Astrakhan

Size limits

LOA 141m, beam 16.9m, 8,152DWT

Load line zone

Summer

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

Approach

Astrakhan is connected to the Caspian Sea by the Volga-Caspian Canal, length 102nm (188km) and 5.0m deep. The passage draught in the canal is 4.2m. The canal is buoyed with lateral marks in accordance with IALA Region 'A'. The numeration of buoys starts from 0km (KrasniyeBarrikadi) and goes eastward.

Port limits

From Streletskoye down the River Volga to Karsniye Barrikadi, the Volga -Caspian Canal, the Astrakhan sea roads and berths of the sea transport companies.

Traffic schemes and VTS

The Waypoints and the pilot vessel instructions as to the order of movement, speed, anchorage place, emergency actions are obligatory for all vessels. Vessels must repeat the instructions addressed to them and must give the reason if they are unable to comply.

Vessels sailing from the sea must establish contact with the pilot vessel and light vessel Astrakhanskiy Priyemiy on VHF, 1 hour before entry into the canal.

Their Masters must give information about the type of vessel, time of approach to Volga Caspian Canal, maximum speed and ice class, flag and ownership, vessel's agent in the port, NT, main particulars, current draught, type and quantity of cargo, restrictions in steerability which can effect the safety of navigation and manoeuvring. Masters are responsible for correctness of information given.

Despite movement and direction of traffic, vessels proceeding to save life and search and rescue operations as well as Naval and Coastguard vessels have priority in the districts with one way traffic.

The duty Coastguard Officer, the Waypoints, the pilot and the light vessel Astrakhanskiy Priyemniy officers have the right to demand confirmation of received information from vessel's Masters as well as to demand information about expected or executed manoeuvres, local navigational situations, rendering assistance in establishing communications with vessels, with which communication has been broken.

Anchorages

Anchorages 4, 5 and 6 for vessels waiting permission to enter the Volga Caspian Canal from the sea are situated 1nm W of Entrance Lightbuoys 259 and 260.

Outside the canal limits at depths of more than 5.0m and with he following co-ordinates:

For vessels with dangerous cargoes:

44°45'N 047°42'E

44°46'N 047°42'E

44°46'N 047°44'E

44°45'N 047°44'E

For vessels on Quarantine-District-5:

44°46'N 047°42'E

44°47'N 047°42'E

44°47'N 047°44'E

44°46'N 047°44'E

For dry cargo vessels:

44°47'N 047°42'E

44°48'N 047°42'E

44°48'N 047°42'E

44°47'N 047°42'E

Anchorage for vessels in quarantine in the Volga Caspian Canal is situated in the district limited by 34.1km and 34.6km on the left bank.

Anchorages on the River Volga from 3,029km to 3,063km with their specifications are shown on navigational charts.

Restrictions

Only vessels with a length of not more than 135m, a beam of not more than 20m and a draught of 4.2m can pass through the canal.

Due to different natural factors the level of water in the port waters can vary so the maximum possible draught will be established by the Harbour Master and stated in the coastal warning. Vessels with a greater dimension can enter the canal only with permission of the Harbour Master.

Instructions: Vessels will be notified of changes to navigation, draught restrictions, canal dimension, condition of navigational aids for passage through the canal by means of services of the coastal warnings, Port State Control Inspection, the pilot vessel and Waypoints 1 (28.3km), 2 (73.0km), 3 (117.9km) 4 (140.0km) information on VHF Ch 16.

The entire length of the Volga Caspian Canal is the main fairway. Branches and small canals connected to it are additional fairways. Vessel's speed in the canal must not cause waves which may damage the banks and the reinforcing constructions or cause danger to other vessels and sailing craft at the banks or berths.

Manoeuvering in the canal must be at the minimum speed which allows steerability. Vessels are prohibited from causing hindrance to others, passing between trawling vessels, crossing Naval formations, to approach single vessels with three green lights or three black balls (in the daytime) mounted in a triangle with its apex up (COLREG-72) for a distance of 100m.

All vessels are prohibited from using bright lights at night. Bright lights can be used to see banks and buoys only if there are no oncoming vessels nearby

Wind: In the canal district from 135 to 188km it is prohibited to remain underway at wind speed of 19kts and more - for self propelled vessels without cargo and ballast in both directions.

33kts and more - for self propelled vessels with cargo or ballast in both directions.

27kt and more - for towed convoys in both directions.

The speed of vessels with excessive freeboard must not exceed 8kts, their two way traffic is allowed at wind speed of not more than 19kts and their speed of not more than 6kts. Only one way traffic is allowed at wind speed of 19kts.

Visibility: Traffic is stopped at wind speed of more than 27kts and restricted visibility.

At visibility of less than 1km, vessel traffic in Volga-Caspian Canal (except the district from 95km to 145km) and in the Serebryanaya Volozhka Canal is prohibited. Traffic allowed for single vessels, except vessels with dangerous cargo and passenger vessels, proceeding from the sea and fitted with radar, compasses and VHF stations, in the above mentioned area are restricted visibility of less than 1km.

Overtaking: Overtaking in the District 95km to 145km is allowed if both banks are visible abeam and two vessel's lengths are visible ahead.

Traffic in the canal is permitted at restricted visibility if proceeding to save life or engage in search and rescue operations if they are fitted with radar, compasses and VHF stations.

Low water: In case of low water in the district of the canal from 135-160km and wind speed exceeding 27kts, vessels proceeding seaward must anchor in a convenient place, but not lower than 135km, and vessels proceeding upwards in Astrakhan road at anchorages 4, 5 and 6. Following wind speed decrease and obtaining information about sufficient depth, they will heave anchor and continue on permission of the pilot vessel and Waypoint 4. Vessel's Master will inform the Harbour Master about all anchoring information in the port waters. They must also inform Light Vessel Astrakhanskiy Priyemniy at Astrakhan Roads, the duty Coastguard officer in the port. In the District 153km to 188km of the canal, W'ly or E'ly winds can cause considerable drift, vessels may pass each other on port and starboard sides.

Ice: When the port starts to get icebound, navigation in Astrkahan Roads, the Volga Caspian Canal and the River Volga (3063.5 - 3029.0km) without icebreaker assistance is prohibited. Vessels with ice class can sail on permission of the Harbour Master. Vessel's entry and exit from the Serebryanaya Volozhka Canal at the beginning of ice formation is allowed only on permission of the Harbour Master.

Vessels proceeding in the Volga Caspian Canal from the sea are prohibited to enter when there is ice at Astrakhan without ice breaker assistance. Winter ferrying is effected in district villages Mayachnoye (42km), Trud-Front (61km), Fedorovka (72km). Owner/organisers of ferrying points and bridges must report their place and start of operations to Astrakhan MAP which will publish the information in the coastal warnings.

Tugs

Tugs are available.

Mooring

Stormy weather: Following the transmission of storm/gale warnings, vessels must be moored with additional mooring lines to the storm shore facilities. In extraordinary circumstances all vessels and craft in the port are under the command of the Harbour Master and must comply with his instructions.

Charts and publications

BA 1439. Admiralty Pilot NP24, NP286(3).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessels proceeding to the port berths or in transit must give their arrival information to the Duty Coastguard Officer and the Port State Control Inspection. This must include information about the vessels agent, port of destination, if the vessel is in transit, as well as LOA, beam and depth. If the vessel's Master does not have a radio station onboard, he will give the arrival information via the radio station of the port of departure.

Communications

During mooring and towing operations, communications between the towed vessels is carried out on VHF Ch 06.

Communications on Ch 16 which is not connected with safety or navigation matters is prohibited.

Documents

Clearing in: Is carried out by the Port State Control Inspection in accordance with the General rules.

Clearing out: The vessel's readiness to sail is checked by the Port State Control Inspection. This is effected onboard vessel if she is at a berth or at anchor. The order for clearing a vessel out is signed by the Master and tendered via the Agent to the State Port Control Inspection 12 hours before expected time of departure. The Master will be expected to inform the Port State Control Inspection of the exact time of departure.

Health

Masters of vessels arriving at the port must give information to the Sanitary Quarantine department according to the Health Declaration, 6 hours prior to arrival If there is a quarantine situation or sick crew members or passengers onboard, the vessel will anchor and await further instructions. Nobody can embark or disembark the vessel before a Sanitary Inspection. Inspection of vessels and objects in the port territory is handled by the City Sanitary-Epidemiological Service.

Customs and immigration

There is a Customs station in the port which allows handling of cargoes from foreign vessels and deals with export and transit cargoes without delays.

Notices and regulations

Vessels operating in Russian inner waterways only and proceeding in transit from the Volga to the Volga-Caspian Canal must get an appropriate permission from the Astrakhan State Port Control Inspection.

The vessel's Master, when entering or leaving the port for the river or for the sea, must inform the Duty Coastguard Officer and the Port State Control Inspection about the exact time of arrival/departure.

Vessels proceeding from the sea which are required to wait are prohibited from entering the Volga -Caspian Canal and must anchor at the anchorages. The Harbour Master will inform the vessel's Master of the expected time of entry into the canal.

Vessels and sailing craft can stay at berth only in Serebryanaya Volozhka Canal.

Hydrofoils must pass dredgers in water displacement areas. Dredgers operating in the canal must be stationed at a distance of not less than 3km from each other to provide for safe passage of other vessels. Avoiding dredgers in the canal is effected in accordance with the appropriate rules. To provide for safe passage of vessels, Ch 16 and hand signals are used. The dredger will give a sound signal to the vessel and confirm the side of free passage with hand signals.

Vessel Masters proceeding to save life or engage in search and rescue operations must inform the Harbour Master.

Vessels proceeding to the canal for trial or test exit and entry will enter the canal on the permission of the Harbour Master.

There are occasional fishing operation in the Canal (85-95km), using fishing nets. Therefore, all vessels must comply with Russian rules for coastal sailing. No more than 2 vessels alongside each other may stay at one berth in the port waters. Anchors must be heaved up into the hawse pipe and secured.

If there is low water in the port, buffer craft must be stationed to prevent vessels grounding during their cargo operations.

Shifting of self propelled vessels is effected on condition that their main engines, steering gear and anchoring gear are in working order. Shifting of self propelled and non self propelled vessels with immobilised main engines, steering gear and anchoring gear, is carried out at wind speed of not more than 19kts. Shifting of foreign going Russian vessels and foreign vessels must be arranged with the Coastguard not less than 2 hours before the start of the operation.

Wintering stay in the Serebryanaya Volozha Canal is allowed only on permission of Astrakhan MAP and the Isle of Zayachiy Fire Brigade on the vessel owners request. Vessels positioned according to the scheme adopted by the Harbour Master and confirmed by Astrakhan MAP Chief Manager.

Laid up stay with immobilization in the Serebryanaya Volozhka Canal is effected on permission of Astrakhan MAP on the vessel owners request under their responsibility on compliance with the general rules.

Vessels are prohibited to moor to berths without fenders or with fenders that are damaged. On approach to a berth , the vessel's speed must be reduced to the minimal. Mooring to fenders or other parts of the berth equipment which is not meant for mooring is prohibited as well as mooring to navigational aids or bank securing constructions, except in cases when the constructions have fenders and mooring facilities permit the vessels stay and mooring.

It is prohibited to have mooring trials of vessels including propeller operations at cargo berths.

The vessel's Master must inform the nearest Waypoint Officer, the pilot vessel or the Harbour Master and oncoming vessels if there is any lowering of water level discovered, navigational aids not available or off position and any marker lights missing or unlit.

Port State Control here: Tokyo MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.

Position: Head of Maritime Security Service.

Address: 3/6, Petrovka Str, Moscow 125993, Russia.

Tel: +7 495 221 7130.

Fax: +7 495 200 1003.

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: http://www.msecurity.ru

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

Repairs

Available

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water available at all terminals.

Medical

Available in Astrakhan.

Crew change

Available

Transport

The nearest airport is Narimanovo (Astrakhan).

The nearest railway station is Trusovo, which is 7km from the port. Private lines connect terminals to Trusovo.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

The port is situated in the mouth of the River Volga on the Volga-Caspian Canal.

The port

Astrahkan is an important transport centre where the Caspian Sea and the Volga River waterways cross. The city port has two cargo regions 'Central' and 'Perevalochnyiis' and the Port Authority includes the oil terminal at Ilinka, the sea port of Olya and various other terminals along the river. In winter the River Volga and its adjoining sea harbours are frozen, the navigation period is from Apr - Nov. From Dec - Mar vessels from Astrakhan to the Caspian Sea, approx 100 miles, are convoyed by icebreakers.

The port handles metals, metal products, sawn timber, fertiliser, building materials, heavy lifts, petroleum products and containers.

Traffic

Approx 3,700,000t of cargo handled annually.

What time zone is Astrakhan in?

Local time at Astrakhan is UTC+4. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Astrakhan?

The deepest berth listed is at Petroleum Storage Depot No 05: 4.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

Which load line zone is Astrakhan in?

Summer

Who carries out Port State Control at Astrakhan?

Port State Control at Astrakhan: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Astrakhan?

The UN/LOCODE of Astrakhan is RUASF.

What crews who called at Astrakhan 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.

Read and add tips for Astrakhan →