Busan

1. Busan Port Pilot Station No. 1 Pilot boards35°04.2′N 129°08.8′E
2. 부산신항 기상악화시 하선구역 Pilot boards35°02.8′N 128°46.7′E
3. 부산항 북항 기상악화시 승선구역 (No.2 Buoy 내측 0.5마일) Pilot boards35°05.4′N 129°05.6′E

Size limits

Max size (Harbour): LOA 400m, beam 61.5m, draught 16.0m, 281,456DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Mean neap range of 0.5m, spring range 1.1m.

Currents: The general direction of the current between Busan and Sushima is NE. The rate of flow is constantly changing and does not exceed 1kt. When the current is weak, the combined flow may set SW for a short time.

Tidal Stream: The tidal streams in the offing set SW during the rising tide and NE during the falling tide. They turn approx 30 minutes before high and low water.

Tidal Stream; North Inner Harbour: The tidal streams set SW through Busan Hang with the rising tide and NE with the falling tide with a max rate of 2.25kts. Strong streams at their maximum rates are reported to set through the entrance between the breakwaters.

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

Approach

Busan is approached directly from Korea Strait. The individual harbours, except for Dadae Po (35°03.0'N 128°59.2'E), are entered through fairways marked by light buoys. Dadae Po is entered between Kyong Do (35°02.2'N 128°58.9'E) and Chadam Mal, 0.9nm NE.

Entrance to the port is as follows:

South Outer Harbour: Entered between Tanggand Mal, 35°03.0'N 129°01.0'E and Saeng Do, 4.0nm ESE. Depths in the main approach to South Outer Harbour decrease gradually from the 30m line to 10.0m, 2nm NNE of Tu Do Light (35°02.7'N 129°01.0'E). Obstructions in the approach channel are 1.75nm SE from Tu Do Light with a least depth over it of 33m and 1nm E from Tu Do Light with a least depth over it of 20.4m.

South Inner Harbour: Lies between the mainland and the NW end of Yeong Do. It has depths of 3.5-9.0m in the bay and is not suitable for large vessels at anchor.

Safety Fairway No 2 should be followed from Outer Harbour to pass between the two breakwaters. The W breakwater extending 400m E from the W shore and the E breakwater extending 140m SW from Yong Do, then as necessary to allocated berth. Lights are exhibited from the head of the breakwaters. A detached breakwater extends 270m NNE-SSW in the NW corner of the harbour. Nine mooring buoys lie close off the shipbuilding yards on the E side of the harbour.

North Outer Harbour: Entered between Sangi Mal, 35°03.0'N 129°06.0'E, a steep bold headland forming the E point of Yeong Do and Seungdu Mal, 2.75nm NNE.

North Inner Harbour: Located at 35°06.0'N 129°04.0'E, is protected from SE by 2 breakwaters. The S breakwater extends 0.45nm NE from Mundol Mal, the N extremity of Yong Do. A light, (white, round tower, 16m in height, 35°06.0'N 129°03.9'E) is exhibited at the breakwater head. The N breakwater extends 0.27nm SW from Pubong Mal to Uno Se. Uno Se Light is exhibited from a tower (red, stone and concrete, 9.0m in height) on the N breakwater head. The main channel between the North Outer and Inner Harbour is 0.2nm wide.

The approach to the N Inner Harbour from SE is through Safety Fairway 1 which is marked by lightbuoys in accordance with IALA (Region B). Entry to North Inner Harbour may also be made from South Inner Harbour but this is regulated by the height of Busan Bridge and the opening of the drawbridge close W of it.

Caution: Fishing nets are laid annually from Sep-Mar on each side of No 2 Fairway. These nets also lie on most of the head of the N part of North Inner Harbour.

Busan New Port: The new port area will generally be approx 15m depth, being dredged to 16m to accommodate the largest vessels, with alongside depth being taken to 16m increasing to 18m in time.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Busan Port: Vessels must maintain a continuous watch on VHF Ch 12 at all times.

Busan VTS reports the priority of vessels on Ch 12 within 6nm of the harbour limit.

Vessels passing the reporting line but not bound for Busan harbour must report to Busan VTS on Ch 12 when crossing the line.

Busan New Port: Vessels bound for Busan New Port at Gadeog Do must report their shifting, arrival and departure to Busan New Port VTS on Ch 10.

Vessels must change VHF Ch from Busan New Port VTS on Ch 10 or Masan Port Service Ch 14 when passing "D" Lightbuoy.

Anchorages

North Outer Harbour: The O-2 anchorage, up to 8 vessels of 3,000t or less can use this anchorage. Other anchorages include "M7", "M8", "M9" and "M11" all handling vessels up to 10,000t, with depths from 7.0m to 14.0m.

Gamcheon Harbour: Anchorage area K-C has been established, for vessels up to 20,000t, in the SE part of Kamnae P'o, inside the E breakwater. Three lightbuoys are positioned within the area.

Prohibited Anchorage: In the area between Busan Bridge and the drawbridge, anchorage is prohibited, due to underwater pipes and a submarine cable.

Designated Area: A designated area has been established in the approaches to Busan.

Restrictions

A vessel passing from E to W should, if there is a vessel waiting to enter, give 1 long blast as soon as she has passed through the drawbridge. A long blast is of approx 10 sec duration and a short blast of approx 5 sec.

A new bridge has been reportedly built at the N end of the North Inner Harbour. The bridge is said to run from W of Chasongdae Container Wharf and terminates E of No 7 Wharf.

Speed restrictions: Speed in Safety Fairway No 1 and Inner Harbour is restricted to 10kts in depths over 18.0m and 5kts in shallower depths.

Tugs

There are 20 tugs available day and night.

Charts and publications

BA 1259, 1065, 127, 3666. Admiralty Pilot NP43, NP286(6).

Communications

VHF: Busan Port VTS: Ch 12, 09. Callsign "Busan Port Service".

Busan New Port: Ch 10. Callsign "Busan New Port Service"

Pilot and tugs: Ch 13. Tel: +82 51 465 1651, Email: [email protected].

Masan Port: Ch 14. Callsign "Masan Port Service".

Health

Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates issued.

Quarantine anchorage is located on the southern outer harbour.

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.

Repairs

Repairs of any kind are available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Bunkering: Available with 24 hours prior notice.

Fresh water: Available. Prior notice should be given with ETA.

Stores: Available.

Medical

Baptist Hospital, Maryknoll Hospital in Busan.

Transport

Nearest airport: Gimhae, (11km).

Working hours

Normally 0800-1200hrs, 1300-1700hrs, 1800-2359hrs and 0100-0500hrs.

Where it is

Busan is located on the SE coast of the South Korean Peninsula.

The port

Busan, the country's principal port is divided into five areas consisting of North Port, South Port, Gamcheon Port, Dadaepo Port and Busan New Port.

North Port, the main harbour, has a natural deep water harbour divided by Yong Do into two areas, comprising of an inner and outer harbour. The inner harbour is due to be urbanised and its commercial shipping will be moved to other areas of the port. The outer harbour handles mainly container cargoes and large cruise ships.

South Port is mainly used by coastal and fishing vessels.

Gamcheon Harbour, which is being further developed, handles dry, liquid bulk and ship repair/drydock facilities.

Dadaepo Port is a small port for ferries and general cargo.

Busan New Port (PNC), in the district of Kadeokdo area to the W of Busan, Phase 2-4, 5 & 6 is currently under construction.

Imports: Cement, grain, machinery, oil, timber, steel products and containerised general cargo.

Exports: Machinery, manufactured products and containerised cargoes.

Traffic

Approx 470,000,000t of cargo, 25,000,000TEU, 14,000 no of vessels and 850,000passengers handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Busan?

The pilot boards at Busan Port Pilot Station No. 1, 35°04.2′N 129°08.8′E. Busan has 3 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Busan in?

Local time at Busan is UTC+9. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Busan?

The deepest berth listed is at Busan Container Terminal (BCT): 16.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Busan?

1025.

Which load line zone is Busan in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Busan?

Port State Control at Busan: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Busan?

The UN/LOCODE of Busan is KRPUS.

What crews who called at Busan 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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