Changshu

1. No.2 常熟海轮锚地 Pilot boards31°46.9′N 121°02.9′E
2. No.3 常熟港过驳锚地 Pilot boards31°46.8′N 120°54.5′E

Size limits

LOA 229m, beam 43m, draught 11.8m, 81,563DWT.

Water density

Outer anchorage approx 1.025 and inside Changjiang River approx 1.000.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

The highest water level is 4.7m and the lowest is 2.1m. The average water level annually is 2.8m.

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

Approach

The main fairway, North Channel has a length of 37,500m, width 400m and a depth of 7.5m plus tide.

Anchorages

Changshu Quarantine anchorage is located 1nm NW of the terminal. The depth at this anchorage is 13.6m on sand and mud.

Approach guidance: After anchor has been dropped at CJK anchorage, there is no need to report to the Harbour Master when a pilot is onboard. The pilot will usually assist the Ship Master to report to Wusong Harbour Master after passing Buoy No 5 or the North Channel.

Restrictions

LOA/Beam: No restrictions, Air draught: 62m.

Permissible Max Inward FW draught 10.8m, Max Outward FW Draugth 10.8m.

Tugs

Three tugs are available 1 x 2,800hp, 1 x 3200hp, 1 x 3600hp.

Charts and publications

BA 1604, 1605, 2946. Admiralty Pilot NP32, NP286(6)

ETA and pre-arrival notices

The Master should advise of the vessel's ETA to the state agent or through the local agent to the state agency, 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to the vessel's arrival at the pilot station. The ETA message should include the time and date of the vessel's arrival and sea/fresh water draughts.

The Master should report details of dangerous cargo onboard, including description, packaging, IMO code and gross/net weight.

Should the vessel's ETA or other circumstances change, prior to arrival, the Master should send further messages.

Communications

Vessels calling at Chinese ports are recommended to use Shanghai Radio (callsign "XSG") and Tianjin Radio (callsign "XSV") for passing messages at long range. Both stations work throughout 24 hours. Inmarsat communication is possible through Shanghai.

VHF: Pilot and Harbour Master available on Ch. 06.

Pilots: Tel: +86 512 8883 7631, +86 512 8837656.

Port: Tel: 86 512 5269 5028, Fax: 86 512 5269 5026, Website: www.cs-eport.com/

Standard messages

The vessel's agent will send instructions to in bound vessels through the coast radio station being used or via Inmarsat. The instructions usually include the time and position of the pilot boarding. The Master is required to confirm receipt of messages to avoid delays to the vessel.

Notice of readiness

Normally NOR should be tendered according to the relevant clause in the Charter Party. If there is no special clause then it should be tendered according to the actual working hours of the port.

Documents

Note: In the above table LA = local agent, IM = Immigration office, CH = Customs House, QI = Quarantine Inspection office, AP = Animal and Plant Inspection office, HM = Harbour Master.

Health

Once the vessel arrives in port, the Quarantine officer boards to carry out an inspection.

Before pratique is granted, the vessel must fly the Interco "Q" flag and no crew are allowed to proceed ashore.

Ship Sanitation Control and Exemption Certificates can be renewed in all Chinese ports licensed for handling international vessels.

Customs and immigration

Allowances: The allowance for officers and crew are 2 cartons of cigarettes and 2 bottles of liquid which must be included in the Crew's Effects Declaration to the Customs House. There is a penalty for non compliance. The punishment for additional liquids varies according to the brand.

Immigration: Shore Passes are issued to each crew member after the Master has submitted/shown all the necessary documentation required to the Immigration officer. This includes General Declaration, Crew's Effect Declaration, Crew List and passports.

Crew are allowed to proceed ashore with a Shore Pass and their passport. All crew must be back onboard by 2359hrs. The crew are restricted to the city area and will be fined if they proceed outside this area. All foreign crew members should obey all the laws and practices of the PRC.

Flags

The national flag of the PRC, which is not old, damaged or colour faded, must be displayed in addition to normal Interco flags. Other flags are not to be displayed without permission from the Harbour Master.

Notices and regulations

Shipowners pay extra charges if draught exceeds 9.7m or LOA exceeds 205m. Entry into the port is prohibited if draught is in excess of 10.5m and DWT is in excess of 52,000.

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: Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Department of Water Transportation.

Contact: Senior Marine Officer.

Address: 11 Jian Guo Men Nei Av, Beijing, 100736, China.

Tel: +86 01 652 92626.

Fax: +86 01 652 92642.

Email: [email protected]

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

Bunkers, water and stores

Water: Available from CXC terminal by pipe. (UPM & Huarun Terminal not available).

Bunkers: Available from Nantong port.

Crew change

Available via Shanghai airport. (It is necessary to arrange a visa at Suzhou which takes one day in case of disembarkation).

Working hours

7 days in a week: 0700-1800; 1900-0600, breaks: 0600-0700; 1800-1900.

Where it is

Changshu is located on the S side of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River, approx 54nm from the river mouth.

The port

The port site covers 120ha allowing for a comprehensive range of port and port related activities.

The main cargoes handled in the port are coal, iron, steel products, chemical fertilisers, timber, sand, ore materials, grain, cotton and containers.

Traffic

Approx 62,000,000t of cargo and 290,000TEU vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Changshu?

The pilot boards at No.2 常熟海轮锚地, 31°46.9′N 121°02.9′E. Changshu has 2 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Changshu in?

Local time at Changshu is UTC+8. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Changshu?

The deepest berth listed is at Changshu Xinghua Port (CXP): 11.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Changshu?

Outer anchorage approx 1.025 and inside Changjiang River approx 1.000.

Which load line zone is Changshu in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Changshu?

Port State Control at Changshu: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Changshu?

The UN/LOCODE of Changshu is CNCGS.

What crews who called at Changshu 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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