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Breakwater reinstatement works at Aberdeen West Typhoon Shelter
Friday, December 11, 2020, Hong Kong

For approximately 3 months, breakwater reinstatement works will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D) and the adjacent shorelines:
(A) 22° 14.889’N / 114° 08.656’E
(B) 22° 14.743’N / 114° 08.718’E
(C) 22° 14.723’N / 114° 08.664’E
(D) 22° 14.885’N / 114° 08.595’E

The works will be carried out by one dumb lighter. One tugboat will provide assistance.

A working area of approximately 15 metres around the lighter will be established. Yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid to mark the positions of the anchors extending from the lighter.

Silt curtain fitted with yellow flashing lights will be established within the works area. The silt curtain is a large piece of netting used to contain mud and sediments.

The hours of work will be from 0700 to 1900 hours. No works will be carried out on Sundays and public holidays. Vessels employed for the works will stay in the works area outside 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 [email protected])

Source: Government of the Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No.178/2020

Port tariffs to increase
Friday, December 11, 2020, Cotonou, Benin

Cotonou Port Authority has advised that port tariffs will be increased from 1 January 2021, as follows:

+2.4% for all port services during the port call (pilotage, towage, mooring, harbour dues, fire brigade, ISPS, security dues, etc.)

+2.4% on all cargo discharged

+4.8% for port domains rented to other stakeholders (stevedoring companies and others).
There will probably also be an increase to stevedoring costs, but this will advised when confirmed.

(For information about operations in Benin, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at [email protected])

Source: OMA Benin – GAC agent

Transport of sand material to stockpile area at Tuas View Extension
Friday, December 11, 2020, Singapore

The working period for the transportation of sand materials to the stockpile area at Tuas View Extension has been extended, and is now being conducted from 11 December 2020 to 16 June 2020.

According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.095 of 2020 dated 11 December 2020, the work are being carried out 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – within the working area bounded by the following coordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
1) 01˚ 13.400’N / 103˚ 36.291’E
2) 01˚ 13.400’N / 103˚ 36.381’E
3) 01˚ 13.289’N / 103˚ 36.410’E
4) 01˚ 13.203’N / 103˚ 36.499’E
5) 01˚ 13.211’N / 103˚ 36.575’E
6) 01˚ 13.331’N / 103˚ 36.595’E
7) 01˚ 13.369’N / 103˚ 36.648’E
8) 01˚ 13.458’N / 103˚ 36.748’E
9) 01˚ 13.482’N / 103˚ 36.810’E
10) 01˚ 14.123’N / 103˚ 36.810’E
11) 01˚ 14.125’N / 103˚ 36.686’E
12) 01˚ 14.474’N / 103˚ 36.686’E
13) 01˚ 14.474’N / 103˚ 36.293’E

The work involves transporting and dumping of sand material by self-discharge sand carriers and trailer suction hopper dredgers to the stockpile area.

Craft involved in the works 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 22 (Jurong Control);
and
e) Communicate with Jurong Control for assistance, if required.

For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at [email protected]

Works at Tuas Western Coast
Friday, December 11, 2020, Singapore

The working area for works at Tuas Western Coast from 11 December 2020 to 31 May 2021 has been revised.

According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.096 of 2020 dated 11 December 2020, the works are being conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays & Public Holidays – within the working area bounded by the following coordinates (WGS 84 Datum):

WORKING AREA A
1) 1°20.287’N / 103°38.026’E
2) 1°20.303’N / 103°37.959’E
3) 1°20.277’N / 103°37.861’E
4) 1°19.747’N / 103°37.542’E
5) 1°19.828’N / 103°37.402’E
6) 1°19.265’N / 103°37.048’E
7) 1°18.663’N / 103°36.978’E
8) 1°18.525’N / 103°36.917’E
9) 1°18.086’N / 103°36.791’E
10) 1°17.550’N / 103°36.637’E
11) 1°17.565’N / 103°36.583’E
12) 1°16.922’N / 103°36.411’E
13) 1°16.904’N / 103°36.609’E
14) 1°17.042’N / 103°36.752’E
15) 1°17.937N / 103°36.989’E
16) 1°18.434’N / 103°37.121’E
17) 1°18.487’N / 103°37.198’E
18) 1°18.478’N / 103°37.226’E
19) 1°18.157’N / 103°37.108’E
20) 1°18.111’N / 103°37.230’E

The work involves dredging and dumping operations. It also includes:
– Shifting and maintenance of navigational buoys
– Shifting, installation and maintenance of temporary jetty within working area
– Construction and maintenance of silt barricade within working area
– Removal of rocks at existing revetments and construction of rock revetments
– Re-handling works within working area
– Receiving of external sand
– Survey: Pre/Post survey, Interim, Progress (Monthly) and 3 monthly survey
– Transportation and dumping of dredged material from TWC to TTP2
– Transportation and dumping of hard dredged material from TWC to Semakau Dumping Ground
– Minor dredging works (high spot removal) by plower frame

A safety boat will be deployed in the vicinity of the working area to warn other craft and vessels of the work.

Craft involved in the works 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 and not to enter the working area;
b) Maintain a proper lookout;
c) Proceed at a safe speed and navigate with caution;
d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 22 (Jurong Control);
and
e) Communicate with Jurong Control for assistance, if required.

For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at [email protected]

Marine soil investigation works off Shell Chemicals Seraya’s Berth
Friday, December 11, 2020, Singapore

From 11 December 2020 to 31 January 2021, marine soil investigation works are being carried out off Shell Chemicals Seraya’s Berth.

According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.097 of 2020 dated 11 December 2020, the works are being conducted 24 hours daily – including Sundays and Public Holidays – at the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum):
JBH-1) 01° 16·168’N / 103° 44.045’E
JBH-2) 01° 16·178’N / 103° 44.065’E

Soil investigation works will be carried out by means of borehole drilling using jackup barge. The work barge, with tugboats in attendance, will have a circular safety working zone of 30 meters radius centred at the barge.

Tugboats will be used for shifting the barges from one borehole location to another.

The shifting of the barges will be carried out during daylight hours only.

A safety boat will be deployed in the vicinity of the working area to warn other craft of the project work.

Craft involved in the works 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 and not to enter the working area;
b) Maintain a proper lookout;
c) Proceed at a safe speed and navigate with caution;
d) Maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 68 (Sinki Control);
and
e) Communicate with Sinki Control for assistance, if required.

For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at [email protected]

Bulk crew changes through Offshore Crew Transit Hub (OCTH)
Friday, December 11, 2020, Sri Lanka

The President of Sri Lanka has approved bulk crew changes of international seafarers with immediate effect, through an Offshore Crew Transit Hub (OCTH) operated by a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP).

The crew transit hub is a passenger vessel stationed in Sri Lankan territorial waters providing a temporary stay for seafarers during bulk crew change operations. The crew changes taken place through the OCTH should be only on the basis of direct bulk crew changes facilitated via chartered flights from/to Mattala International Airport.

Disembarking Crew:

  • Disembarkation of crew from a vessel and send them directly to the OCTH. Once charter flights are available, they will be transferred directly to the airport for repatriation.

Embarking Crew:

  • On-signers who arrive in the country by charter flight will be directly sent to the OCTH from the airport and then embarked to the vessels as per the schedule.
  • PCR test should be done for every on-signer within 72 hours prior to boarding the flight. These should be made available to respective Port Health Officer (PHO) prior to their landing in Sri Lanka.

Required Details & Applicable Time Limits:

  • Approval for every bulk arrival of seafarers via airports will be granted by Director – Quarantine. A formal request letter addressed to the Director – Quarantine should be submitted along with relevant requested details.
  • A period of 72 hours is required to process the request.

PCR & COVID Positive Crew:

Since the seafarers are directly transferred from airport to the OCTH and vice versa, they are exempted from PCR testing conducted at the Points of Entry (unless requested by authorities on a case by case). Crew changes should be done under the supervision of Sri Lanka Navy and they should escort the crew transport vehicle.
If any seafarer becomes positive for COVID-19 PCR test, provision for treatment should be given in the designated intermediate care facility.

The relevant charges applicable for this operation and date of commencement are due to be advised within the next 10 days.

The prevailing procedure for direct crew transfers via chartered flights is still permitted.

Foreign crew embarkation/disembarkation via commercial flights is still not permitted in Sri Lanka.

For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Sri Lanka, contact GAC Sri Lanka at [email protected]

Revised port charges
Friday, December 11, 2020, Cochin, India

The rate has been revised and separate rates have been fixed for Coastal and Foreign vessels as per the coastal concession policy of the Government with the approval of the COPT Board.

Port Charges for vessels calling at outer anchorage for maritime services such as crew change, bunkering, ship stores, ship repairs etc.

Charges for vessels calling at outer anchorage for Maritime services / Per hour or part thereof:
– Coastal Vessels (in Rs.) – 3,300,00 73.3
– Foreign Vessels (in US$) – 73.3

The charges will apply from the time of letting go of anchor to anchor aweigh and in the case of the ships not anchoring, it will apply from the time the vessel arrives at the designated position to the time it completes the service.

This charge is in addition to the anchorage charges & tug hire charges which are separately notified in the Scale of Rates.

Accordingly, the above revised ad-hoc charges will be applicable with effect from 26.11.2020 and are subject to approval of the Tariff Authority for Major Ports.

(For information about operations in India, contact GAC India at [email protected])

Source: Extract from Cochin Port Trust Trade Circular dated 10 December 2020

Source: GAC

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