Beira

Size limits

LOA 259.6m, beam 37.5m, draught 10m, 66,652DWT.

Water density

1004/1003.

Load line zone

Tropical.

Tides

Tidal heights at MHWS 6.4m, MHWN 4.3m, MLWN 2.7m and MLWS 0.8m. Mean spring range of 6.2 to 7.4m.

In the wet season with the high river the ebb stream can attain a rate of up to 6kts at springs and 2-3kts at neaps.

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

Approach

The approach channel depths are liable to change. The Port Authority should be contacted for up to date draught limitations.

Caution: Within 50nm of Beira the seabed is very irregular and numerous shoals lie in the approach from both S and E; within 30nm many shoals have depths less than 10.0m. Care is necessary when navigating in the whole of this area.

The entrance passage to the port is 12nm from the open sea, marked by Lightbuoy "A" (19°56'S 035°03'E), vessels proceed along the Macuti Channel, marked by lightbuoys and dredged to a min depth of 11.0m below CD, min width 180m, max 250m.

Deep draught vessels: Approaching from S: May consider making for the Macuti approach buoy (20°09'S 035°20'E), a position 35nm ESE of Macuti Light then follow a track WNW to "A" Lightbuoy.

Approaching from NE: A vessel with a draught of less than 9.1m should make directly for "A" Lightbuoy.

The approach to River Pungue is obstructed by numerous banks and shoals which are constantly changing.

From the N end of Canal Rambler, the entrance channel is marked by lightbuoys, W of Cabadelo Light on the edge of a bank fronting the shore between Ponta Gea and Ponta Chiveve.

Anchorages

Waiting anchorage: Ships waiting to enter Porto da Beira should anchor, clear of the entrance channel, between "A" and "P" Lightbuoys and as near to the latter as their draught permits, holding ground is reported to be firm.

For vessels with a draught in excess of 7.9m, at both sides of the prohibited anchorage area, a rectangle of 6nm long, (distance from "P" Buoy to "A" Buoy), width 1nm.

For vessels with a draught up to 7.9m, E and W of Pilot Buoy at a distance of not less than 1.5nm from it.

Franquia (river anchorage): The narrow anchorage of the harbour abreast Beira, for up to 4 vessels.

The holding ground is poor, vessels can stay there at spring tides, with draughts up to 9.1m and at neap tides with draughts up to 7.9m.

Prohibited Anchorage: It is prohibited to anchor within the entrance channel between "A" Lightbuoy and No 3 Lightbuoy.

Restrictions

Vessels with a draught of 7m or less may enter the port at any state of the tide. Those drawing more than 7m are required to wait for a suitable height of tide before entry.

Night navigation: Night navigation is only permitted for vessels with a max LOA of 140m and max draught of 7.0m. Night navigation is restricted due to the bottleneck at Macuti Curva, and narrowing of the channel between Buoys No 6, 6A, 3, 3A, 5 and 5A.

Beira New Oil Terminal: No vessel, regardless of size, may move inside the Oil Terminal Safety Zone without authorisation. Cargo operations will be stopped during wind speed in excess of 35kts.

Tugs

Tugs are available.

Two 2,200bhp, 35T bollard pull tugs, available 24 hours a day.

Mooring

Beira Oil Terminal: Minimum of 14 mooring lines are required.

Charts and publications

BA 2932,2934,3878. Admiralty Pilot NP3, NP286(8).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessels should advise the Beira Port Control of their ETA, draught and LOA 72, 48 hours and 1 hour prior to arrival at "A" Lightbuoy at the seaward entrance channel. Vessels whose last port of call was in Mozambique or Durban, the vessel must fax this message to Beira Traffic Control on departure of that port. It is compulsory for vessels to provide an arrival announcement on VHF Ch 12, on passing the approach Lightbuoy "A". Entrance in the channel is only allowed after obtaining permission from Beira Control Tower.

Communications

Beira Port Control is equipped with a HF transceiver working frequency 2182kHz also radio Cape Town and Inmarsat are recommended for passing messages at long range.

VHF: Beira Port Control: Ch 12.

Pilot Station: Ch 16.

Berthing/unberthing operations: Ch 06, 11 or 14.

Beira Oil Terminal: Email; [email protected]

Notice of readiness

NOR is tendered as per Charter Party, 2-3 hours notice is issued to the Beira Port Control prior to departure.

Documents

Immigration, Customs, Health and Maritime Administration require copies of relevant documents.

Pilot supplies an Arrival Report which is to be completed whilst proceeding to berth. A Crew List is to be attached to the report.

Health

Pratique is granted once alongside as part of the port clearance formalities.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificates and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates can be renewed.

Customs and immigration

Customs: An allowance of tobacco and spirits is allowed for each crew member. The bonded store is sealed for the duration of the vessel's stay in port.

Immigration: Passengers require a visa (emergency visas can be issued on arrival).

Crew can obtain a shore pass against surrender of a passport or Seaman's Book at the Immigration office. Their documents are returned when the shore pass is surrendered on return to the vessel within shore leave hours. There are heavy penalties for non compliance.

The agency boarding clerk will advise current shore leave hours in force at time of arrival.

Flags

It is obligatory to display the Mozambican flag. It can be acquired locally. When pilot is onboard it is also compulsory to display the pilot flag.

Notices and regulations

Vessels are to comply with the port, Beira Quays Exploitation, SOLAS and MARPOL regulations.

Port State Control here: Indian Ocean MOU.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: National Institute for Maritime Affairs.

Address: Av Marques de Pombal, 279, Maputo, Mozambique.

Tel: +258 1 320552.

Fax: +258 1 324007.

Mob: +258 82 303988.

Email: [email protected].

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

Repairs

Beiranave Shipyard, with Lisnave International Management and Technical Support available from Portugal, are specially equipped for all kinds of repairs on ships up to 110m, including the building of new ships and barges, metal and mechanical construction, maintenance of large industrial units, blasting and printing and the rehabilitation of industrial installations.

There are also mechanical, plate, pipe and electrical workshops available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available. Diesel can be ordered through the agent.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Hospital Dos Olhos Dr. Agarwa (1km).

Transport

Nearest airport: Beira Airport, 12km from the port.

Airport facilities: Direct flights to Maputo and Harare (Zimbabwe), as well as domestic and international destinations by charter flights.

Nearest railway: Beira is connected to Mozambican railway, which in its turn is connected to the railways of Botswana, Congo (Democratic Republic), Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Working hours

Normally 0700-1500hrs, 1500-2300hrs and 2300-0700hrs. Overtime by arrangement.

Where it is

The port of Beira is situated at the mouths of the Pungue and Buzi Rivers.

The port

Beira is the second largest port in Mozambique and is the transhipment area for the inland countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia and S Malawi. The port handles containers, breakbulk, general cargo, Ro-Ro, wet and dry bulk.

Traffic

Approx 3,000,000t of cargo and 258,000TEU handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Beira?

Compulsory and available 24 hours a day including Sundays.

What time zone is Beira in?

Local time at Beira is UTC+2. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Beira?

The deepest berth listed is at Container Terminal: 11.40 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Beira?

1004/1003.

Which load line zone is Beira in?

Tropical.

Who carries out Port State Control at Beira?

Port State Control at Beira: Indian Ocean MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Beira?

The UN/LOCODE of Beira is MZBEW.

What crews who called at Beira 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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