HOT PORT NEWS from GAC

Dredging off West Coast of Lamma Island
Monday, February 15, 2021, Hong Kong

For approximately six months, dredging operations will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (G):
(A) 22° 13.234’N / 114° 06.042’E
(B) 22° 11.000’N / 114° 06.423’E
(C) 22° 10.961’N / 114° 06.277’E
(D) 22° 12.214’N / 114° 06.063’E
(E) 22° 12.728’N / 114° 05.723’E
(F) 22° 13.075’N / 114° 05.710’E
(G) 22° 13.199’N / 114° 05.806’E

The works will be carried out by a flotilla of vessels including one dumb lighter, one flat-top work barge, three hopper barges and three tugboats. The number of vessels engaged in the works will change from time to time to suit operational requirements.

A working area of approximately 50 metres around the lighter and each barge 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 and barges.

Silt curtains 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 works will be carried out 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.32/2021

Operations suspended
Monday, February 15, 2021, Gibraltar

Gibraltar Port Authority VTS Operations has advised that no further vessels will be brought into the anchorage until further notice, due to high swell making pilot boarding impossible.

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

Updated COVID-19 testing requirements for signing-off crew
Monday, February 15, 2021, Singapore

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore [MPA] notes that some countries require travellers to take a COVID-19 pre-departure test (PDT) and present a valid negative test result before they are allowed to transit through or enter. Similar requirements are also imposed by some airlines before allowing travellers to board their flights.

MPA has been facilitating COVID-19 pre-departure testing for sign-off crew in Singapore on a case-by-case basis. Please be reminded that MPA’s approval shall be sought for signing off crew that requires PDT in Singapore.

For crew change applications where the sign-off crew requires PDT before departing Singapore, in addition to the existing requirement of crew not having gone ashore for 21 days, all crew on board shall produce a negative test result from a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken at the vessel’s last port of call before calling at Singapore. The test results shall be submitted to MPA as soon as they are available and before the vessel arrives Singapore.

This new requirement shall apply to all sign-off applications submitted from 15 February 2021.

This circular supplements Port Marine Circular No. 5 of 2021, and therefore, the requirements for crew change in Port Marine Circular No. 5 of 2021 continue to apply.

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

Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Circular No.07 of 2021 dated 15 February 2021

Ports of Antwerp & Zeebrugge to join forces
Monday, February 15, 2021, Belgium

The City of Antwerp and the City of Bruges have reached an agreement to merge their respective ports. The two-city agreement marks the start of a unification process that is expected to take a year to finalise. Once completed, the ports will operate under the name ‘Port of Antwerp-Bruges’.

As a result of the merger, the ports will be able to strengthen their position within the global supply chain and continue their course towards sustainable growth…

…The merged port will become the most important container port (157 million tonnes/year), one of the largest break bulk ports and the largest port for the throughput of vehicles in Europe. Furthermore, the port will account for more than 15% of Europe’s liquid natural gas transited and it will remain Europe’s most important chemical hub. Finally, it will be the largest port for cruise ships in the Benelux. With a total throughput of 278 million tonnes per year, the unified port will be able to consolidate its leading position in the world…

… Antwerp specialises in the handling and storage of containers, break bulk and chemical products, while Zeebrugge is a major port for RoRo traffic, container handling and the transhipment of liquid natural gas. Working more closely together will make it possible to consolidate sustainable growth, not only of each port’s individual market share, but also of the joint market share of both ports together…

…Port of Antwerp-Bruges will seek to develop and make optimum use of the interconnectivity between the two ports. The transportation of goods by rail between the two sites will be bundled, estuary traffic (by inland vessels on the North Sea) will be optimised and pipeline connections will also be on the list of priorities.

Committed strategic investments, such as the new sea lock in Zeebrugge and the additional container capacity in Antwerp, will go ahead. Future investments will be evaluated from a unified operational perspective, so that both port platforms will benefit, and the port continues to meet its customers’ expectations…

…In the near future, a unified organisational structure and way of working will be developed, while respecting one another’s DNA and corporate culture. Transparent, long-term agreements will be made with regard to the leadership and management of Port of Antwerp-Bruges…

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

Source: Extracts from Port of Antwerp (www.portofantwerp.com) news release dated 12 February 2021

Implementation of Sea Cargo Manifest and Transshipment Regulations
Monday, February 15, 2021, India

The deadline for Sea Cargo Manifest and Transshipment Regulations (SCMTR) registration and filing manifest has been set for 22 February 2021.

The SCMTR seeks to bring about transparency, predictability of movement, and advance collection of information for expeditious clearance of import/export goods, by using the national portal of Customs, namely the Indian Customs Electronic Gateway (ICEGATE). These regulations stipulate for advance notice by authorised carriers for goods arriving in or being exported out of India through gateway seaports and further movement between Customs stations.

All stakeholders are urged to register in ICEGATE for SCMTR on or before 22.02.21 and apply through their ICEGATE login to operate and file declarations. Failure to register by the deadline or to send the messages/manifests in the new format will attract penal action.

For further details, as well as information about operations in India. Contact GAC India at [email protected]

Source: GAC