Hot Port News from GAC
19-May-2020
FOUL SEASON
Goa, India
TRAVEL & BUSINESS COMMENCEMENT PLAN ANNOUNCED
Bahamas
CYCLONE AMPHAN INTENSIFYING
Bay of Bengal, India
UPDATED PHASED REOPENING PLAN
Trinidad & Tobago
PORTS & CUSTOMS WORK SCHEDULE DURING EID AL FITR
Ras Laffan, Qatar
PARTIAL RESUMPTION OF TRAIN SERVICES
Pakistan
USE OF FACE MASKS/COVERINGS BY PILOTS
Clyde Ports, United Kingdom
CREW CHANGES/SHORE LEAVE & REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Colombia
CREW CHANGES NOT PERMITTED
Honduras
LIMITED CREW CHANGE OPTIONS AVAILABLE
Mexico
EXTENSION OF FREE STORAGE PERIOD
Kenya
JELLYFISH WARNING
Sohar, Oman
Foul season
Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Goa, India
The period of foul season in Goa is from 00.00 hours on 21 May to 15 September 2020.
It is therefore notified that until further notice, the Aguada Sand Bar shall remain closed for all Inland Traffic Vessels with effect from 00.00 hours on 21 May 2020.
It is also notified that the lighthouses of Malim, Campal, Tejo Front and Tejo Rear, Reis Magos and Aguada Beacon will cease to function with effect from 00.00 hours on 1 June 2020 until further notice.
(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Captain of Ports Department, Government of Goa, Notice to Mariners
Travel & business commencement plan announced
Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Bahamas
The Prime Minister of the Bahamas has released a statement on intentions to reopen the borders for all travel and business, following the COVID-19 lockdown. As per the Government official statement, the projected commencement date will be 1 July 2020.
Once the Government has officially lifted its restrictions, it will be possible to resume all agency operations, including crew changes. Agents will continue wearing masks and practice social distancing during operations until further notice.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Bahamas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: Elnet Maritime Limited, Bahamas – GAC agent
Cyclone Amphan intensifying
Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Bay of Bengal, India
Ports are bracing for Super Cyclone Amphan, which became the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal last night (18 May), after intensifying with sustained wind speeds of up to 270 km per hour.
Amphan is very likely to move across the northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts tomorrow (20 May) as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 165-175 km per hour gusting to 195 km per hour.
At the port of Vizag, Storm Flag 2 has been hoisted and all waiting vessels have been advised to proceed to safe anchorage at outer port limits. Working vessels at LPG berth have shifted to anchorage and cargo discharge at VGCB has been suspended due to heavy rolling.
Storm Flag 2 is also hoisted at Gangavaram. Inward movements are suspended and all working vessels shifted to anchorage.
At Dhamra, all inward movements have been cancelled since 18 May, and all vessels at berth shifted to sea from 0001 hours today (19 May) onwards. All vessels at Dhamra anchorage to pick up anchor and move to sea well before onset of cyclonic weather.
All inwards movements at Paradip remain suspended. All vessels at anchorage to pick up anchor and proceed to safe anchorage at outer port limits.
For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Updated phased reopening plan
Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Trinidad & Tobago
The Trinidad and Tobago Government has implemented the phased reopening plan
PHASE 1: 10-21 MAY
Restaurants & food services reopened until 8pm. No Dine-in.
Restricted outdoor activity, no gathering, social distancing.
Hardware, plumbing & electrical stores open 8am-4 pm.
Groceries, pharmacies & markets open 8am-6pm.
PHASE 2: 21 MAY-6 JUNE
Entire manufacturing sector to reopen.
All public sector construction to re-start.
Auto repair/parts and tyre shops to reopen.
Laundry and dry-cleaning service to reopen.
Public transportation maximum capacity remains at 50%.
PHASE 3: 7-20 JUNE
All public service to return to work.
Private sector construction allowed.
Public transport maximum capacity to increase to 75%.
PHASE 4: TO BE ADVISED
Malls to reopen
PHASE 5: TO BE ADVISED
Beaches & cinemas to reopen.
PHASE 6: TO BE ADVISED
Border to reopen.
The dates of each phase may be adjusted based on the statistics as time goes by.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Trinidad & Tobago, contact GAC Trinidad & Tobago at trinidad@gac.com
Ports & Customs work schedule during Eid Al Fitr
Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Ras Laffan, Qatar
Due to Eid Al Fitr, Ras Laffan port office & Customs main office will be closed from today (19 May) until 28 May, and will resume on 31 May.
Offshore Customs inspection will be carried out only with Customs pre- approvals and inspector’s availability.
The port will be closed on 1st day of Eid.
For information about operations in Qatar, contact GAC Qatar at qatar@gac.com
Partial resumption of train services
Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Pakistan
Pakistan Railways has announced that it will resume partial services with 15 sets of trains from tomorrow (20 May), in strict compliance with SOPs.
Meanwhile, 20% of domestic flight operations have been resumed since 16 May, but with airplanes only filled up to 50% capacity as per COVID-19 protocols. International flight operations remain suspended until 31 May.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Pakistan, contact GAC Pakistan at pakistan@gac.com
Use of face masks/coverings by pilots
Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Clyde Ports, United Kingdom
Clydeport do not require pilots to wear face masks or face coverings which is in line with Government advice, however pilots must continue to adhere to COVID-19 precautionary measures:
– maintaining where possible a physical (social) distance of 2m
– following good hand and respiratory hygiene practices
Clydeport acknowledges that some vessels may request pilots to wear face coverings for the safety of the crew because, for example, it may not be possible to physically (social) distance 2m due to design/construction of the navigation bridge. However, national advice remains that there is no proven benefit from wearing face coverings for the wearer, although it is acknowledged that there could be marginal safety benefits for other people.
The default position of an attending pilot is not to wear any face coverings unless the agent has pre-notified the port authority that the Master has requested this and the reason for the request. This request should be made via the agent to the port before arrival or departure. Where the port authority has been pre-notified of the Master’s request the pilot will don a suitable face covering before boarding the vessel.
It is not acceptable for a vessel to request a pilot to wear a face mask or other PPE items immediately on boarding and if this happens the pilot may refuse to board the vessel. The pilot remains within his rights to refuse, since this is not required by UK Government in which case the vessel will have to decide if they wish to proceed with Pilotage or delay.
For any vessel where there are symptoms of COVID-19 onboard then Clydeport will engage with Port Health Authority/Health Protection Scotland for advice on the correct provision of PPE for Pilots, which will be determined by the individual circumstances presented…
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the United Kingdom, contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com)
Source: Peel Ports Clydeport letter dated 19 May 2020
Crew changes/shore leave & required documents
Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Colombia
Crew changes and shore leave are not permitted at Colombian ports.
Calling vessels must send their Maritime Declaration of Health 5, 4, 3, 2 days and 24 hours, 12 hours and 2 hours prior to arrival, and confirm that the body temperature of all crew is below 37.5 degrees C. Vessels must also send an updated list of the last 20 ports at least 24 hours before the vessel’s arrival to the port.
Any sickness on board must be reported to the authorities.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Colombia, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com
Crew changes not permitted
Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Honduras
Currently, no crew changes are allowed in Honduras. The airport and borders remain closed.
Vessels calling at port are boarded by doctor at anchorage to evaluate crew before each berthing.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Honduras, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com
Limited crew change options available
Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Mexico
Although most of Mexico’s ports are not allowing crew changes, they are possible on the Pacific Coast.
At Salina Cruz, crew changes are still permitted. However, it should be noted that almost all hotels in Santa Cruz are closed as per authorities’ instructions, and those that are still open are not providing meal services until further notice, in accordance with Health Authority regulations. Off-signers should disembark and be driven directly to the airport, and joiners will be transported directly from the airport to the vessel. If the vessel is to remain at the anchorage area, a launch boat for this movement can be arranged.
Off-signing of crew only is allowed at Guaymas, with no joiners permitted.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Mexico, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com
Extension of free storage period
Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Kenya
Kenya Port Authority has announced the extension of the free storage period for its customers, starting on 18 May, in line with efforts to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on the logistics chain.
Domestic Export Containers
– Current free period: 9 days
– New free period: 15 days
Transit Import Containers Port & ICD Embakasi
– Current free period: 9 days
– New free period: 14 days
Transit Import Containers ICD Naivasha
– Current free period: –
– New free period: 30 days
Transit Export Containers
– Current free period: 15 days
– New free period: 20 days
The free period for Domestic Import Containers remains unchanged at 4 days.
The extension is valid for 90 days from the effective date and is subject to review.
(For further details and update, as well as information about operations in Kenya, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at hub.ae@gac.com)
Source: Seaforth Kenya – GAC agent
Jellyfish warning
Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Sohar, Oman
The Harbourmaster of Sohar has issued a warning about the phenomenon of large numbers of jellyfish in the water which are creating challenging circumstances for vessels to keep the machinery and activities going.
The port faces this natural phenomenon every year and attempts have been made to resolve the problem on many occasions. However, due to the sheer volume of jellyfish, there is no effective solution.
For business continuity and safety reasons it is advised to keep cleaning the system’s filters from jellyfish accumulation.
For information about operations in Sohar, contact GAC Oman at shipping.sohar@gac.com
