PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Changzhou
Pilot
updated Sep 2013- No.16甲常州危险品锚地 Pilot boards32°01.8′N 119°57.5′E
River Pilot boards in Baoshan Hangdao (31°26.32'N 122°29.18'E)
Compulsory and is normally only available during daylight hours. Pilot station 31°04.4'N 122°25.3'E (Chang Jiang Kou/CJK anchorage), sea pilot boards at CJK and river pilots board at the Baoshan Anchorage.
Key data
updated Jan 2025Size limits
LOA 299.97m, beam 50m, draught 14.5m, 209,963DWT.
Water density
996 to 998.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
The waterways around the port are the Tai Lake Water system. The highest water level over the years is 5.19m (according to the level of Huang Sea) and the lowest is 1.03m. The average tidal range is 2m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changzhou Luanzhou Yangtze River Terminal | 14.50 m | 300 m | 13 |
| China Resources Chemicals | 12.90 m | 186 m | 5 |
| Changzhou Port | 10.80 m | 229 m | 1 |
| Kingboard (ChangZhou) Chemical Terminal | 10.00 m | 183 m | 1 |
| Changzhou Qikai Desheng Port Logistics | — | 139 m | 4 |
| Guoneng Changzhou Power Generation | — | 229 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 Sep 2013Approach
The max channel depth is reportedly 12m with a max vessel draught limitation of 10.8m FW.
Port limits
The position of the seaward boundaries are from the Yangtze River Taixin Shui Dao's New Lu Wei to Yangtze River Taixin Shui Dao's Tao Hua gang. The length of line is 18km.
Traffic schemes and VTS
For passage up river, the Changjiang (Yangtze) River is divided into areas, each controlled by a VTS Control Centre.
For Changzhou, the sub Centre of Jiangsu Vessel Traffic Services should be used which includes the the sub-centre areas of Nantong VTS, Zhangjia Gang VTS and Jiangyin VTS.
Restrictions
Bridges: Yantai Expressway, Jiangyin Bridge, air draught 48m.
Tugs
Larger vessels will require a tug to escort on arrival.
Mooring
Berthing is generally port side alongside, though this can depend on the tide.
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: 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
Port services
updated Jan 2025Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available via pipeline for some berths and via berth/barge for others.
Medical
Nearest hospital: Tianxing Community Hospitals, 7.8km.
Transport
Nearest airport: Changzhou Benniu Airport, 80.5km.
About Changzhou
updated Sep 2026Where it is
The port of Changzhou is located on the Changjiang (Yangtze) River with Taixin Shui Dao to the N and Lianchen Zhou on the other side of the Changjiang River. The port is situated 150km W of Shanghai and 110km E of Nanjing.
The port
Changzhou is one of the major and most modern ports of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River. Facilities continue to expand including general cargo/container berths and new tanker berths added to handle oil and petrochemical. For deep water access, all berths are at the end of long jetties stretching out as much as 1.75km from the shore.
Lu'an Island is located 350m offshore. This area is 5km long and approximately 1.4km wide. The NE shoreline faces on to the deeper water of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River and a new bridge joins the island to the mainland. This area is undergoing substantial redevelopment with new deepwater berths being built on the Yangtze River side and a serious of smaller, shallower berths on the SE side.
The main cargoes handled are ore, coal, steel products, scrap metal, petrochemical, timber, general cargo and container.
Traffic
Approx 130,000,000t of cargo and 480,000TEU handled annually.
Questions about Changzhou
Where does the pilot board at Changzhou?
The pilot boards at No.16甲常州危险品锚地, 32°01.8′N 119°57.5′E.
What time zone is Changzhou in?
Local time at Changzhou is UTC+8. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Changzhou?
The deepest berth listed is at Changzhou Luanzhou Yangtze River Terminal: 14.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Changzhou?
996 to 998.
Which load line zone is Changzhou in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Changzhou?
Port State Control at Changzhou: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Changzhou?
The UN/LOCODE of Changzhou is CNCZX.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Changzhou 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.