Beihai

1. Beihai Gang boarding position No. 1 Pilot boards21°17.1′N 108°59.3′E
2. Beihai Gang boarding position No. 2 Pilot boards21°20.3′N 108°59.0′E

Size limits

Harbour: LOA 315.2m, beam 50m, draught 12.9m, 180,201DWT.

Off Shore: LOA 228.6m, BCM 115.3m, 75,499DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

China Sea Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Jan 21 to Apr 30, Summer May 1 to Jan 20.

Tides

MHWS 5.3m, MLWS 0.6m, with an average of 3.9m.

The tidal current runs from SW to NE during flood tide and reverses during the ebb, the ebb tide has greater strength than the flood.

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

Approach

From a position SSW of Baisungong Jiao (21°23'N 108°12'E) off the seaward end of the border between Vietnam and China (mainland) the track leads ENE to the Beihai pilot boarding station close to Buoy No 0, a distance of about 43nm.

The port is approached from SSW. Lightbuoys mark the main fairway for entry.

The Beihai channel: Extends from the pilotage and quarantine anchorage to the lightening/topping off anchorage area. The length of the channel is 14.6km with a width of 500-2,000m. The channel has a depth of 12.0m and has been navigated by 70,000DWT vessels at high water.

Shibuling harbour channel: The channel to Shibuling harbour is from the central part of Beihai channel to the harbour. It is 1,300m in length, 100-130m in width with depths of up to 12.9m. Vessels up to 70,000DWT can reach No 4 Berth Shibuling harbour at high water. The channel is lit with buoys.

The Waisha harbour channel: This extends from the end of Beihai channel to Waisha harbour. The channel is approx 1,200m in length, 60-80m wide and 2.8-3.5m deep. Access can be made by vessels up to 2,000DWT on high water.

Tieshan Channel: Length from Paideng to Qinglongsha is 10km width 750-1,400m and depth 6.0m to 18.0m. Lanmensha, at the entrance to the east and west divisions, has a width of 2,5km and a depth of 2.2 to 3.5m. The east division is 8.5km long with depth of 6.0m to 10.0m and the west division has a length of 10km and a depth of 8.0m to 10.0m. The new port is presently capable of accepting 50,000DWT coal vessels.

Port limits

The port limits are defined as follows:

The N boundary is 21°31'N, extending E to 109°08.9'E; its S boundary is 21°23.25'N; its E boundary is 109°05'E, extending N to the shore; and its W boundary is 108°05'E.

Anchorages

The port has 4 designated anchorages, 1 pilot (Inspection) anchorage and 3 lightering anchorages.

Tugs

Six tugs are available, 2 x 4,800hp, 2 x 2,960hp, 1 x 720hp and 1 x 200hp.

Charts and publications

BA 3939, 1725, 1728, 3892, 3992. Admiralty Pilot NP30, NP286(6).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

The Master should advise the vessel's ETA to the state agent, or through the local agent to the state agency, 7 days, 5 days, 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to the vessel's arrival at the pilot station. The ETA message should include the time and date of the vessel's arrival and sea/fresh water draughts.

If there is any dangerous cargo onboard, the Master should also report details of that cargo including description, packaging, IMO code and gross/net weight.

Should the vessel's ETA or other circumstances change, prior to arrival, the Master should send further messages.

Communications

Beihai Radio works 500, 486, 4244, 6379.5, 8530 and 2730kHz. The station is worked throughout 24 hours.

MSA (Marine Safety Administation): Ch 09, Tel: +86(0)779 3033492, Fax: +86(0)779 3032591

Port Authority: +86(0)779 3903481, Fax: +86(0)779 3906387, Website: www.bhport.com

Pilots: VHF Ch16;14, Tel: +86()779 3922249

Standard messages

The vessel's agent will send instructions to in bound vessels through the coast radio station being used or via Inmarsat. The instructions usually include the time and position of the pilot boarding. The Master is required to confirm receipt of messages to avoid delays to the vessel.

Notice of readiness

Normally NOR should be tendered according to the relevant clause in the Charter Party. If there is no special clause then it should be tendered according to the actual working hours of the port.

Documents

Note: In the above table LA = local agent, IM = Immigration office, CH = Customs House, QI = Quarantine Inspection office, AP = Animal and Plant Inspection office, HM = Harbour Master.

All vessels, upon arrival should report, via the vessel's agent to the Port Director, all cargo to be discharged/loaded. The report in the form of the Ship's Manifest and Stowage Plan should show the number of units, commodity, weight, destination, consignee and all other information which the port of Beihai deems necessary for compilation of commercial statistics, for reserving necessary warehouse or wharf space, or other purpose.

Health

When a vessel departs its previous port, prior to calling at a Chinese port, it should apply for pratique by radio.

Once the vessel arrives in port, the Quarantine officer boards to carry out an inspection.

Before pratique is granted, the vessel must fly the Interco "Q" flag and no crew are allowed to proceed ashore.

Ship Sanitation Control and Exemption Certificates can be renewed in all Chinese ports licensed for handling international vessels.

Customs and immigration

Allowances: The allowance for officers and crew are 2 cartons of cigarettes and 2 bottles of liquid which must be included in the Crew's Effects Declaration to the Customs House. There is a penalty for non compliance. The punishment for additional liquids varies according to the brand.

Immigration: Shore Passes are issued to each crew member after the Master has submitted/shown all the necessary documentation required to the Immigration officer. This includes General Declaration, Crew's Effects Declaration, Crew List and passports.

Crew are allowed to proceed ashore with a Shore Pass and their passport. All crew must be back onboard by 2359hrs. The crew are restricted to the city area and will be fined if they proceed outside this area. All foreign crew members should obey all the laws and practices of the PRC.

Flags

The national flag of the PRC, which is not old, damaged or colour faded, must be displayed in addition to normal Interco flags. Other flags are not to be displayed without permission from the Harbour Master.

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 Transportation and Communications, Department of Water Transportation.

Contact: Senior Marine Officer.

Address: 11 Jian Guo Men Nei Av, Beijing, 100736, China.

Tel: +86 01 652 92626.

Fax: +86 01 652 92642.

Email: [email protected]

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

Repairs

Minor repairs can be undertaken.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available by pipeline. A water barge is available for supplying water at the anchorage.

Bunkers: Are not generally available but can be supplied in emergency situations by Beihai Petroleum Co. IFO with difficulty, MDO/LDO feasible in small quantities.

Medical

There are medical facilities available.

Crew change

Feasible.

Transport

Nearest airport: Beihai.

Working hours

Mon-Fri 0001-0800hrs, 0800-1600hrs and 1600-0001hrs.

Where it is

Beihai is located on the NE shore of the Gulf of Tonkin about 60nm from the China (mainland)/Vietnam border and is a main international trading port of South West China.

The port

Beihai is a major commercial and transhipment port which consists of the areas: Haijiao, Shibuling, Tieshan (currently under construction), Dafengjiang and Weizhou Island (see separate entry). Shibuling port area is the main area for handling foreign trade and transhipment, including containers and chemicals.

Tieshan, 48km E, is a new large scale port construction area at Guangxi, including bulk and LNG terminals.

Imports: Fertilisers, grains, sugar, steel products, crude oil, natural gas, sulphuric acid, coal, metal ores, timber and finished products.

Exports: Ores, aluminium, manganese, timber, phosphoric acid.

Beihai, Qinzhou and Fangcheng ports are on the Guangxi Beibu Gulf. All three port operators are owned by the Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group, which in turn is controlled by the Guangxi government.

Traffic

Approx 56,000,000t of cargo, 1,000,000TEU and 220,000 passengers handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Beihai?

The pilot boards at Beihai Gang boarding position No. 1, 21°17.1′N 108°59.3′E. Beihai has 2 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Beihai in?

Local time at Beihai is UTC+8. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Beihai?

The deepest berth listed is at Beihai Cruise Terminal: 12.90 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Beihai?

1025.

Which load line zone is Beihai in?

China Sea Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Jan 21 to Apr 30, Summer May 1 to Jan 20.

Who carries out Port State Control at Beihai?

Port State Control at Beihai: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Beihai?

The UN/LOCODE of Beihai is CNBIH.

What crews who called at Beihai 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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