HOT PORT NEWS from GAC

Coronavirus Epidemiological Alert: free pratique requirements for cruise vessels
Friday, February 21, 2020, Argentina

In relation to the Epidemiological Alert on circulating “Coronavirus 2019-nCoV”, the National Department of Borders and Transport Terminals has required that, in order to have more information on the health status of crew members and passengers of vessels, it must be sent by the Distance Procedures System (TAD) when requesting the Free Pratique, photocopies of the last 48 hs. of the Medical Book on board.

The Health Authority has advised that in case of suspicion of infectious disease similar to the symptoms of Coronavirus 2019-nCoV in crew members or passengers of international navigation vessels arriving at the points of entry, this news should be immediately notified to the National Department of Borders and Transport Terminals. Once the consultations for these particular cases have been carried out, Health Agents shall give the respective instructions to proceed, preventatively isolating the patient in a cabin of the vessel or hotel room, accordingly. Initially, the patient shall be evaluated by a health committee from the Health Authority and moved to the place of isolation.

(For information about operations in Argentina, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at [email protected])

Source: Free translation of Centro de Navigacion Argentina Report No.013

Maritime Declaration of Health
Friday, February 21, 2020, London, United Kingdom

Under UK and International Health Regulations, ships entering port are normally required to submit a Maritime Declaration of Health (MDH) only when there has been an occurrence onboard that may affect public health.

The PLA [Port of London Authority] has been advised by the London Port Health Authority that due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 (Wuhan Novel Coronavirus), additional requirements to submit a Maritime Declaration of Health will now apply, and therefore issue the following message on behalf of London Port Health Authority:

Please ensure that a Maritime Declaration of Health is completed and conveyed to the London Port Health Authority via [email protected] and [email protected] for ALL vessels arriving into the Port of London district until further notice…

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

Source: Extract from Port of London Authority (www.pla.co.uk) Notice To Mariners No.3 of 2020 dated 20 February 2020

Restrictions related to Coronavirus
Friday, February 21, 2020, Covenas, Colombia

With reference to the CORONAVIRUS, the Port Authority at Covenas has established the following restrictions:

Vessels must send the Maritime Declaration of Health and an updated List of the last 10 ports at least 24 hours before their arrival to the port.
The Master must inform if the vessel comes with a sick crew member and advise what their symptoms are.
The Master must send a special crew list including last countries and cities visited in the last 30 days, as well as telephone numbers, address, e-mail address.
The Master must inform if the vessel has arrived at any of the countries where the CORONAVIRUS has been detected
For the authorities visit, the Sanitary Authority will board first to determine if the rest of the authorities can board the vessel.
If, after the free pratique has been granted, the vessel’s captain informs that there is a sick crew member, then the Sanitary Authority will come back to examine the patient/crew to determine if they can disembark or not.
The terminal will authorize the disembarkation of the crew with the approval of the Sanitary Authority.
For the embarkation of the crew, the place of origin must be reported and information given if they have any symptoms.
(For information about operations in Colombia, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at [email protected])

Source: ISACOL S.A.S. – GAC agent, Colombia

APT berth, line & tank scheduled outages
Friday, February 21, 2020, Immingham, United Kingdom

It will not be possible to handle any shipping/barges on the nominated berths during the following periods unless otherwise indicated. APT is working closely with the refineries to try to minimise any disruption.

IOT BERTH 1
– 0800-1700 on 11 March 2020 – (ABP) Berth Structure Cathodic Protection Work

IOT BERTH 2
The Fuel Oil Bunker delivery hose is out of service whilst that final section of the rig is refurbished. The hose is scheduled to be unavailable until 9 April, so it will not be possible to load FO bunkers by pipe at B2 for the full duration. FO bunker delivery on B2 will have to be by barge. B1 FO Bunker delivery is not affected.
– 0800 on 9 March to 1700 on 10 March – Berth Structure Painting (Tidal)/ Hose Rig Painting & Various Hot Works

IOT BERTH 3
– 0800-1700 on 5 March – ABP Mooring Equipment Maintenance and Various APT Hot Works

SOUTH KILLINGHOLME JETTY (SKJ)
To allow continued use, and until further notice, regular inspections of the White Oil Loading Arm needs to be carried out. The berth needs to be unoccupied to allow crane barge access. Where possible, natural opportunities will be taken – inspection periods are therefore not shown below.
– 0800 on 25 February to 1600 on 26 February 2020 – Slop Tank Work (Tidal) cont.
– 0800 on 3 March to 1600 on 4 March – Capstan Replacement
– 0800 on 12 March to 1700 on 13 March – Slop Tank Work (Tidal) cont[Re-arranged outage – postponed from January due to volume of shipping]

FINGER PIER
– 0800-1600 on 24 February – Various Hot Works

MAIN TRANSFER LINE, TANK & LOADING ARM WORKS
– No.1 Transfer Line ILI (In Line Inspection) – aborted due to unexplained gauging tool damage. Dates to run another (different design) gauging tool have been set at 3 & 4 March.Results of gauging tool will dictate when the MFL inspection tool will be run. 2 further days required, dates to be confirmed.
– Tank 33 (G2/G102) OOS – Full inspection & repairs underway since 27 January, duration expected to be 3 months, depending on repairs required. Initial inspection suggests that there may be more work needed than expected.

For information about operations in the United Kingdom, contact GAC UK at [email protected]

COVID-19 Update (21 February)
Friday, February 21, 2020, Australia

Australia’s National Security Committee of Cabinet has today agreed to extend the entry restrictions on foreign nationals who have recently been in mainland China for a further week.

The quarantine period remains at 14 days. The period the restrictions will be enforced is extended until 28 February.

Meanwhile, at New South Wales ports (Newcastle, Sydney, Port Kembla, Eden), Masters of all ships due to arrive at NSW ports are now required to declare:

their last 5 ports of call;
confirm that they have no crew members showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus on-board;
crew or passengers who have left, or transited through, mainland China on or after 1 February 2020 and less than 14 days ago.
Where novel coronavirus is evident, agency employees will not be required to board the vessel and the Port Authority will delay pilotage services to ships that have transited from mainland China and have been at sea for less than the 14-day quarantine period.

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

Restrictions related to Coronavirus
Friday, February 21, 2020, Covenas, Colombia

With reference to the CORONAVIRUS, the Port Authority at Covenas has established the following restrictions:

Vessels must send the Maritime Declaration of Health and an updated List of the last 10 ports at least 24 hours before their arrival to the port.
The Master must inform if the vessel comes with a sick crew member and advise what their symptoms are.
The Master must send a special crew list including last countries and cities visited in the last 30 days, as well as telephone numbers, address, e-mail address.
The Master must inform if the vessel has arrived at any of the countries where the CORONAVIRUS has been detected
For the authorities visit, the Sanitary Authority will board first to determine if the rest of the authorities can board the vessel.
If, after the free pratique has been granted, the vessel’s captain informs that there is a sick crew member, then the Sanitary Authority will come back to examine the patient/crew to determine if they can disembark or not.
The terminal will authorize the disembarkation of the crew with the approval of the Sanitary Authority.
For the embarkation of the crew, the place of origin must be reported and information given if they have any symptoms.
(For information about operations in Colombia, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at [email protected])
Source: ISACOL S.A.S. – GAC agent, Covenas, Colombia
Source: GAC