Gac Usa News

The West Gulf Maritime Association (WGMA) is urging its members with ships arriving at any port in the western US Gulf to participate in the Menhaden survey. The annual Menhaden spawn (typically April through October) has created challenges for ships transiting local waterways, namely a potentially dangerous loss of propulsion caused by engine overheating resulting from sea chest strainers being clogged by hundreds of these small fish. Numerous warnings have previously been broadcast by the Coast Guard's Captain of the Port and the Presiding Officer of the Houston Pilots about this natural phenomenon and these incidents, however they continue to occur…

The Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay, is setting Hurricane Seasonal Alert. Seasonal Alert is automatically set annually on June 1st and remains in effect through November 30th, unless otherwise dis-established. All vessels, facilities and marinas are asked to take adequate precautions and review the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay Port Hurricane Contingency Plan and their individual Heavy Weather Plans. For a copy of the latest Port Hurricane Contingency Plan, contact Sector Delaware Bay planning at 215-271-4908 or log onto the USCG's Homeport website at: homeport.uscg.mil. Facility managers and ship agents are requested to ensure…

The Captain of the Port (COTP) Delaware Bay is notifying mariners that Upper Delaware River lighted buoy 33 (LLNR 3875) and Upper Delaware River lighted buoy 36 (LLNR 3920) are in the center line of the channel. Buoy 33 is 550 yards north of the charted position and currently located in the center of Edgewater Channel. Buoy 36 is 150 yards north of charted position and currently located in the center of Edgewater Channel. Mariners are advised to exercise caution when transiting the area as these off station buoys could present a threat to navigation. (For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at [email protected]) Source: U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Delaware Bay, Marine Safety Information Bulletin # 12-15 dated 27 February 2015

US West coast employers have made an offer to longshore workers in a bid to end the deadlock over a new labour contract that has added to the chaos afflicting some of the country's largest ports. The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), representing shipowners and terminal operators, revealed details of the offer that it says would significantly increase compensation to members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). PMA said its offer was designed to bring contract negotiations to a close after nearly nine months, and follows three months of slowdowns that had hit productivity at major west coast ports. Despite four weeks of participation by a federal mediator, the parties have not yet been able to bridge the considerable gaps between them.

The boarding times for pilots for daylight restricted vessels at Freeport have changed with effect from today (3 February). The first pilot boarding time is at 0700 hours local time and the last at 1700 hours local time. Daylight Saving Time will start on Sunday March 8, after which the first pilot boarding time will be 0730 hours local time, and the last at 1830 hours local time. For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at [email protected]

There will be a dead ship tow of the Dive Support Vessel UNCLE JOHN from the Mobile Sea Buoy to BAE Shipyard starting at approximately 0600 today. The 253 feet long, 173 feet wide rig will be towed by the tugs FINN FALGOUT and WILKEN FALGOUT with assist tugs provided by Crescent Towing. The UNCLE JOHN and the FINN FALGOUT will have bar pilots onboard for the entire operation and will be standing by on VHF/FM channels 13 and 16. The transit will be made in daylight hours and should take 7 to 9 hours, during which time one-way traffic will be necessary. For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at [email protected]

Dense fog is expected to persist until 1100 hours local time today (21 January), and the ports of Houston, Galveston and Corpus Christi have been closed since yesterday evening. At the time of reporting, Freeport was open. There are areas of dense sea fog mainly in the bays and nearshore waters should persist this morning. Expect northeast to east winds to develop this morning and strengthen during the day. Caution level winds will be reached tonight, and advisories will be needed beginning Thursday afternoon or Thursday night as seas continue to build and winds shift to the north as a storm system and associated rains along with possible thunderstorms move across the area. Some gale force wind gusts could develop late Thursday afternoon through early Friday afternoon.

The U.S. is experiencing delays at some major ports due to congestion and labor issues, with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) warning that operations at the five largest ports on the West Coast are approaching gridlock. The PMA, which represents management in contract talks with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), said this week that more than two months of ILWU staged slowdowns had reduced terminal productivity at the five largest ports on the West Coast. The ILWU said last week the shortage of yard crane operators was a consequence of PMA's refusal - before the commencement of negotiations - to adequately train. A federal mediator has been asked to get involved in contract negotiations.

San Francisco Bay Anchorages will be unable to accommodate vessels with drafts greater than 25 feet. Vessels en-route to San Francisco expecting to anchor with drafts in excess of 25 feet should expect delays and are advised to coordinate with their agents and the San Francisco Bar Pilots on VHF-FM CH10 or (415) 393-0457. For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at [email protected]

Salvage teams and the Army Corps of Engineers have positively identified the location of the sunken Dredge Tender NICHOLAS on the western (greenside) toe of the Mobile Ship Channel just south of Light 69. According to the U.S. Coast, Sector Mobile, Marine Safety and Security Information Bulletin No.19-14, the Captain of the Port has lifted the previous vessel size restrictions imposed in the MSSB 18-14. The Mobile Ship Channel is still restricted to one-way traffic in the vicinity of the wrecked vessels and all vessel traffic is to keep well to the east (red side) of the channel in the vicinity of this location until further notice. All mariners are to use extreme caution and safe speed while transiting Light 69 and those vessels conducting salvage operations in that vicinity.

Brazos Pilots Association in Freeport, Texas, advise that a 600-700' long wire is presenting a hazard to vessels in the north Freeport general anchorage. According to advice from the Association, yesterday (25 August) one of its inbound vessels came off anchor from the anchorage, and while heaving the anchor, it was determined that a 1 1/8-1 1/4' wire was fouled in the anchor. The wire was cut and the vessel was able to proceed to berth. The obstruction continues to exist at Lat 28 deg. 53.691N, Long 095 deg. 11.704W, laying in a general east/west direction and constitutes a hazard to vessels anchoring in or near the location. For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at [email protected]

The US Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Hawaii Pacific, has closed ports for Big Island, Maui County to include the islands of Molokai and Lanai, and Oahu to all traffic. According to a News Release issued, all cargo operations at these ports were to be secured by 6pm yesterday. Vessels transiting within the vicinity of the Hawaiian Island harbours are urged to seek sheltered waters until storm conditions subside and the Captain of the Port has deemed the ports safe to reopen. Once the storm has passed and the threat of severe weather has subsided, the Coast Guard, Army Corp of Engineers and State of Hawaii will jointly conduct surveys of channel blockage and prioritize steps to resume essential, then normal, vessel traffic.

A strike has been announced at Argentina's Customs houses between the hours of 1100 and 2400 tomorrow (31 July) and on Friday (1 August). For operations on Friday 1 August from 0000 to 0600 hours, overtime must be ordered before 0800 hours local time on Thursday. For operations from 0000 hours on Saturday 2 August until 0600 hours on Monday (4 August), overtime should be ordered before 0600 hours on Friday. For information about operations in Argentina, and elsewhere in the Americas, contact the GAC USA Hub Agency Centre at [email protected]

Day one of the California trucker's and Teamsters protest at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach got off to a slow start yesterday as port operations continued without any disruption. With no picket line to honor, members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) continued business as usual. California truck drivers at three major transportation companies went on strike Monday morning. With the backing of the Teamsters, they are demanding the end of purported labor law violations, including misclassification and charges of intimidation and wrongful termination for supporting organized labor. The three firms affected by the strike classify their drivers as independent contractors instead of employees, meaning they don't have to pay various benefits.

The US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced proposed changes to the fees it charges to recoup the costs of agricultural quarantine inspections (AQI) at U.S. ports of entry. AQI activities include inspections conducted by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection of conveyances, cargo and passenger baggage entering the country as well as APHIS' analytical and scientific work to track pests  overseas, focus inspections at ports of entry, and develop the import regulations that protect U.S. animal and plant health from foreign pests. Revenue from fees charged has been insufficient to cover all costs.

GAC is hosting an Open House giving its customers and all oil and gas companies the opportunity to view its new warehouse in the Central Green District of Houston, Texas. The 180,000+ sq. ft. LEED (Leader in Energy and Environment Design) certified cross dock facility includes four acres of outside storage space within a designated Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) and is in close proximity to George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The new building centralizes GAC USA's local and regional executives, multiple business areas and staff under a single roof at 16200 Central Green Blvd in Houston. The grand opening comes hot on the heels of the GAC Group's new brand campaign that promises to help its customers achieve their strategic goals.

Reggie Gray, the president of Houston Intercontinental Chamber of Commerce (HICC) has joined GAC Energy and Marine Services LLC as Vice President of Business Development. GAC Energy and Marine Services is the Houston-based oil and gas subsidiary of the GAC Group, one of the world’s largest service providers to the logistics, shipping and marine industry. In his new role Reggie is responsible for growing new business, strategically aligning the Group’s oil and gas arm with Houston’s…

It has been informed by the Louisiana Maritime Association that Disturbance 33 has become less organized during overnight hour. All of the showers and storms that were present yesterday dissipated. The disturbance is located near the eastern Yucatan Peninsula and is moving to the northwest near 13 mph. A turn to the north is expected during the next 24 hours. As forecasted, the main part of the disturbance will move toward the northern Gulf Coast by Saturday or Sunday, bringing heavy rainfall to the southeast United States, and could remain to the south in the Bay of Campeche.

GAC USA expansion continues with ground breaking of new Houston warehouse; Construction to start on LEED registered building in Central Green Business Park. GAC, a provider of integrated services to the shipping, logistics and marine industry, has announced the official start of construction of its new office and warehouse building in Houston's Central Green Business Park. GAC will consolidate its existing warehouses with the new LEED (Leader in Energy and Environment Design) registered 181,067 square-foot cross dock building which includes four acres of outside storage space.

As of April 15, 2013, the Captain of the Port of Boston has raised the MARSEC Level to MARSEC level 2 within the COPT Boston zone. Each owner or operator of a vessel or facility required to have a security plan under 33 CFR Parts 104 or 105 must notify the COTP at (617) 223-5242 within 12 hours of receipt of notification that measures or actions described in their security plan and any other requirements that may be imposed by the COTP that correspond with MARSEC Level 2 have been attained. Due to this heightened level of security, regulated vessels and facilities under the authority of the COTP and all maritime partners are asked to be aware of the higher threat conditions and to increase protective measures.

GAC USA has formed an alliance with Wightman Shipping Co. in the United States of America (USA). Operating as GAC-Wightman Shipping, the collaboration offers shipping services across North-eastern and Mid-Atlantic ports in Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wightman Shipping was established in 1983. In addition to ship agency, it provides specialised services such as spares delivery, crew changes and bunker supplies etc. “Tapping into GAC’s global network, this agreement provides us with the capability of handling existing and prospective clients at ports around the world,” commented David Wightman, owner of Wightman Shipping.

GAC Bunker Fuels, part of global shipping, logistics and marine services provider GAC, has announced the appointment of Maurice Lara as its Bunker Manager for East Coast USA. He is based in Norwalk, Connecticut and accountable to Nicholas Browne, Global Director of GAC Bunker Fuels, and Bob Bandos, Managing Director of GAC USA. Lara's background is in marine fuel trading, domestic and international logistics, vessel chartering and negotiating charter party agreements and end-to-end commodity transportation.