PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Cagayan de Oro
Pilot
updated Nov 2012Compulsory for vessels of 1,500GT or more. Notice of ETA should reach the Pilot Association of Cagayan de Oro 24 hours prior to arrival for liners and 36 hours before for non liners. Final notice or amendment of arrival should be received by the pilot office at least 6 hours prior to arrival via VHF Ch 16 and 22. Approaching vessels are required to blow whistle (2 long and 1 short blast), stop the engine and wait for the pilot. The harbour pilot meets foreign vessels approx 2nm from the wharf except for vessels docking at the Philippine Sinter Corporation which requires the pilot to meet vessels 5nm from the PSC wharf.
There are 5 regular pilots available.
Villanueva: Pilotage is compulsory for berthing and unberthing. Movements are by day only. Pilots are available at Cagayan de Oro and are reported to board approx 4nm N of Macabalan Point Light. A boat or tug is used for boarding and the pilot can be contacted by VHF radio.
Notice of ETA should be sent 72 hours in advance to the Cagayan Pilot Association.
Key data
updated Dec 2020Size limits
LOA 362m, beam 65m, draught 21.5m, 400,000DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Tropical.
Tides
Range 1.55m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines Sinter Corporation (Villanueva) | 21.50 m | 362 m | 2 |
| Mindanao Container Terminal | — | 222 m | 2 |
| Jetti Bulk Terminal | 13.00 m | 146 m | 1 |
| Cagayan de Oro Baseport | — | 293 m | 14 |
| Villanueva Terminal | — | 185 m | 1 |
| Cagayan Corn Product Corp. | 6.00 m | 146 m | 2 |
| Balingoan | 5.00 m | — | 3 |
| Balbagon | 4.00 m | 50 m | 2 |
| Guinsiliban | 4.00 m | — | 2 |
| Benoni | — | — | 4 |
| Carlos A. Gothong Lines Inc. | — | 200 m | 1 |
| FDC Misamis Power Corporation (Villanueva) | — | 200 m | 1 |
| General Milling Corporation | — | 99 m | 1 |
| Holcim Philippines (Lugait) | — | 190 m | 2 |
| Mindanao Power Plant (Villanueva) | — | 200 m | 1 |
All 23 terminals
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philpack (Del Monte Philippines ) | — | 119 m | 2 |
| Ginebra San Miguel Terminal | — | 200 m | 2 |
| Gracia Port | — | 159 m | 1 |
| Kitrol Terminal | — | 150 m | 1 |
| Petron Depot Terminal | — | 110 m | 1 |
| Petronas Energy Philippines | — | 106 m | 1 |
| Pilipinas Kao Terminal | — | 166 m | 1 |
| R.I. Chemicals Terminal | — | 127 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Dec 2020Approach
Navigational approach: Macajalar Bay is a wide mouthed bay, a vessel may directly enter the bay and steer to a position not less than 1.5nm N of Macabalan Point and await pilot boarding.
Port limits
Cagayan de Oro harbour is defined as that area of Macajalar Bay S of the parallel of 08°34'N.
Macajalar Bay is a wide basin and a very deep water. A vessel can turnaround five cables from the shore.
Traffic schemes and VTS
Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) implementation is under study.
Anchorages
There is safe anchorage in depth of 18.0m, approx 400m from the shore.
Macabalan: Area approx 08°29.2'N 124°40.7'E.
Villanueva: There is an anchorage in depths of 70m to 80m, 2nm NNW of the terminal.
Tugs
Villanueva: There are 4 tugs available.
Charts and publications
BA 3426, 4472. Admiralty Pilot NP33. NP286(4).
Reporting before arrival
updated May 2010Communications
VHF: Pilots & Port: Ch 16, 14, 12, and 06.
Notice of readiness
Master/Vessels Agent signs and issues NOR consignee. Attending vessel agent shall co-ordinate with CHO readiness on vessel operations, after boom rigging and opening hatches.
Documents
Cargo documentation: Philippine Ports Authority requires shipping agent to submit Stowage Plan for cargo handler's reference.
Health
Foreign ships will clear quarantine on arrival at Cagayan de Oro harbour. Quarantine officers will board the vessel before the pilot boat meets the vessel. Individual medical reports and inspections are to be conducted by a Quarantine Doctor. Pratique: Certification from Quarantine Doctor in the event of any suspected diseases such as Bird flu, SARS or fever onboard, otherwise pratique is granted.
Inspections
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: Office for Transportation Security - DOTC
Address: The Columbia Tower, Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines.
Fax: +63 2 725 4787
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated Nov 2012Repairs
Minor repairs only.
Dry docks
A drydock facility duly accredited by Marina, operated by Philippine Iron Construction and Marine Works, Inc. (PICMW) is located in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental. The facility can accommodate small vessels only.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available. There are 8 water outlets at Phase 1 and 6 at Phase II.
Bunkering: Tankers of Shell, Caltex and Petron are available for fuelling alongside the quay.
Stores: Available in the port area. A ship chandler accredited by Philippines Port Authority will board the vessel to negotiate its food provisions.
Villanueva: Fresh water, fuel oil and diesel oil can be supplied by road tanker from Cagayan de Oro.
Medical
Sabal Hospital, Provincial Hospital, Community Hospital.
Transport
Nearest airport: Cagayan de Oro Domestic Airport (Lumbia), 9km.
Ferries: Services to Cebu and Manila.
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours.
About Cagayan de Oro
updated Dec 2020Where it is
Cagayan de Oro is located in Macajalar Bay, on the N coast of Mindanao Island.
The port
The port of Cagayan de Oro is the largest port on Mindanoa handling domestic cargoes and passenger ferry terminals, industrial and agricultural products from the province of Bukidnon.
Imports: Consumer goods, sugar, fertiliser, iron, steel, animal feeds and bottled cargoes.
Exports: Corn and corn products, live animals, fruits, vegetables, lumber, plywood and veneer.
The port has jurisdiction over the nearby port areas of Opol, Macabalan, Tagoloan, Villanueva and the ports of Camiguin Island (Benoni, Balbagon and Guinsiliban), Balingoan and Medina. There are also private ports in the jurisdiction area of Cagayan de Oro covered by this port entry.
Traffic
Approx 11,000,000t of cargo, 213,000TEU, 16,000 vessels and 3,000,000 passengers handled annually.
Questions about Cagayan de Oro
What are the pilot arrangements at Cagayan de Oro?
Compulsory for vessels of 1,500GT or more.
What time zone is Cagayan de Oro in?
Local time at Cagayan de Oro is UTC+8. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Cagayan de Oro?
The deepest berth listed is at Philippines Sinter Corporation (Villanueva): 21.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Cagayan de Oro?
1025.
Which load line zone is Cagayan de Oro in?
Tropical.
Who carries out Port State Control at Cagayan de Oro?
Port State Control at Cagayan de Oro: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Cagayan de Oro?
The UN/LOCODE of Cagayan de Oro is PHCGY.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Cagayan de Oro 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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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.