Hot Port News from GAC
02-Jul-2020
REVISED CUSTOMER CODE PROCEDURES PUBLISHED
Panama Canal, Panama
PORT OPERATIONS STABLE DESPITE COVID-19
Gothenburg, Sweden
CONSTRUCTION OF LANDING FACILITY OFF MARINA BAY CRUISE CENTRE
Singapore
REVISED RESTRICTIONS FOR BERTHING OF VESSELS IN INNER HARBOUR
Vizag, India
TIGHT MANAGEMENT OF SIGNING-ON CREW SCREENING
Singapore
NEW RATE FOR SEA PILOT WITH HELICOPTER
Kårstø, Sture & Mongstad, Norway
IMMIGRATION OPENS FOR CREW VISAS
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
PERSONNEL TRAVEL, QUARANTINE & CREW CHANGE UPDATE
Bahrain
Revised Customer Code procedures published
Thursday, July 2, 2020, Panama Canal, Panama
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has published revised procedures for the issuance, consolidation, and deactivation of Customer Codes, which replace the previous version published October 13, 2017.
The document containing the revised procedures is available at: https://www.pancanal.com/eng/op/customer-code-procedure-20200630.pdf
(For information about operations in Panama, contact GAC Panama at operations.panama@gac.com)
Source: Panama Canal Authority Advisory To Shipping No.A-24-2020 dated 1 July 2020
Port operations stable despite COVID-19
Thursday, July 2, 2020, Gothenburg, Sweden
Despite the Coronavirus crisis, the Port of Gothenburg is open and working at full capacity in all areas. Loading, discharge and maritime services are operating as normal…
…Operations at the Port of Gothenburg – where the first critical measures to counteract the effects of the Coronavirus were taken back at the beginning of February – have remained stable…
…Nonetheless, even if the port is still running as normal, a slowdown in volumes has already begun or is anticipated, depending on the segment. The Container Terminal is working at full capacity for all flows… …Export volumes and access to empty containers are being maintained, whilst a delayed Coronavirus effect from China is beginning to filter through on the import side.
The Ro-Ro Terminal and Car Terminal are now feeling the repercussions of the production stoppage at the Volvo companies. New vehicles, along with components and input goods, are falling in volume both on the import and export side. At the Energy Port, volumes remain high although the refineries are reporting a drop in demand.
The ferry and cruise segments have been hit extremely hard by the travel ban, which has been put into effect worldwide…
(For information about operations in Sweden, contact GAC Sweden at sweden@gac.com)
Source: Extracts from Port of Gothenburg (www.portofgothenburg.com) press release dated 30 June 2020
Construction of landing facility off Marina Bay Cruise Centre
Thursday, July 2, 2020, Singapore
The working period for construction a landing facility off Marina Bay Cruise Centre has been updated. The work is now being conducted from today (2 July) until 1 January 2021.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.042 of 2020 dated 2 July 2020, the works will be carried out from 0800 to 2359 hours daily – including weekends & public holidays – within the working area bounded by the following coordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01 deg. 15.841’N / 103 deg. 51.693’E
2) 01 deg. 15.887’N / 103 deg. 51·660’E
3) 01 deg. 15·913’N / 103 deg. 51·697’E
4) 01 deg. 15·875’N / 103 deg. 51.724’E
The works entail marine piling works, concrete reinforcement works and installation of floating pontoon. A safety boat will be deployed in the vicinity of the working area to warn other vessels of the work.
Craft involved in the works will exhibit the appropriate local and international day and night signals.
When in the vicinity of the working area, mariners are reminded to:
a) Keep well clear of the working area;
b) Maintain a proper lookout;
c) Proceed at a safe speed and to navigate with caution;
d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 18 (Keppel Control);
and
e) Communicate with Keppel Control for assistance, if required.
For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
Revised restrictions for berthing of vessels in Inner Harbour
Thursday, July 2, 2020, Vizag, India
The following changes will be effected immediately:
a) Panamax Vessels with 14.5m draft on rising tide can be handled to Inner Harbour during night in fair weather condition.
b) Vessels up to 38m beam will be handled to Inner Harbour during day light and in fair weather conditions.
(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Visakhapatnam Port Trust Circular dated 1 July 2020
Tight management of signing-on crew screening
Thursday, July 2, 2020, Singapore
After a signing-on crew member was found to be positive with COVID-19 upon arrival in Singapore, the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) has had to muster significant resources to trace travellers who were in proximity with the affected individual.
All ship owners, managers, and manning officers are reminded to impress upon all signing-on crew members that they must observe their own 14 days isolation period. This is one of the primary pre-requisite conditions mandated by the MPA upon their in-principle no objection for crew change.
Crewing and manning companies must also monitor and check signing -on crew randomly and frequently to ensure that the isolation regime is being complied with.
The Singapore Shipping Association states that a second incident could jeopardise crew changes in Singapore and there will be severe penalties imposed for incidences of any crew landing in Singapore with COVID-19 symptoms.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com
New rate for sea pilot with helicopter
Thursday, July 2, 2020, Kårstø, Sture & Mongstad, Norway
According to the agreement between Airlift AS and the Norwegian Pilot services, a price adjustment may be considered if the number of boardings show change over time. In this review, we have adjusted the level at Kårstø, Sture and Mongstad due to an increase in the number of assignments for pilot with helicopter.
From 1 July 2020 this will be the current prices:
Kårstø, Sture, Mongstad
Per assignment: 80.678,-
Nyhamna
Per assignment: 125.265,-
Melkøya
Per assignment: 164.000,-
(For information about operations in Norway, contact GAC Norway at norway@gac.com)
Source: Airlift AS (www.airlift.no)
Immigration opens for crew visas
Thursday, July 2, 2020, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai Immigration has today (2 July) opened up for crew visa applications with validity from 7 July 2020.
To date, this applies only for Dubai. Updates will be given if/when the same is announced for Fujairah & Khor Fakkan.
For further details and updates, as well as information about crew visas in Dubai, contact GAC Dubai at crewdesk.ae@gac.com with a copy to sss.ae@gac.com
Personnel travel, quarantine & crew change update
Thursday, July 2, 2020, Bahrain
The following changes have been made regarding personnel travel, quarantine days & crew changes in Bahrain.
Personnel can now arrive in the country with visa arranged in advance. The on-arrival visa facility is still suspended.
Meanwhile, the compulsory self-quarantine period for all arriving personnel has now been reduced to 10 days.
Crew members may join a vessel with approval from immigration after the completion of 10 days quarantine period and based on a negative COVID-19 test result.
Off-signing is permitted for those holding an advance visa. After disembarkation, crew members must go for COVID-19 test. Their travel therefore will be based on the test result and the quarantine period.
For ships calling at ASRY drydock, crew change is now allowed without waiting for the 10 days quarantine period, but require a negative COVID-19 result, a letter from ASRY and the standard permission from immigration.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Bahrain, contact GAC Bahrain at bahrain@gac.com
