New Request of Pre-Arrival Notice to Port Authority for All Vessels Passing Changhua Wind Farm Channel, Taiwan after 26 October 2021

To ensure the navigational safety and efficiency in Changhua Wind Farm off Taiwan, all vessels estimated to pass through the Changhua offshore areas after 26 October 2021 are requested to issue a pre-arrival notice to Marine Port Bureau in advance. Failure to do sois subject to an administrative fine up to NTD500,000 in accordance with Articles 9 and 10 of Taiwan Aids to Navigation Act.

Following is the general information about the new stipulations in respect of the Pre-Arrival Notification (PAN) that we have collected for shipowners' reference.

Where is geographic location of the Changhua Offshore Wind Farm Channel of Taiwan?

The Wind Farm is generally located within the area between south of Taichung Port and the north of Mailiao Port.

The detailed locations of traffic lanes and reporting lines are provided in the attachment for shipowners' easy reference.

Two dotted lines in red are set up at the both borders. When vessels reach the said lines report upon arrival and entry of the Wind Farm Channel should be submitted.

Who shall make the Pre-Arrival Notification Form (PAN) to Maritime Port Bureau Taiwan? When shall it be made?

Except for military vessels, Taiwan government ships and Taiwan flagged fishing boats, all other vessels are required to declare vessels' arrival 8 hours before entering the Changhua Wind Farm Channel. The Pre-Arrival Notification Form (PAN) shall be filled in and submitted to port authority, Maritime Port Bureau through email owfvts@motcmpb.gov.tw. The form is also attached hereafter for shipowners' easy reference.

The port authority shall acknowledge the "Pre-Arrival Notification received" to the ship. However, in the event that the vessel does not receive the aforesaid confirmation from port authority by 4 hours before arrival the Channel, the vessel needs to re-submit the Pre-Arrival Notification Form again. On the occasion where the vessel's estimated arrival time is delayed for 4 hours or more, it is also necessary to re-submit the Pre-Arrival Notification Form to authority.

Pre-Arrival Notification Form requests Ship to provide salvage contractor's contact details. Is it essential to bind a salvage contract with salvor in advance?

Up to date, there has been no specific regulation that demands shipowners to contract a salvor in advance. However, for the sake of good order, it is suggested that shipowners may have a verbal consent from a salvor to put it on standby for any urgent response to marine casualties within the Wind Farm. The authority would like the applicant shipowners to insert the name of salvor and the 24-hours contact number for liaison on the PAN form.

With respect to salvor selection, it is same that the authority has yet to lay down the criteria of the salvors for the emergent response. Domestic and international salvage companies are eligible to be the selected providers.

Maritime Port Bureau may come up with some criteria of the salvor qualification in the future, and we will monitor the stipulations from time to time. Any change of the regulation will be updated to shipowners for proper preparation.

What shall the vessel do upon her arrival of Wind Farm Channel?

Vessels are to report their arrival to Changhua VTS through the designated communication channel (VHF channel 68) at the reporting lines, the dotted lines remarked on the map attached.

The vessel should report a) the name of vessel, b) call sign, c) sailing course and speed, d) location including latitude and longitude, and e) other relevant navigational safety information to Changhua VTS.

The authority will verify the vessel in accordance with the Pre-Arrival Notification Form submitted and confirm by "Entry is permitted" for the vessel's passage through the Wind Farm Channel.

For any further inquiry in respect of the Pre-Arrival Notification to pass through Changhua Wind Farm Channel, please kindly contact Taiwan Maritime Services Ltd., as the correspondent of P&I Club by email tmspis@ms1.hinet.net or telephone: +886 983 345 693.