PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Dhamra
Pilot
updated Apr 2017- Dhamra pilot boarding Pilot boards20°57.0′N 087°08.6′E
Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels of more than 200GT. Pilot boarding station is located 1nm SE of the fairway buoy.
Pilots board in position 20°56.8'N, 87°08.2'E.
Key data
updated Feb 2025Size limits
LOA 350m, beam 50m, draught 17.5m, 209,756DWT.
.
Load line zone
Summer.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhamra Terminal | 17.50 m | 350 m | 5 |
| Dhamra LNG Terminal | 12.50 m | 346 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 Feb 2025Approach
Approaches to the port:
Northern Approach: Vessels approaching Dhamra Port from the northerly direction shall keep well clear of the military practice area as shown on the relevant chart. Vessels shall proceed and navigate with great caution heading on a SW'ly course and anchor 2-3nm off the fairway buoy.
Eastern Approach: Vessels approaching Dhamra Port from the easterly direction shall head for the fairway buoy on a W'ly course. Vessels shall proceed and navigate with great caution heading in a westerly direction and anchor 2-3nmn off the fairway buoy.
Southern Approach: Vessels approaching the Dhamra Port from the southerly direction shall keep well clear off marine reserve area as marked on the relevant chart. Vessels shall proceed and navigate with great caution keeping at least 20nm off the outer Wheeler Island heading to a position 20°47.5'N 87°24.5'E. Then the Vessel shall alter course to head for the fairway buoy in a NW'ly direction and anchor 2-3nm off the fairway buoy.
Heavy fishing traffic may be encountered during approaches to Dhamra Port.
Navigational Channel:
The navigational channel of Dhamra Port consists of six reaches, length approx 18km. Outer Channel Reach 1, Transition Zone, Outer Channel Reach 2, Channel Bend, Inner Channel, Inner Harbour Channel and Turning Basin.
Traffic schemes and VTS
Port Traffic Control: The Port Traffic Control has a VTMS radar system.
Anchorages
Anchorage may be obtained 2 to 3 miles NE of the Fairway Buoy, in 18m, good holding ground.
Tugs
Six (6) tugs are available, 4 x 70t and 2x55t bollard pull tugs. Use of tugs is compulsory and the pilot shall inform the Master about the number of tugs being deployed.
Charts and publications
IN31, IN3037, IN3038, IN351. Admiralty Pilot NP21, NP286(4).
Reporting before arrival
updated Apr 2017ETA and pre-arrival notices
The Vessel/Owners' agents shall send notice of ETA of the Vessel at Dhamra Port on daily basis starting 7 days prior to her arrival. If the voyage duration is less than 7 days, the Vessel/Owners' agents shall send notice of ETA of the Vessel on departure of the Vessel from last port of call and then on daily basis. However, the Vessel/Owners' agents shall start sending notice of ETA at least 3 days prior her arrival at Dhamra Port. The Vessel/Owners' agents shall send the confirmed time of arrival at Dhamra Port anchorage at least 24 hours and 12 hours prior to arrival.
Communications
The Vessel should establish communications with Port Traffic Control on VHF channel 14/16, as soon as the Vessel is within VHF range for advice on berthing instruction. Port Traffic Control will assign a working channel for use while the Vessel is within the Port Limits. A listening watch should be maintained on both the channels.
Port Traffic Control can be contacted as follows:
Call sign: Port Traffic Control
VHF: Ch 14 and 16.
Telephone: +91 674 2303829, +91 674 2301680, +91 674 2300705, +91 674 2302676
Fax: +91 674 2303828, +91 678 6888728
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Documents
The Vessel/Owners' Agents shall submit the following documents/certificates, which shall remain valid during the stay of the Vessel at Dhamra Port, on departure from load port/last port of call at [email protected] with a copy to [email protected].
Inspections
Port State Control here: Indian Ocean MOU.
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Director-General of Shipping.
Position: Nautical Adviser to the Government of India.
Address: Jahaz Bhavan, Walchand Hirachand Marg, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001, India.
Tel: +91 22 2261 0606
Fax: +91 22 2269 4352
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.dgshipping.com
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org.
Port services
updated Feb 2022Bunkers, water and stores
Freshwater: Available.
Bunkers: Available.
About Dhamra
updated Sep 2026Where it is
Dhamra port is located at the Bay of Bengal between the main land and the lee of Kanika Sands in Bhadrak district of Odisha, India.
The port
Dhamra port is one of the deep draft ports of India, which can accommodates super cape-size vessels.
The port handles largest bulk carries in the world also LNG facilities.
Traffic
Approx 49,000,000t of cargo handled annually.
Questions about Dhamra
Where does the pilot board at Dhamra?
The pilot boards at Dhamra pilot boarding, 20°57.0′N 087°08.6′E.
What time zone is Dhamra in?
Local time at Dhamra is UTC+5:30. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Dhamra?
The deepest berth listed is at Dhamra Terminal: 17.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
Which load line zone is Dhamra in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Dhamra?
Port State Control at Dhamra: Indian Ocean MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Dhamra?
The UN/LOCODE of Dhamra is INDMQ.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Dhamra 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.