HOT PORT NEWS from GAC

New fee on petroleum products at Port of Hodeidah
Tuesday, September 4, 2018, Port of Hodeidah, Yemen

The Port of Hodeidah will levy the fee of YR 50/- per ton on petroleum products with effect from 1 September 2018. The new fee will be charged to the ship’s agent who will, in turn, recharge it to the ship.

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

Port status Zulu for Captain of the Port Mobile area of operations due to tropical storm Gordon
Tuesday, September 4, 2018, Mobile, USA

Due to the possibility of hurricane force winds (73+ mph) associated with Tropical Storm Gordon entering Sector Mobile’s area of responsibility within 12 hours, the Captain of the Port (COTP) is ordering Port Status Zulu for the Ports of Gulfport, Pascagoula, Mobile and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GICWW) from mile marker 45 to the Highway 292 bridge. All of these areas are closed to all traffic effective 0700 local time, with the below mariner guidelines. All facility and vessel operations are suspended.

The COTP may issue additional MSIBs as the weather system approaches and Port Conditions change. Mariners throughout the COTP Mobile AOR are encouraged to use all means available to monitor the path of Tropical Storm Gordon and remain prepared to take actions if the storm path changes.

Movable bridges may close at the discretion of the bridge operator as weather conditionsdeteriorate within the COTP Mobile AOR at Port Status Zulu.

The following mariner guidelines are provided in order to make preparations for the onset weather system:

US Coast Guard COTP Mobile

1 The Coast Guard will conduct a final survey of all ports, vessels, facilities, and waterways to determine their present state of readiness and to ensure the port is secured and ready for hurricane force winds.

2 The COTP has suspended all facility and vessel operations.

All Oceangoing Commercial Vessels and CG Regulated Barges Over 300 GT

1 All vessel movements and cargo handling operations are suspended unless permission is requested and approval granted. Approval will be given on a case-by-case basis. This approval provision does not apply to operations involving Cargo of Particular Hazard or Certain Dangerous Cargoes, which in every case must be suspended.

2 If the vessel is authorized by the COTP to remain in port, ensure the vessel is securely moored and prepared for severe weather conditions.

3 Report hazardous conditions or breakaway of vessels directly to the COTP Mobile via the Sector Mobile Command Center (251-441-5976) immediately.

4 Complete the pre-sort preparations for Port Status Zulu outlined in the Storm Preparation Checklist for Vessels (Annex B).

Waterfront Facilities

1 All waterfront facility cargo-handling operations are suspended unless permission is requested and approval granted. Approval will be given on a case-by-case basis. This approval provision does not apply to operations involving Cargo of Particular Hazard or Certain Dangerous Cargoes, which in every case must be suspended.

2 Complete the action items for Port Status Zulu outlined in the Storm Preparation Checklist for Waterfront Facilities (Annex C).

Port Coordination Team conference calls will be held daily as follows:

1300 Port of Gulfport
1330 Port of Pascagoula
1400 Port of Mobile

Pensacola is currently Port Status Yankee; the GICWW west of the Highway 292 bridge and Panama City are Normal.

(For information about operations in the United States contact GAC North America at [email protected])

Source: Sector Mobile Marine Safety Information Bulletin 14-18 dated 4 September 2018

Port status Yankee at Port of New Orleans due to tropical storm Gordon
Tuesday, September 4, 2018, New Orleans, USA

The US Coast Guard has issued Port Condition Yankee for the Port of New Orleans which means gale force winds are predicted within 24 hours.

According to Bar Pilot Office, traffic ceased at 00:00 today local time and is reported to resume on the morning of 5 September.

According to Crescent River Pilot Office, traffic outbound has been suspended and pilots are only shifting vessels within the harbour until further notice.

According to Baton Rouge Pilot Office, operations are suspended to the point and pilots are only shifting vessels within the harbour until further notice.

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) advises they are monitoring the storm and that there is no deviation from normal operations at this time.

Port Fourchon has placed a voluntary evacuation and continue to monitor to determine if port will be closed.

TS Gordon advisory 11A

Current Location:27.9N, 86.2W

Geographic Reference:240 miles SE of Gulfport, MS

Movement: West-northwest at 17 mph Max

Winds: 65 mph gusting to 80 mph

Organizational Trend:Increasing slowly Forecast Confidence:Average

(For information about operations in the United States contact GAC North America at [email protected])
Source: GAC