Safety measures during monsoon period

19 May 2025 / Navlakhi, India

All port users are directed to take the following precautions in the upcoming monsoon season for port operation at Navlakhi Port.

Pre-Arrival Information
All arriving vessels must be provided with necessary pre-arrival information well in advance. The information must be acknowledged and adhered to without exception.

Anchoring Equipment Condition
All vessels are required to confirm the good conditional condition of both their anchoring windlass and their association equipment like windlass cooling system, if applicable.

Pilot Boarding and Guidance
The Pilot/VTMS shall provide explicit guidance regarding the boarding point and boarding arrangements with safe boarding speed as per the prevailing weather conditions. Vessel Masters must strictly comply with these instructions to ensure navigational safety.

Enhanced Anchoring Requirements
All vessels must re-confirm about their anchor windlass brakes in good condition and brake band condition to ensure the vessel’s secure and safe anchoring operation during periods of high winds and swell.

Emergency response Protocol
In the event of any emergency, vessel operations must be halted immediately. The Master shall be informed without delay and necessary safety measures must be initiated promptly.

Weather Precautionary Measures
Vessel Master and agents are to exercise extreme caution during adverse weather conditions throughout the vessel’s port stay. All vessels’ main engines must be kept in standby readiness at short notice during port stay. Port tugs and pilot boat shall remain on standby to provide assistance as required. All critical equipment (steering gear, mooring wrenches, etc) must be in good condition and be fully operational. Anchored vessels must maintain a safe distance from other vessel at OTB and inner anchorage areas at all times. Vessels’ positions to be regularly monitored and logged down in record book.

Ballast Condition Requirements
Vessels in ballast condition must ensure adequate draft and trim to achieve full (100%) submergence of the propellor to maintain effective manueverability.

Barge Operations and Seamanship
Masters of barges must remain fully congnizant of the prevailing weather conditions and are required to observe prudent and safe seamanship practices at all times. All instructions given by VTMS to be strictly adhered while in navigational channel.

Seaworthiness and Due Diligence
Ship owners, managers and Masters must exercise due diligence and reasonable care to maintain the seaworthiness of the vessel at all times, thereby enabling safe and economical voyages within Indian waters and beyond.

Anchorage Communication and Safety
VTMS must ensure regular communication checks with vessels at anchorage, particularly during the monsoon season. Vessels may not drift due to wind or swell, particularly at inner anchorage near Chowguiy jetty. Vessel owners or agents shall be held responsible for any incidents arising from such conditions.

(For information about operations In India, contact GAC India at [email protected])

Source: Gujarat Maritime Board Circular dated 16 May 2025

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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