|
Interesting General News & Information
It is worth to read the most interesting news connected with the Egyptian Maritime Activities which we brief in the
following:
1.- Maritime Transport Committee- Port Said:
The Maritime Transport Committee, Port Said is a recoginzed body under the
jurisdiction of the Egyptian Chamber of Commerce, Port Said.
Its Membership is concentrated amongst the majority of those whose business is connected with the Shipping Activities such as Shipowners , Ship-Operators,
Ships' Agents, Protecting Agents, Marine Consultants, Marine Surveyors, Stevedorage & Storage Companies.
The majority of the members belong to the private sector.
Its Board of Directors is formed as follows:
Mr. Fahmy G.A. Hashish Chairman
Mr. El Sayed Hegazi Hassan Vice- Chairman
Mr. Saied Ahmed Aly Vice- Chairman
Mr. Ragab El Shinnawy Secretary General
Also Eleven other individuals Members.
2.-Chamber of Shipping- Port Said:
We have pleasure to inform you that
after a long absence and consequent to the issuance of the Ministry of Maritime Transport Decree to form four Chambers of Shipping at Alexandria , Port Said , Damietta , Suez and Red Sea Ports , the Board of Directors
of Port Said Chamber has been formed as follows:
Mr. Gamal Abu Aly President
Mr. Fahmy G.A. Hashish Vice-President
Mr. Ragab El Shennawy Secretary
Mr. Mohamed El Sayad Treasurer
And Seven Other Individuals Members
Hoping that Co-Operation with all International
Maritime organizations will take place for the interest of the International Maritime Industry in general.
3.-Kantara Suspended Bridge:
We have the pleasure to append hereunder a free translation
of a circular issued by the Suez Canal Authority- Transit Department, Ismailia on 21/3/2000 , relating to the above bridge.
"-The location of Kantara Suspended Bridge is KM.48.505 Canal Numerical
-Maximum height allowed for transit under the bridge 68 meters
-Function with this height will commence as from 1 st July 2000 and the work in the bridge will be completed about July 2001.
Please be guided accordingly.
4.-Huge Drydock:
Near the Southern Entrance to the Suez Canal lies Odense Suez Marine Service's Huge Drydock which is operated by a joint venture company
established on 16 October 1997 between the Suez Canal Authority and Odense Steel shipyard , the latter having bought the drydock from the German Howaldswerke in kiel earlier in 1999 and then towed it to Suez through the
Suez Canal.
The drydock has a lifting capacity of 55,000 tons, a length of 302 metres, a width of 71 metres and a height of 21 metres, as well as a gantrycrane of 78 metres with a lifting capacity of 150 tons. The
company has a local workforce of some 600 men.5- Hub Port East of Port Said:
Construction Operations are proceeding its container terminal quay activity is
expected to commence during September 2001 and it will be equipped by 5
gantrycranes. The starting capacity will be 600000 teu and will be gradually increased to reach 1.7 Million teu in 2007
6. Further
facilities issued by Suez Canal re Supertankers to pass through the Suez Canal .
Circular to Shipowners/Charterers & Operators
We append hereunder text of Circular No. 3/99 which was issued by
from S.C.Authority , Transit Dept. Ismailia relating to further facilities re supertankers to pass through the Suez Canal contents of which are self explanatory :
Quote "
Circular No. 3/99
Companies
specialized in loading , unloading and re-loading operations , STS can get involved to encourage the passage of supertankers that currently do not use the Suez Canal.
The company can lighten part of the supertanker's
cargo (mother ship) onto a smaller tanker "Suez max." (daughter) at the gulf of Suez , whereby , the two ships transit the Suez Canal before the mother supertanker gets her cargo back at Port Said .
The two ships will be financially treated as follows :
1. Dues are calculated at the rate of USD. 0.10/Barrel , and collected for the total volume of cargo carried by the two ships .
2. The two ships are duly
exempted from the charge of escorting tugboats while transiting the Canal , "Suez Canal Rules of Navigation" .
3. Once the cargo has been reloaded back onto the supertanker, the smaller tanker is exempted from the
transit dues of the return , ballast trip, provided that the ship gets back directly as the job is completed and has not been involved in any commercial business or activity , except for similar operations performed in
the opposite direction .
Prerequisites for the accredited companies :
A. The company should have international experience in this field of work before it is accredited by the SCA to work in the Canal area
in accordance with ICS and OCIMF guidelines.
B. Lightening vessels (smaller tankers) should be either double-hull or SBT tankers
C. The company should be held responsible for any pollution resulting from such
operations as per the provisions of the environment law No. 4/1994 , and the Suez Canal Rules of Navigation .
This circular cancels and supersedes any previous circulars on STS
operations. "Unquote" N.B.:
The following is addendum to SCA Circular 3/99
Addendum to SCA Circular 3/99 regarding STS Operations
The Company should include key personnel that have over 5 years of extensive experience in
STS operations , which are conducted on anchor or underway .
STS superintendents (mooring masters) should be master mariners with "All tonnage foreign - going " license that is (IMO) recognized.
STS
superintendents (mooring masters) who conduct the operation should have over 5 years of extensive experience in on anchor or underway STS operations with similar size and tonnage of such vessels .
Company has to comply with the following :
- Mooring equipment guideline (OCIMF).
International safety guide for oil tankers and terminals (ISGOTT/ISC/OCIMF/IAPH) International regulations for preventing collisions at sea (IMO). Standard marine communication phrases (IMO). Recommendations for oil tanker manifolds & associated equipment (OCIMF) International convention on standards of training certification and watch keeping (1995) and STCW code IMO . Guidelines for handling storage , inspection and testing of hoses in the field (OCIMF)"
Kindly be guided accordingly .
7.-Anti-Fraud Guidance
We append hereunder text of a circular which Suez Canal Authority issued in October 1999 in respect of Fake Invoices
as well as Extortion contents of which are self-explanatory:
*Fake invoices
-Ship Masters should not sign any invoices presented by persons other than agency representatives.
-Masters should check all invoices before signing to make sure that the services stated in the invoices have been rendered
-Masters should not be swayed by threats made to delay vessels, but should immediately
contact the SCA in case such threats are made
*Extortion
-No persons should be allowed on board unless they possess a valid Boarding Card
-Any threats or demands made by non-SCA personnel should be
reported to the agents
-The SCA should immediately be notified of any violations (threats, etc.) committed by SCA personnel (pilots, harbour masters, surveyors ) in order to enable the SCA to take timely action. Non-compliance with transit regulations
-Canal users have to abide by the SCA Rules of Navigation for the safety of traffic in the canal, taking into consideration items concerning
additional dues and imposed tugs
-The Master has to verify that the ship's equipment is sound and in conformity with the SCA Rules of Navigation before transit to avoid additional dues for extra tugs
-The SCA must
verify that ship's equipment is in adequate condition prior to transit, particularly for vessels on which defects have been cited on previous occasions
-In cases when SCA personnel threaten to delay ships on false
pretences due to "fictitious" deficiencies , Masters should notify the SCA immediately so that necessary action can be taken
The SCA again stresses the need for mutual co-operation between Master and SCA pilots in
order to ensure the safety of vessel during transit |
|
