Hot Port News from GAC
13-Apr-2020
CONTAINER TERMINAL STILL OPERATIONAL
Subic Bay, Philippines
SANITARY CURFEW EXTENDED
Mauritius
REVISION OF ISLAND-WIDE CURFEW EXTENSION
Sri Lanka
MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER FURTHER EXTENDED TO 28 APRIL
Malaysia
INCREASE OF PORT RATES
Paradip, India
Container terminal still operational
Monday, April 13, 2020, Subic Bay, Philippines
Amid the extended Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), we would like to assure everyone that SBITC [Subic Bay International Container Terminal] remains open and operational 24/7.
As usual, we are able to berth all vessels upon arrival. As of this morning, our current yard utilization is healthy at 48% with zero (0) trucks on queue.
SBITC, BOC-Subic, and SBMA operating hours remain unchanged as detailed below.
Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation (SBITC)
– Terminal Operations: 24/7 hours
– Billing Operations: Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm / Saturday: 8:00am – 12:00nn
Bureau of Customs – Subic (BOC-Subic)
– Assessment Division: Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
– Operations Division: Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
– BOC X-Ray Inspection Project (XIP) Field Officers: Monday – Friday, 9:00am-8:00pm
– Office of the District Collector: Monday – Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
*On-call officers will be available to provide service after office hours and as need arises.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)
Seaport Department (on skeletal workforce)
– Port Operations Division: 24/7 hours
– Terminal Operations Division: 24/7 hours
– Port Management Division (document processing): Monday – Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm / Documentation cut-off: 3:00pm
Trade Facilitation & Compliance Department (TFCD) (on skeletal workforce)
– Monday – Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
Accounting Department (on skeletal workforce)
– Monday – Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
TIPO Gate, which is used by containers trucks and other vehicles, remain open for entry and exit of cargoes. SBFZ Entry Protocols remain unchanged from the SBITC Email Advisory sent last March 30, 2020.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at philippines@gac.com)
Source: Official Subic Bay International Container Terminal Advisory NO.200-00068 dated 13 April 2020
Sanitary curfew extended
Monday, April 13, 2020, Mauritius
The COVID-19 Lockdown / Sanitary Curfew in Mauritius has been extended until 3 May 2020.
Operations continue at Port Louis, under specific procedures for vessels calling at anchorage and quay for cargo/bunkering operations.
For bunkering and spares delivery at anchorage, fresh documents must be provided 24 hours ahead of ETA. Green light will be granted to vessel to call at anchorage for bunkering and pick up of spares only if:
– there is no disembarkation of crew members while at anchorage.
– there is no human interaction between crew members and operators during loading of bunker and spares.
At no point should agents and operators involved in loading of bunker and spares board the ship or ship crew member board the bunker barge.
The airport remains closed until further notice.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Mauritius, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: Celero Shipping, Port Louis – GAC agent
Revision of island-wide curfew extension
Monday, April 13, 2020, Sri Lanka
The existing curfew in the districts of Colombo, 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 Thursday 16 April (instead of Tuesday 14 April, as previously), and re-imposed on the same day at 1600 hours.
During the hours of curfew, movement from one district to another is completely banned except for essential services.
Further, the “work from home” period for government and private sector employees has been extended until 20 April.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Sri Lanka, contact GAC Sri Lanka at srilanka@gac.com
Movement Control Order further extended to 28 April
Monday, April 13, 2020, Malaysia
Due to the rising number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the country, the Malaysian Government has today (13 April) extended the Movement Control Order until 28 April. This applies to all Industries and sectors except those approved as exempt by the Government.
The order includes:
Prohibition of mass movements and gatherings across the country including religious, sports, social and cultural activities.
Malaysians returning from overseas must undergo a health check and quarantine (or self-quarantine) for 14 days.
Restrictions on the entry of all tourists and foreign visitors into the country.
Closure of all kindergartens, government and private schools including daily schools, boarding schools, international schools, tahfiz centers and other primary, secondary and pre-university institutions.
Closure of all public and private higher education institutions (IPTs) and skills training institutes nationwide.
Closure of all government and private premises except those involved in essential services (water, electricity, energy, telecommunications, postal, transportation, irrigation, oil, gas, fuel, lubricants, broadcasting, finance, banking, health, pharmacy, fire, prison, port, airport, safety, defense, cleaning, retail and food supply).
For information about operations in Malaysia, contact GAC Malaysia at shipping.malaysia@gac.com
Increase of port rates
Monday, April 13, 2020, Paradip, India
Paradip Port Trust has advised an increase of 1.88% in the Scale of Rates for the year 2020-21, with effect from 1st May 2020.
For details, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
