Bopec Terminal

1. Goto Oil Terminal (Bopec) pilot boarding place Pilot boards12°11.9′N 068°24.3′W

Size limits

LOA and beam Unrestricted. Draught 29.5m, 500,000DWT.

Load line zone

Tropical.

Tides

Currents: The currents in the offing and off the points of the island set westward. On days with little wind, a weak current sets to the westward, generally parallel with the coast from Kralendijk Roads toward Wekoewa Point and parallel to the coastline in way of the jetties.

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

Approach

Kralendijk Roads, between Klein Bonaire and Bonaire Island, have a navigable width of only 0.25nm with a least depth of 69.5m in the fairway and should not be approached or entered without a pilot.

Klein Bonaire is a low rocky islet about 0.5nm offshore midway along the W coast abreast of the town of Kralendijk. The islet is reef-fringed on the NW, SW and E sides.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Bonaire has no vessel traffic separation schemes or other dedicated channels for vessels available.

Anchorages

There is no anchorage area at Bonaire for ocean tankers, therefore, if the berth is occupied, vessels will be instructed to remain within VHF range to await further instructions.

Tugs

Tugs are compulsory. Two tugs are used for vessels up to 150,000DWT, three for vessels between 150,000 and 320,000DWT and four for vessels over 350,000DWT.

Mooring

Mixed mooring lines are prohibited, i.e. a wire and a fibre rope in parallel service is undesirable due to unequal elasticity. Wire moorings lines on winch drums only are to be used for springs.

Mooring wires secured on auto tension controlled winches are prohibited.

Mooring lines must remain under constant surveillance during loading operations.

On each of the breasting and mooring dolphins there is a small capstan with sufficient power to heave up to the deck of the dolphin a ship's mooring line for securing to the heavy quick release hooks.

Deck winches: All deck machinery used for the control of mooring lines must be operable. A vessel having deck machinery in poor state of maintenance to the point where mooring lines cannot be hove tight or brakes that slip under tension will be sufficient reason to require consideration of terminal management to refuse connecting of the loading arms, or if the same are already connected and the mooring lines become insecure, all transfer of products will be stopped and the steel loading arms disconnected pending correction of the mooring situation.

Charts and publications

BA 780. Admiralty Pilot NP286(7).

Repairs

There are very limited repair facilities on Bonaire. Upon sufficient advance notice, special service personnel and minor mechanical repair work may be arranged from Curacao. Transportation for such service personnel is via scheduled airline.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Fresh water on Bonaire is desalinated sea water and the supply is minimal. Small quantities of not over 100t may be supplied upon advanced notice being received.

Bunkering: Bunkers for tankers are, with prior notice, available at the jetties. They may be arranged through ship's agent.

While the vessel is at the berth, the transfer of bunkers, onboard, from one tank to another is prohibited. All bunkers to be consumed in port must be available in that tank from which bunkers are normally consumed.

Stores, provisions and laundry: All stores and provisions are imported into the island of Bonaire. However, small quantities of provisions may be obtained. There are no deck and engine stores available. Upon sufficient advance notice, small items not available on Bonaire may be obtained from Curacao.

Laundry service in small quantities may be arranged through the ship's agent.

Medical

Modern facilities are available for medical and dental treatment. A "Medical Service Request" form must be signed by the Master for crew members requiring medical or dental attention.

In the case of crew members having to be left behind at Bonaire for hospitalisation or otherwise, the Master must sign authorisation guaranteeing expense of treatment and repatriation.

Where it is

Bopec Terminal is situated on the S coast of the northern portion of the island of Bonaire.

The port

The Bonaire Petroleum Corporation N.V. (BOPEC Terminal) is a fuel oil storage terminal on Bonaire that is wholly owned by the Venezuelan oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA). There are two "T" head berths in the port, with shore storage tanks for transhipment of crude oil.

Navigable waters surrounding Bonaire Island are clear of obstructions, however the coasts of the island are steep to and should be avoided.

Traffic

Approx 400 vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Bopec Terminal?

The pilot boards at Goto Oil Terminal (Bopec) pilot boarding place, 12°11.9′N 068°24.3′W.

What time zone is Bopec Terminal in?

Local time at Bopec Terminal is UTC−4. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Bopec Terminal?

The deepest berth listed is at Bonaire Petroleum Corporation N.V. (BOPEC Terminal): 29.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

Which load line zone is Bopec Terminal in?

Tropical.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Bopec Terminal?

The UN/LOCODE of Bopec Terminal is BQGOT.

What crews who called at Bopec Terminal 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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