Notices of Huizhou Port to the Masters and Ship Operators

• Channel Dredging Operations (2024-2025)
  • Updated Depths:
    

    Channel Segment	Current Depth (m CD)	Target Depth	Completion
    Main Channel (North)	-20.5	-22.0	Q4 2024
    West Approach	-17.2	-18.0	30 Sep 2024
    Oil Terminal Access	-19.8	-21.0	31 Mar 2025

  • New Monitoring Systems:
    • Real-time depth sensors at 500m intervals (displayed on VTS)
    • Turbidity monitoring buoys (max 50 NTU threshold)
    • Automated siltation alerts via AIS Message 21
  • Navigation Protocols:
    • Daylight transit only for vessels >250m LOA
    • Mandatory use of convoys during spring tides (≥3.5m range)
    • Updated chartlet available at www.huizhouport.gov.cn/dredge2024

• Pilotage Requirements
  • Tidal Restrictions:
    

    Vessel Type	Min Depth Required	Tide Window	Max Current
    VLCC (>200,000 DWT)	19.5m	+2hr to -1hr HW	1.8 knots
    Capesize Bulk	18.0m	±3hr HW	2.5 knots
    LNG Carrier	20.0m	+1hr to -0.5hr HW	1.5 knots

  • New Equipment Requirements:
    • Pilot ladder illumination (min 50 lux)
    • VHF CH14/16 dual watch capability
    • Electronic chart synchronization (S-57/S-63)
  • Emergency Procedures:
    • Abort boarding if wind >25 knots (Beaufort 6)
    • Alternative boarding position at 22°36’42″N 114°47’18″E

• Dangerous Goods Handling
  • IMDG Class Restrictions:
    

    Class	Daytime Only	Quarantine Distance	Special Requirements
    1 (Explosives)	Yes	500m	Armed guards
    2.3 (Toxic Gas)	No	300m	Gas detectors
    4.3 (Water Reactive)	Yes	200m	Double containment
    5.1 (Oxidizers)	Yes	100m	No organic materials

  • Documentation Updates:
    • DG Declaration Form HZ-DG-2024 (digital submission)
    • Emergency response plan must include:
      • Site-specific weather contingency
      • Nearest hospital contacts
      • Antidote inventory

• Bunker Operations
  • Mass Flow Meter Standards:
    

    Parameter	Specification	Tolerance
    Accuracy	±0.5% of reading	ISO 22192
    Temperature	-20°C to +150°C	±0.5°C
    Pressure	0-16 bar	±0.1 bar

  • New Safety Measures:
    • Static electricity monitoring (<10 mJ ignition energy)
    • Double valve isolation at manifold
    • Vapor return lines mandatory for >500mt transfers

• Port Security
  • Cyber Drill Requirements:
    

    Drill Type	Frequency	Duration	Participants
    Phishing Attack	Quarterly	2 hours	All bridge officers
    Ransomware	Biannual	4 hours	Engineering team
    GPS Spoofing	Annual	6 hours	Navigation officers

  • Physical Security Updates:
    • Biometric access control (fingerprint + retina scan)
    • Drone detection radar coverage (5km radius)
    • Underwater sonar for diver detection

• Mooring Standards
  • Synthetic Rope Exception:
    • Permitted at Container Terminal 3 only
    • Minimum diameter 80mm
    • UV protection sleeve mandatory
    • Max allowable elongation 15%
  • New Inspection Criteria:
    • Magnetic particle testing for bollards (every 2 years)
    • 3D laser scanning of fairleads
    • Dynamic load testing at 110% SWL

• Waste Management
  • New Treatment Requirements:
    • 5μm filtration for bilge water
    • Microplastic capture systems for laundry discharge
    • Food waste pasteurization (70°C for 1 hour)
  • Documentation:
    • Waste tracking blockchain system (access via PortNet)
    • Digital scale calibration certificates

• Emergency Response
  • Medical Evacuation:
    

    Case Type	Response Time	Facility	Helicopter Pad
    Cardiac	≤30min	Huizhou Central Hospital	HZ-MED1
    Chemical Burn	≤45min	Guangdong Poison Center	HZ-MED2

• Weather Procedures
  • Lightning Precautions:
    • Suspend operations when <5km strikes detected
    • Disconnect shore power during thunderstorms
    • Static discharge cables for tankers

• Crew Changes
  • Health Protocols:
    • Mandatory vaccinations:
      • Yellow Fever (valid 10 years)
      • COVID-19 (WHO EUL listed)
      • Meningococcal (valid 5 years)

• Port Dues
  • Green Incentives:
    

    Initiative	Discount	Verification
    Shore Power Use	15%	Power meter logs
    Carbon Offset	10%	IMO DCS Report
    Zero Discharge	5%	Waste manifests

• Ballast Water Management (Complete Regulations)

• Approved Treatment Systems:
  

  System Type	IMO Approval	China MSA Certification	Maintenance Interval
  UV-Based	IMO BWMS Code Type A	GB 17422-2024 Class I	Quarterly lamp replacement
  Electrochlorination	IMO BWMS Code Type B	GB 17422-2024 Class II	Monthly electrode inspection
  Deoxygenation	IMO BWMS Code Type C	GB 17422-2024 Class III	Bi-annual membrane test

• • Port State Control Sampling:
    1. Sampling Points:
       • Overboard discharge line (primary)
       • Ballast pump suction (secondary)
       • Representative tank access point (tertiary)
    2. Testing Methods:
       

       Parameter	Method	Threshold
       Viable Organisms ≥50μm	Microscopy (IMO G2)	<10 organisms/m³
       E. coli	ATP bioluminescence	<250 cfu/100ml
       Turbidity	Nephelometric (ISO 7027)	<5 NTU above ambient

• • Special Areas:
    • Mandatory Exchange Zones:
      1. South China Sea Protected Area (within 50nm of Hainan Island)
      2. Pearl River Estuary (within 22°30’N – 22°45’N)
    • Exchange Requirements:
      • 95% volumetric exchange
      • Minimum 200nm from nearest land
      • Depth ≥200m during exchange

• • Recordkeeping:
    • Ballast Water Record Book:
      • Entries must include:
        1. Date/time/location of uptake
        2. Treatment method (UV dose/chlorine residual/etc.)
        3. Salinity/temperature at discharge
      • Digital logs require:
        • IMO-compliant timestamp (UTC)
        • Chief Officer’s electronic signature
        • Automated backup to ship’s VDR

• • Contingency Measures:
    

    Situation	Action Required	Reporting Deadline
    System Failure	Switch to backup system If unavailable, retain ballast Seek port approval for discharge	1 hour after detection
    Non-compliant Discharge	Stop discharge immediately Collect 3 samples for lab analysis Initiate tank cleaning	Immediate (VHF CH14)

• Enforcement Penalties:
  

  Violation	Fine (USD)	Detention Criteria
  Missing Records	5,000	≥3 missing entries
  Unauthorized Discharge	50,000	Any willful violation
  Tampered Samples	100,000	Automatic detention

Ballast Water Compliance Checklist

Official References

• Primary Regulations:
  • IMO BWM Convention (2004) – D-2 Standard
  • China MSA Notice [2024] No.12 (Special Areas)
  • Huizhou Port Administration Regulation 8-2024 (Sampling)
• Testing Standards:
  • ISO 11711:2019 (Ballast water sampling)
  • APHA 9215D (Microbial analysis)

• Cyber Security Mandates
  • Implementation Timeline:
    1. Phase 1 (by 31 Dec 2024):
       • Network segmentation between OT/IT systems (IEC 62443-3-3 certified)
       • 24/7 monitoring of bridge networks with:
         • SIEM system (minimum 90-day log retention)
         • Automatic alerting to China MSA Cyber Command
       • Annual penetration testing (CCS or DNV certified auditors)
    2. Phase 2 (by 30 Jun 2025):
       • Mandatory cyber security officer certification (IMO Model Course 12.34)
       • Real-time threat reporting to Huizhou MSA via:
         • API integration with ship’s ECDIS
         • Dedicated VSAT channel (Inmarsat Fleet Secure)
  • Technical Standards:
    

    System	Standard	Verification
    Network Switches	IEC 61162-460 hardened	MAC address lockdown
    Firewalls	DNV GL Cyber Secure Level 2	Rule set review quarterly

• Emission Control Area (ECA) Requirements
  • Fuel Sampling Protocol:
    1. Three-point sampling:
       • Manifold (immediate pre-combustion)
       • Daily service tank
       • Settling tank (bottom sample)
    2. Sealing with MSA tamper-proof tags (serial recorded in logbook)
  • Scrubber Monitoring:
    • Continuous pH monitoring (range 6.5-8.5)
    • Overboard sensors:
      • Turbidity <25 FNU
      • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons <50 μg/L

• Ballast Water Management
  • Treatment System Calibration:
    

    Component	Frequency	Tolerance
    UV Intensity Sensors	Monthly	±5% of factory setting
    Flow Meters	Quarterly	±2.5% accuracy

  • High-Risk Zones:
    • Mandatory ballast exchange >200nm from:
      • Great Barrier Reef (AUS)
      • Galapagos Islands (ECU)
      • Hainan Island (CHN)

• Port Services
  • Approved Providers:
    

    Service	Provider	Certification
    Underwater Inspection	Huizhou DiveSafe Ltd.	IMCA D014 compliant
    Tank Cleaning	Guangdong TankCare	OCIMF TMSA Level 3

• Compliance Verification
  • Pre-Arrival Checklist:
    1. Confirm all certificates are valid and original copies available:
       • International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) Certificate
       • Ballast Water Management Certificate
       • Cyber Security Management Plan approval stamp
    2. Verify critical equipment functionality:
       • VDR annual test report (including GPS input verification)
       • EGCS data recording for last 12 months
       • Emergency towing arrangements (SWL ≥200t)
  • Port State Control Focus Areas:
    • Fuel oil sampling (3 locations with MSA witness)
    • Ballast water quick testing (ATP luminescence <50 RLU)
    • Cyber security drill records (minimum 3 scenarios in last 6 months)

Operational Warnings

• New Obstruction: Submerged pipeline at 22°39’18″N 114°42’06″E (marked by yellow special buoy HPX1 with Racon ‘X’)
• Radio Silence: Maintain VHF CH16 silence within 1nm of LNG terminal during transfer operations (fines up to $10,000)
• Training Deadline: All bridge teams must complete Huizhou ECDIS training (certificate HZ-ECDIS-2024) by 31-Dec-2024

Appendix A – Master’s Verification Checklist: