Gac Australia News

The Harbour Master at Port Kembla has issued a notification of potential severe weather forecast for the next 72 hours (18-21 June). The port remains open and conditions will be monitored closely. It is likely that the Harbour Master will order the anchorage to be cleared this evening as a precaution. A low pressure system is expected to develop over southern Queensland or the northern inland of New South Wales during Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. The low will move to the southeast and intensify into an East Coast Low system as it crosses the central or southern New South Wales coast. Heavy rainfall and damaging winds are likely across parts of the coast, central and northern ranges, central west slopes and plains.

BHP has marked a new milestone in their coal sector expansion as BMA opened the new third berth at the Australia's Hay Point Coal Export Terminal this week. The new infrastructure increases Hay Point Coal Terminal’s capacity from 44 million to 55 million tonnes per annum. Hay Point has been in operation since 1971, and the third berth and ship loader has been under construction since 2011. For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at [email protected]

Modelling work over the past two years by the Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) has identified opportunities to increase the shipping capacity in Port Hedland's channel over the next three years to as much as 577 million tonnes a year. According to PPA, the current modelled export capacity of Port Hedland port is 495 million tonnes. It achieved a record throughput of 447 million tonnes in the 2015 financial year, of which iron ore accounted for 440 million tonnes. The modelling, conducted in collaboration with independent maritime engineering company OMC International, found that if a number of innovations and efficiencies at the port were implemented it could bump up the channel's capacity. The port is responsible for about 30% of global seaborne iron-ore trade.

From 1 October, a new regulatory amendment will come into effect which requires cruise ships calling to use low sulphur fuel (01% of less) while berthed in Sydney Harbor. A second stage of the amended regulation, which will require the use of low sulphur fuel (0.1% or less) while in Sydney Harbour (including while berthed) will come into effect from 1 July 2016. Exceptions from the requirement to use low sulphur fuel are provided in some circumstances, for example, ship safety and emergency situations or technical problems. Ships may seek approval from the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to use alternative methods to achieve an equivalent reduction in sulfur oxide and particulate matter emissions, for example, the use of exhaust scrubbers.

The Port Authority of New South Wales (NSW) has issued advice about the Consultation Draft of a new regulation requiring cruise ships to use low sulphur diesel fuel (sulphur content of 0.1% or less) from 1 October. If the regulation is passed, this would be applicable for all cruise ships visiting Sydney Harbour, and then to include all New South Wales ports from 1 July 2016. For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at [email protected]

NSW Ports have advised that from 1 July, there will be 2.38% increase to the Navigation Service Charge (Port Tonnage) and 3% increase to other charges (site occupancy, utilities, cargo wharfage, etc) at Port Kembla. The Navigation Service Charge (Port Tonnage) will increase from A$0.77 per GT to A$0.79 per GT for vessels calling at both the Coal Terminal and BlueScope Berths. For general berths, the increase will be from A$0.46 per GT to A$0.47 per GT for vessels up to 50,000 GT. The new site occupancy charged by NSW Ports at BlueScope Berths will increase from A$350.66 per hour to A$361.18 per hour. For further details and information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at [email protected]

According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's update at 0600 hours local time today (30 April), Severe Tropical Cyclone Quang has just reached category 4 intensity. The cyclone lies about 785km (425NM) northwest of NW Cape. Further intensification is possible. landfall. Nevertheless, gales may persist in southern quadrants, particularly the southeast, as late as Saturday. The Port of Dampier is currently at Cyclone Response Stage 1 – Monitor, with Pilbara Ports Authority monitoring the weather system and assessing its likely path and potential impact on the Port of Dampier. 1) Engines and machinery are fully operational. 2) Vessel stability, trim, and propeller immersion are appropriate. 3) Manning, stores and bunkers are adequate.

A slow moving low pressure system is bringing severe weather conditions off the New South Wales coast, prompting port closures at Port Kembla and Sydney and the imposition of restrictions in Newcastle. Port Kembla remains closed with monitoring of the port entrance to continue. The port will re-open when conditions ease, which may not be until Thursday 23 April. In the Sydney area, Port Botany and Port Jackson have been closed since 0800 of 21 April. Monitoring will continue, but the ports could remain closed for next 48 hours. The port entrance at Newcastle will be set as Heavy with selected restrictions in place for up to the next 12-36 hours, pending further inspections.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has issued and update on Tropical Cyclone Nathan, which has formed in the Coral Sea off the East coast of Australia. It appears that Cairns North may be affected, and Cape Flattery is currently closed awaiting the cyclone to pass. However, at this stage, it does not appear the Queensland Coal Ports will be affected though there is the possibility of heavy rainfall once the cyclone dissipates. The Port of Dampier is at Cyclone Response Stage 3 – Clear Port, and is commencing to clear the port and anchorages of all large vessels 12 hours ahead of the anticipated onset of gale force winds. to enable large vessels to put to sea at short notice or small vessels to move onto their designated cyclone moorings at short notice.

Dampier Port Authority has advised that there is a high probability of a tropical cyclone forming by late Wednesday or early Thursday between Indonesia and North West WA. It is possible that this cyclone will affect coastal waters including Dampier by the end of the week. Port of Dampier is currently at Cyclone Response Stage 1 – Monitor. The situation will continue to be monitored andupdates witll be issued as the situation becomes more clear. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology states there is an indicated increased risk of tropical cyclone formation by late Wednesday. A tropical low is forming south of Indonesia. There is only a small chance of this low developing into a tropical cyclone on Tuesday.

The ports of Port Hedland, Broome and Dampier have advised of precautions being taken in light of a Tropical Low which is expected to develop into a Tropical Cyclone last night. The Tropical Low is positioned just east of Derby and tracking WSW'ly towards the coast. The low is now expected to move over open water and develop into a Tropical Cyclone later tonight, before tracking parallel to the Pilbara coast during Tuesday (20 January). Port Hedland's Harbour Master advises that the port will commence anchorage evacuation this morning and inner harbour evacuations this afternoon following scheduled sailings on the morning high tide. Terminals are to liaise with PPA to identify vessels that will cease cargo and require re-berthing after all clear.

In preparation for a possible tropical cyclone, Broome Port was closed to shipping at 1700 hours local time yesterday (18 January) and Port Hedland is considering port evacuation from today (19 January). A Tropical Low is currently over land in the northern Kimberley and is tracking south-westerly towards the coast. The system is forecast to move over open water on Monday and has the potential to develop into a Tropical Cyclone. The latest advice from the Burea of Meteorology is that current conditions are unfavourable for formation due to high level wind shear, however there remains a small window of opportunity for Tropical Cyclone formation on Monday.

A 4-hours stop work meeting has been formally notified by the MUA at the PB Towage operations at the ports of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Newcastle on Friday 10 October. This comes after PB Towage and the respective maritime unions failed to reach a settlement on the renewal of the PB Towage Enterprise Agreement. Negotiations are continuing, with the unions due to report back through the Fair Work Commission on Monday 13 October.

According to local reports, the industrial action planned at Port Hedland by the AIMPE union for tomorrow (Saturday 9 August), Monday 11 August and Wednesday 13 August has been called off, for now. Tugs at Port Hedland will remain operating as normal. For information about operations in Australoia contact GAC Australia at [email protected]

Teekay Shipping employees at Port Hedland who are members of the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (AIMPE) will take protected industrial action in the form of 4 hour work stoppages starting at 0315 on Saturday (9 August), 0500 on 11 August and 0615 on 13 August. Teekay has attempted to have the industrial action withdrawn by the Union, which has been rejected – and now will apply to the Federal Court for an injunction to stop it. For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at [email protected]

After recent bed levelling at Townsville, the depth of the Platypus Channel has been revised to 11.0m. This means tidal windows for vessels with a draft of 9.70m or greater. For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia in [email protected]

Effective from 1 August 2014, there will be a single towage charge of $49634.20 (excl GST) - $55497.62 (incl GST) for all vessels calling at the port of Hay Point. In relation to towage charges for the services to the BMA Hay Point Coal Terminal, the charge out rate is all-inclusive and include the two tugs, line-boat, linesmen and wharf charges. The towage charges are provided in accordance with the Amended United Kingdom Standard Conditions for Towage and other services (revised 1974). * Normal berthing/sailing requirement: 2 tugs and line boats berthing, 2 tugs departure. If vessel berthing or sailing is cancelled by terminal for weather and/or terminal reason then no additional charge as for terminal account. * If vessel berthing or sailing is cancelled by vessel request – i.e.

Australia's Department of Agriculture will conduct its annual heightened surveillance regime to manage the risks posed by Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) on international vessels from 15 July to 31 October. In its Notice to Industry No.69/2014, the Department states that as in previous years, international vessels that are considered high risk for AGM will receive a questionnaire from the Maritime National Coordination Centre (MNCC) as part of the pre-arrival process. The MNCC willadvise if an AGM inspection is required. The department is requesting vessel masters and crew to remain vigilant for AGM and their egg masses; and to advise the department as soon as possible of any suspected detections of AGM.

Sydney Ports has informed that it will amend the Statutory Port Charges. A 9.64% increase in Statutory Charges for Navigation Services, Pilotage and Site Occupation for Non-Passenger Vessels will come into effect for all commercial ships and related cargo arriving at Sydney ports (Gore Bay, Port Botany and Kurnell) from 1 July 2014. Sydney Ports says it wrote to port users last month, notifying them of the updated charges.   GAC Australia

The Queensland Ports Strategy to protect the Great Barrier Reef, grow jobs and sustainably develop the state's port network was released yesterday. According to Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney, the strategy outlines 18 actions that will provide a rigorous, systematic approach to balance economic development with protection of the environment. Central to the strategy is the establishment of five Priority Port Development Areas for the ports of Townsville, Abbot Point, Hay Point and Mackay, Gladstone and Brisbane. For the next decade, the Queensland Government will prohibit dredging within or adjoining the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area for the development of new…

Cargo loading is understood to have been halted at Port Kembla Coal Terminal PKCT) after both ship loaders suffered a major break-down. No.1 ship loader is believed to have broken down on 27 May, and it is understood that No.2 ship loader also broke down on 30 May, ceasing all loading operations. According to reports, PKCT is working to bring No.1 loader back online. The earliest this is expected is is today. There is currently no indication of when No.2 loader is expected to be in operation. The break-down is expected to cause a delay of up to 5 days delay at the port, based on the current line-up.  All going well, this could be cleared by 10 June. GAC Australia

Multimodal transport operator Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) has awarded an exclusive three-year contract to serve its vessels and port calls across Australia to GAC Australia, part of the global shipping, logistics and marine service provider GAC Group. The contract was signed by Mark Austin, Managing Director of Mitsui O.S.K Lines Australia (MOL), and Phil Coolican, Managing Director, GAC Australia, following a rigorous tender process. MOL, a marine transportation companies, operating a global fleet of more than 900 vessels with an overall capacity of around 66 million deadweight tons (DWT).