PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Bayonne
Pilot
updated Aug 2010Pilotage is compulsory for vessels more than 60m in length entering or leaving harbour, and for all vessels with dangerous cargo onboard. Request for pilots should be sent at least 12 hours in advance and before 1800hrs for vessels arriving the following morning. The pilotage service acknowledges requests, giving the time and place at which the pilot will board. When approaching and within the pilotage district limits continuous watch should be kept on VHF radio.
Weather permitting, the pilot boards W of BA Lightbuoy (43°33.0'N 001°33.0'W). In bad weather, after consultation with the pilotage service, the pilot may be embarked off Saint-Jean-de-Luz (10nm SW) and conduct the vessel either to L'Adour or Saint-Jean-de-Luz anchorage.
Key data
updated Jul 2022Size limits
LOA 180m, beam 30m, draught 8.7m, 37,084DWT.
Water density
1000-1010.
Load line zone
North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.
Tides
Range 4.4m springs, 1.4m neaps.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quai Delure Terminal | — | 145 m | 1 |
| Quai En Eau Profonde | — | 180 m | 1 |
| Raffinerie Du Midi | — | 108 m | 1 |
| Chane Terminal Bayonne | 8.70 m | 177 m | 1 |
| Maisica Terminal | — | 160 m | 1 |
| Quai Marcel Forgues and Tramut | 7.00 m | 119 m | 2 |
| Saint Bernard Terminal | 6.10 m | 128 m | 1 |
| Total Edouard Castel Terminal | 6.10 m | 177 m | 2 |
| Armand-Gomez Terminal | 6.00 m | 90 m | 1 |
| Edmond Foy Terminal | — | 90 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Jul 2022Approach
Leading Lights: Inbound, the first alignment is 090° on the N bank, the alignment (111°) of the leading lights at the E end of the S training wall leads through the entrance between Jetee N and Jetee S, the inner breakwaters, whose foundations extend 20m into the channel.
Port limits
The port limits are defined by Adour River, from the end of the Jetee N to Pont Grenet.
Anchorages
Depth is about 40-50m.
Restrictions
Movements at night are suspended when the wind reaches Beaufort force 5.
Tugs
Two tugs, 1 x 30t bollard pull and 1 x 15t bollard pull, both with fire fighting capabilities.
Mooring
Subject to French Regulations, contact Bayoonne Port Control or Socoa Signal Station on VHF Ch 12 before mooring.
Charts and publications
BA 1175. Admiralty Pilot NP22, NP286(1).
Reporting before arrival
updated May 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
Notify agents or pilot station of ETA 24 hours prior to arrival.
Communications
VHF: L'Adour Pilots: Ch 12.
Bayonne Port Control: Ch 12, throughout 24 hours. Tel: +33 5 59 63 11 57. Fax: +33 5 59 42 09 43. Email: placementnavires.capitainerie.smh.dde-pyrenees-atlantiques@equipement.gouv.fr.
Coastguard: Ch 16.
Vessels carrying hydrocarbons or dangerous substances should inform the destination port Harbour Master of their entry into the approach channel, maintain a listening watch on VHF Ch 16, 12 and then contact Socoa Semaphore (Socoa Signal Station) (43°23.7'N 001°41.1'W) (Call "Socoa" on VHF Ch 16 throughout 24 hours).
Notice of readiness
NOR should be tendered in accordance with the Charter Party.
Health
Request for pratique to be made on arrival at the berth.
Renewal of Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates is possible.
Customs and immigration
Customs allowances: For each crew member 200 cigarettes and 1 bottle of spirits. Heavy fines will be incurred for non compliance of these allowances.
Visa is required for non EU citizens, who wish to join or leave the vessel. All passengers to be declared, separate from crew.
Inspections
Port State Control here: Paris MOU, Indian Ocean 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
Position: Head of Sea Defense.
Address: 22 Rue Monge, Paris, F-75005, France
Tel: +33 01 40 81 85 30
Fax: +33 01 40 81 70 53
Mob: +33 06 17 15 01 80
Email: [email protected]
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated Jul 2022Repairs
Small repairs of all kinds can be carried out. Divers available.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available at berths.
Bunkering: Fuel and diesel oil bunkers are available if required.
Stores: Available.
Medical
Nearest hospital: Basque Coast Hospital Center, 2.5km.
Transport
Nearest airport: Biarritz Airport, 6.8km.
Nearest railway: Railway station Biarritz, 8.5km.
Working hours
Dry bulk products: Mon to Fri 0800-1200hrs and 1400-1800hrs or 0600-2200hrs. Sat 0700-1300hrs or 0600-1400hrs.
Liquid products: Throughout 24 hours, 7 days a week.
About Bayonne
updated Jul 2022Where it is
Bayonne is located at the entrance to the River Adour, on the W coast of France.
The port
The port has a number of public and private cargo handling facilities positioned on both sides of the river. These facilities can accommodate general, bulk, oil vessels. The principal cargoes handled are maize, steel exports, chemical liquids in bulk, gasoline, fuel oil and fertiliser.
Traffic
Approx 2,300,000t of cargo handled annually.
Questions about Bayonne
What are the pilot arrangements at Bayonne?
Pilotage is compulsory for vessels more than 60m in length entering or leaving harbour, and for all vessels with dangerous cargo onboard.
What time zone is Bayonne in?
Local time at Bayonne is UTC+1. Clocks go to UTC+2 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+1 on 31 Oct 2027.
What is the maximum draft at Bayonne?
The deepest berth listed is at Chane Terminal Bayonne: 8.70 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Bayonne?
1000-1010.
Which load line zone is Bayonne in?
North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.
Who carries out Port State Control at Bayonne?
Port State Control at Bayonne: Paris MOU, Indian Ocean MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Bayonne?
The UN/LOCODE of Bayonne is FRBAY.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Bayonne 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.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.