HOT PORT NEWS from GAC

Tin Hau Festival
Thursday, April 29, 2021, Hong Kong

The Tin Hau Festival at Tai Miu Wan will be celebrated this year on 4 May 2021. Coxswains, owners and operators of local vessels are advised that arrangements for embarkation and disembarkation will only be made at the western side of the main pier of Tai Miu Wan, whereas the eastern side of the main pier will be used by licensed ferries.

A ferry service between North Point Ferry Pier and the Tai Miu Wan pier will be operated on 3 May 2021 to 4 May 2021.

The Marine Department and the Hong Kong Police Force patrol launches will be stationed in the vicinity to direct and control vessels attending the festival.

Persons-in-charge of local vessels are strongly reminded to ensure that vessels shall not carry passengers more than they are certified to carry. As only one set of landing steps will be available for use by local vessels, persons-in-charge of local vessels must exercise extreme care, patience and good seamanship and follow the berthing/unberthing instructions of the Marine Department and the Hong Kong Police Force patrol launches on the scene.

Masters of vessels navigating in the Tathong Channel on the above dates are advised to proceed with caution as more local traffic than normal will be encountered between Lei Yue Mun and Tai Miu Wan.

Due to current COVID-19 epidemic situation in Hong Kong, all pilgrims shall observe the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) to maintain the social distancing measures currently in place.

(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.80/2021

Marine site investigation off west coast of Lamma Island
Thursday, April 29, 2021, Hong Kong

For approximately one month, marine site investigation works involving drilling of boreholes will be carried out within the area bounded by straight lines joining the following co-ordinates (WGS 84 Datum) from (A) to (D):
(A) 22° 13.178’ N 114° 04.846’ E
(B) 22° 12.294’ N 114° 05.062’ E
(C) 22° 12.289’ N 114° 04.055’ E
(D) 22° 13.178’ N 114° 04.475’ E

The works will be carried out by one flat-top work barge and one work boat. One tugboat will provide assistance.

A working area of approximately 50 metres around the 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 barge.

The hours of work will be from 0800 to 1800 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.81/2021

Resumption of e-pass facility for controlled crew changes
Thursday, April 29, 2021, India

The Directorate vide DGS Order No.12 of 2020 dated 22.04.2020 issued Standard Operating Procedures / Protocols (SoP) for controlled crew change at Indian Ports vide which a facility was provided on DGS website for generation of e-pass for the seafarers and one driver for inter and intra-state movement of seafarers signing on and signing off at Indian Ports on receipt of details of the seafarer, vehicle and driver for the proposed travel and uploading on DGS website ‘e-pass for seafarers link’.

The e-pass facility was extended for foreign seafarers repatriating from Alang, Gujarat and from Indian Ports vide SoPs issued vide DGS Order No.14 of 2020 dated 07.06.2020 and DGS Order No.21 of 2020 dated 20.07.2020. The facility was further extended for foreign seafarers signing-on in Indian Ports vide DGS Order No.5 of 2021 dated 25.01.2021.

Subsequently, vide DGS Order No.08 of 2021 dated 03.02.2021, requirement for issuance of e-pass detailed vide afore-mentioned DGS Order was done away with & provisions related to issuance of e-pass were deemed inapplicable and dispensed with.

A nationwide resurgence of COVID cases has occurred since then and several states have re-imposed movement restriction to contain the spread of virus. The Government of Maharashtra vide ‘Break the Chain’ orders dated 13.04.2021 and 21.04.2021 have also put movement restrictions.

In view of above, system for issuance of e-pass as detailed vide DGS Order No.12 of 2020 dated 22.04.2020, DGS Order No.14 of 2020 dated 07.06.2020, DGS Order No. 21 of 2020 dated 20.07.2020 and DGS Order No.05 of 2021 dated 25.01.2021 is being brought back to facilitate inter-state and intra-state movement of seafarers who have been declared ‘Key Workers’ vide DGS Crew Circular No.37 of 2020 dated 22.12.2020 and all these DGS orders mentioned herein to be treated as applicable as earlier.

The e-pass facility can be accessed by shipping companies/owners and registered Recruitment & Placement Service (RPS) agencies approved by DGS & modalities thereof remain the same as mentioned in the aforementioned DGS Orders. However, filling up of Port of Vehicle details shall not be required.

(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at [email protected])

Source: Indian Ministry of Port, Shipping & Waterways Directorate General of Shipping Order No.15 of 2021 dated 28 April 2021

Temporary suspension of arrivals from India
Thursday, April 29, 2021, Philippines

This is with reference to IATF Resolution No.112 dated 27 April 2021 wherein all travels coming from India or those with travel history to India within the last 14 days preceding arrival shall be prohibited from entering the Philippines beginning 0001H of 29 April 2021.

Please note the following specific guidelines on the conduct of crew changes:

1. Ships coming from or having rendered port of call/s from India within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, are temporarily restricted from disembarking their seafarers 0001H of 29 April 2021 until 14 May 2021.
2. Filipino and foreign seafarers with no immigration admission in India within the last 14 days preceding arrival in the Philippines shall be allowed to disembark subject to existing health and safety protocols of the established One-Stop Shops (OISS) for Seafarers.
3. Those seafarers already in transit from India or who have been to the same within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines and arrive before 0001H of 29 April 2021, shall not be prohibited from disembarking their ships, but shall be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period and RT-PCR test.
4. Embarkation to ships bound to India shall be subject to the existing exit protocols of the Philippines as well as entry protocols of the said country.

(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at [email protected])

Source: Philippines Department of Transportation Notice dated 28 April 2021

Pilotage transit charges
Thursday, April 29, 2021, Dighi, India

Dighi Port after its recent takeover by Adani Ports is undergoing major revamp both in its Infrastructure and operational environment. The channel is being deepened, navigational systems are being set up, buoyage is being upgraded and major dredging carried out to enable movement of ships day and night.

In view of this it is proposed to levy pilotage charges for all vessels using Dighi Port channel. This will be reviewed once a year.

These charges are effective from 15 April 2021.

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

Source: Adani Ports & Logistics Trade Notice: DPL/Marine/04/2021 dated 24 April 2021

Suspension of crew change for vessels calling from or visiting Indian ports
Thursday, April 29, 2021, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

As advised by the Fujairah Immigration Department, vessels calling from Indian ports or visited Indian ports in the last 14 days are not permitted to carry out crew change in Port of Fujairah & at Fujairah Offshore Anchorage until further notice.

In the above circumstance, crew change can be carried out in the sequence of vessel completing 14 days from exiting Indian Ports.

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

Source: Port of Fujairah Notice to Mariners No.296 dated 29 April 2021

Source: GAC