PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Bullen Bay
Pilot
updated Aug 2010- Bullenbaai (Curacao Oil Terminal) pilot boarding place Pilot boards12°10.8′N 069°03.5′W
Compulsory by day and night. Pilots are supplied from Willemstad. Pilot boards vessel approx 0.5nm S of Kaap St Marie. Vessels must provide a lighted, manned properly secured and clean pilot ladder fitted with sufficient spreaders. A lifebuoy fitted with a self igniting light as well as a reliable heaving line should be placed close to the pilot ladder and the embarkation and disembarkation should be supervised by an officer. Vessel's arriving or leaving Bullen Bay with a freeboard exceeding 9.14m must use the accommodation ladder in conjunction with the pilot ladder.
For the Bullenbaai Terminal the pilot boards 0.5m S of Kaap Sint Marie. Vessels awaiting the pilot should not approach the pilot station until contact has been made with the pilot by VHF.
Key data
updated Aug 2010Size limits
No limit for LOA, draught 28.7m, 550,000DWT.
Largest vessel handled: Tanker of 564,763DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Tropical.
Tides
Range 0.8m.
In the vicinity of Curacao, the currents are generally W going and set strongly round the points. Along the SW coast the current may attain rates from 2-3kts. A weaker current may occasionally set E against the prevailing wind. At certain times of the year, a strong current can be expected setting towards Kaap Sint Marie and a counter current in Bullen Bay.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullenbaai Terminal | — | — | 6 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Jul 2010Approach
From a position S of Kaap St Marie, Leading Lights in line bearing 043° lead into the W part of the bay:
Front light, 12°12.0'N 069°02.3'W, (red daymark); Rear light, (red daymark), 240m from the front light.
Then, leading lights in line bearing 095° lead towards the terminal:
Front light, 12°11.7'N 069°01.9'W, (on oil tank); Rear light, (on oil tank), 730m from front light.
Then leading lights in line bearing 123° lead to the E end of the terminal:
Front light, 12°11.2'N 069°00.9'W, (on oil tank); Rear light, (on oil tank), 200m from front light.
A light, 12°10.9'N 069°00.9'W, stands 0.2nm SE of Pier No 1.
Tugs
Compulsory. There are two tugs stationed at the terminal.
Mooring
Vessels of 50,000DWT and above to have a minimum number of mooring lines 3-2-2 both forward and aft. Vessels of 49,999DWT and below to have a minimum number of mooring lines of 2-2-2 both forward and aft.
Charts and publications
BA 702, 2193; USA Chart 24462. Admiralty Pilot NP7A, NP286(7).
Reporting before arrival
updated May 2010Communications
The Curacao Radio Office (Lands Radio & Telegraafdienst) offers round the clock service on all days of the year. This is a Government Company.
VHF: Port Signal Station (operated by Harbour Authorities): Located at: Fort Nassau, Ch 16 (calling and safety), Ch 12 and 14 (working). Watch keeping: Throughout 24 hours on Ch 16. The purpose of this station is to regulate and control shipping movements and all ships should call this station first.
Vessels bound for the Bullenbaai Terminal should call on Ch 11 "Bullenbai Terminal" for exchanging pre-arrival questionnaire information and berthing time, thereafter the vessel should report on Ch 12 to "Fort Nassau Traffic Control". Vessels awaiting berth should listen on Ch 11. The working channel for the pilots is Ch 09. Once alongside, the Terminal representative on duty can be contacted on Ch 11.
If for any reason Ch 11 not operative, Bullenbaai Terminal can be contacted through Refineria Isla's private VHF station mentioned below.
Ch 09 only to be used for harbour traffic, the sole purpose of this station is to regulate and control shipping movements within the port limits and should therefore not be used for ships business.
Health
Pilot will request the Master to hoist Quarantine flag if vessel is from an infected area, there is sickness onboard or when death has occurred during the voyage. A doctor will board the vessel on arrival. Vessels arriving from smallpox infected areas should have up to date Vaccination Certificates. Ship Sanitation Control and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates can be issued.
Notices and regulations
At Isla Terminal Bullen Bay Crude Oil Washing (COW) is permitted as per the standard Isla regulations and prior vessel's arrival all tank wash piping must be tested for tightness and oxygen meters calibrated.
Defects of engines, steering gear, anchor gear and other defects which may influence the manoeuvring abilities of the vessel must be reported to the Harbour Master before entering the harbour.
Inspections
ISPS
Curacao is now a new constituent country of the Netherlands.
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated Feb 2016Repairs
Minor repairs can be carried out; for major repairs Willemstad Harbour offers docking capacity for vessels up to 120,000DWT.
Leading European and American grades of chemicals for water and fuel oil treatment are readily available. Delivery throughout 24 hours.
Agents: "Gunclean" permanent tank cleaning equipment, Sigma coatings.
Agents: Vecom Chemicals, James Walker & Co.
Dry docks
At Willemstad: "Antilia" graving dock, presently largest commercial drydock in the W hemisphere, is 279.8m long, 47.8m wide, with a depth at entrance of 8.2m and 5.7m at dock head. The capacity of this dock is up to 120,000DWT.
Additional to the new dock there is: The "Beatrix" graving dock, 192.0m long, 25.9m wide with a draught of 6.2m.
The yard also offers a fully equipped machine shop and 1,219m of wharf space for out of dock repairs.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available at piers.
Bunkering: Available at all jetties, fuel oil and marine diesel bunkers. Rate up to 550tph depending on number of ships bunkering at same time. Bunkers and lubricants must be ordered in advance. MFO below 180cSt not available at Bullen Bay.
Stores: Stores may be loaded onboard, using a jetty crane, when the vessel is carrying out cargo or cargo tank ballast operations in the closed mode and tanks are in the inert condition. When using a dumb barge, the loading of stores should be done in the poop area if the vessel has a stores crane aft and not the midships cargo deck area. Storing by hand is allowed at all times. Bonded stores should be ordered by radio.
Medical
Saint Elisabeth Hospitaal, Willemstad, 13.8km.
Crew change
Possible.
Transport
Nearest airport: Curacao International Airport located at Plasa Margaret Abraham, 14.1km.
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours.
About Bullen Bay
updated May 2010Where it is
Bullen Bay is located 12.8km (8nm) NW of Willemstad, Curacao.
The port
It is the site of the Bullenbaai Terminal (ex-Curacao Oil Terminal COT) which facilitates the storage of crude oil for transhipment in smaller tankers to draught restricted US ports and where facilities are also available to discharge/load/store and blend fuel oil and clean oil.
The terminal is operated by Refineria Isla (Curacao) SA, a subsidiary of the Venezuelan state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA. It consists of six "T" head jetties with dolphins, able to handle tankers from 18,000DWT to 550,000DWT.
Questions about Bullen Bay
Where does the pilot board at Bullen Bay?
The pilot boards at Bullenbaai (Curacao Oil Terminal) pilot boarding place, 12°10.8′N 069°03.5′W.
What time zone is Bullen Bay in?
Local time at Bullen Bay is UTC−4. No summer time.
What is the water density at Bullen Bay?
1025.
Which load line zone is Bullen Bay in?
Tropical.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Bullen Bay?
The UN/LOCODE of Bullen Bay is CWBUB.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Bullen Bay 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.