conducted a sanitisation drive at Berth No.13 and adjoining areas including mooring ropes, jetty and MHC at Haldia Dock Complex yesterday (4 April). Safety protective gear – such as masks, gloves and sanitisers – was also provided to the staff.
It is understood that authorities have appealed to staff, unions and stakeholders to return to work and resume operations which are essential to maintain supply lines. Even so, it is learnt that none were willing to return to work, so more days may be required for port operations to normalise.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Force Majeure & remission on port charges
Sunday, April 5, 2020, Haldia, India
KoPT [Kolkata port Trust] has considered the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural calamity and invoked Force Majeure from 0600 hours on 22 March to 0600 hours on 15 April 2020.
In addition, as per the directive of the Order of Ministry of Shipping dated 31 March 2020, KoPT has considered granting the following waivers/remissions for the period from 0600 hours on 22 March to 0600 hours on 15 April.
a) Exemption from levy of demurrage charges/rent for all types of cargo & container for the above period.
b) The contractors operating Mobile Harbour Cranes at Berth Nos. 1,5, 9 & 14, Haldia Floating Terminal, Container Terminal will not be penalized for achieving less productivity than the MLP as per the contract agreement.
c) Penal berth hire charges will not be levied from the vessel’s agent for achieving less productivity at Berth No.10 than the agree benchmark productivity rate as per the Berthing Policy.
d) The above period will be exempted from consideration of MGT period for Strategic Plans & other similar schemes and way leave licensees as well as for plots allotted on long term basis against MGT commitment. However, the tonnage handled during this period will be considered against fulfillment of MGT commitment.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Kolkata Port Trust, Haldia Dock Complex, Trade Circular dated 5 April 2020
