Apra Harbor

1. Alpha Hotel Pilot boards13°26.9′N 144°35.3′E

Size limits

Max LOA 315.83m, beam 49.99m, draught 15.8m, 115,897DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range 1.1m. Flow: Off the entrance, the flood stream sets between N and NE and the ebb stream SW, slack water occurring at 30 minutes before LW and 45 minutes before HW. When combined with the SW-going current associated with the NE trades, which is greatly affected by the force of the wind and may on occasions be sufficient to overcome the NE going stream, the resultant flow has max rates of 1.5kts NE going and 3kts SW going. Strong tide rips may also be met.

Swell: Heavy W swells sometimes make the harbour entrance dangerous for a period of several days; this occurs when a typhoon is building up in the area and moving NW.

Current information: Information on the strong currents in the harbour entrance is available on request on VHF Ch 12.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

The permissible draught in the channel is 12.0-30m.

Vessels approaching the harbour shall pass through "Alpha Hotel Point", where they must wait for pilot to board and thereafter shall keep on the entrance leading lights alignment. When entering ships pass Buoys No 1 and 2, then line up on a bearing of 083°. The alignment, 083°, of these lights leads from Alpha Hotel Point (13°27.0'N 144°4.0'E) through the harbour entrance, 215m in width, passing: N of Orote Island, close off N side of Orote Point, then: S of No 2 Lightbuoy (port hand) marking Spanish Rocks on the N side of the entrance, and close N of No 1 Lightbuoy (starboard hand) on the S side of the entrance.

Caution: When passing through the entrance, a speed of not less than 10kts is recommended to allow for cross sets often experienced here. Then the track leads towards General Anchorage or continues 083° through Outer Harbour, passing (positions relative to front leading light): S of a shoal with a least depth of 12.3m over it, 1.7nm W, then S of Middle Ground, 1.2nm W, then N of No 3 Lightbuoy (starboard hand) marking the NW extremity of Western Shoal, 0.7nm WSW, which dries.

Then the deepest route leads NE towards the required berth in the commercial port, passing NW of "A" Lightbuoy (preferred channel to port) 0.5nm W, marking the N end of a shoal with a least depth of 13.4m over it. Vessels leaving the harbour shall keep on the leading lights alignment as far to seaward of the entrance as practicable.

Anchorages

General anchorage: In the N part of Apra Outer Harbor, may be used by any vessel except those carrying more than 25t of high explosives. The naval mooring buoys in the anchorage may be used for a period up to 72 hours if authorised by the Port Captain.

Otherwise, anchorage is afforded as convenient within the area but clear of Middle Ground and the shoal 0.2nm W of it. The bottom is mainly coral and the holding ground is not good.

Security Zone "C" has been established round No 702 Buoy and entry is prohibited unless authorised by the Port Captain.

Naval Anchorages "A" and "B": Naval Anchorages "A" and "B", in the S and SE part of the harbour, respectively, and the mooring buoys therein, may not be used by non-naval vessels without permission of the local US Naval Authorities requested through the Harbour Master whose permission must also be obtained. Small craft that are continuously manned and capable of getting underway, may anchor during daylight hours without permission.

Explosive anchorage: Vessels carrying more than 25t of high explosives must use Explosives Anchorage No 701 in the W part of Naval Anchorage "A", unless otherwise directed by the Port Captain.

Restrictions

Inbound traffic has priority. Entrance into harbour is restricted when winds exceed 35kts.

Charts and publications

BA 1109. Admiralty Pilot NP60, NP286(4).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Any changes to the above should be notified to the Harbour Master immediately.

Communications

VHF: Guam Port Control (KUF810): Ch 16, 12, 13. Tel: +1 671 477 5931. Email: [email protected].

All vessels should contact Marine Traffic Control on Ch 13 of all intended movements in the harbour area.

Documents

Ship's Register is required.

Cargo documentation: Full cargo documentation is required, for US Coast Guard and Customs.

Customs and immigration

US Immigration and Customs rules and regulations apply.

Notices and regulations

Vessels entering, leaving or shifting berth are required to give a minimum of 96 hours notice to the Port Authority of Guam, the Harbour Master and US Coast Guard Port Captain. No vessel shall pass or attempt to pass another vessel in the vicinity of Outer Harbor entrance.

Vessels shall not anchor in the fairway.

Vessels over 100GT shall not exceed 12kts within the harbour.

No vessel shall enter or leave harbour without radio clearance from the Harbour Master.

US inland rules of the road apply within Apra Harbor, and International Navigation Rules (72 Colregs) outside a line extending from Orote Island to the tip of Glass Breakwater.

Port State Control here: US Coast Guard.

Foreign ships are examined by the US Coast Guard. File the Advance Notice of Arrival 96 hours ahead (33 CFR 160).

ISPS

For ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org.

Repairs

Repairs are available at Berth F-2, Commercial Pier and the Navy Ship Repair Facility.

Dry docks

Floating dock, lifting capacity 18,000t, can accommodate vessels LOA 213m, draught 10.7m. Minor repairs only.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available at Berths No F-1, F-3, F-6, Golf Pier or by road tanker. Bunker service provided by Shell and Mobil.

Medical

Nearest hospital: U.S. Naval Hospital (8km).

Crew change

Available.

Transport

Nearest airport: Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (14km).

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Apra Harbor is situated on the W coast of the island of Guam, over 1,400nm S of Tokyo.

The port

Apra Harbor contains the Port of Guam. The island comes under the jurisdiction of the USA and has a large naval base in the Inner Harbor in addition to its commercial activities in the Outer Harbor. The typhoon season is from May-Nov when port operations may be affected.

Traffic

Approx 1,950,000t of cargo, 100,000TEU and 760 vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Apra Harbor?

The pilot boards at Alpha Hotel, 13°26.9′N 144°35.3′E.

What time zone is Apra Harbor in?

Local time at Apra Harbor is UTC+10. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Apra Harbor?

The deepest berth listed is at Guam: 14.80 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Apra Harbor?

1025.

Which load line zone is Apra Harbor in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Apra Harbor?

Port State Control at Apra Harbor: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Apra Harbor?

The UN/LOCODE of Apra Harbor is GUAPR.

What crews who called at Apra Harbor say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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