Durban

1. Durban pilot boarding place Pilot boards29°48.2′S 031°07.6′E
2. Durban – Off Port Limits rendezvous position (4 NM east of Cape Natal) Pilot29°52.0′S 031°08.6′E
3. Pilot boarding place Pilot boards29°50.2′S 031°05.2′E
4. Durban Offshore Oil Berth (SBM) pilot boarding place Pilot boards by helicopter30°00.5′S 031°00.8′E

Size limits

Daytime: LOA 366.45m, beam 60m, draught 22.3m and 202,181DWT. Subject to harbour master's approval.

Night time: Max LOA 200m, beam 26m. Vessels with a beam exceeding 35m may only berth during suitable weather conditions. Larger vessels may be accommodated on request to the Harbour Master.

Airdraught depends on which berth vessels are allocated and appliance being used.

Offshore: LOA 336m, BCM 167.00m, draught 22.4 and 330,000DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

MHWS 1.8m, MLWS 0.5m.

Outer anchorage: The tidal current flows N'ly during the rising tide and then S'ly during the falling tide.

Just off the heads of the breakwaters an eddy often occurs, flowing S'ly during the flood tide and N'ly during the ebb tide. As a result, care must be taken when approaching the entrance harbour. The approach to the entrance channel has an incoming tidal current of 2.5kts at springs and 0.5kts at neaps whereas it has an incoming tidal current of 3.5kts at springs and 1.5kts at neaps. Across the NE corner of Salisbury Island there is a strong set at springs being 270° on the flood tide and 090° on the ebb, caution must be taken for vessels proceeding to the nearby berths. Caution must be taken in case of a strong current that generally sets SW at velocities of 2 to 3kts at approx 2.6nm from shore.

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

Approach

The final approach is from the NE. Entry is guided by the alignment of leading lights through a dredged channel between two protective piers close N of The Bluff.

The outer channel, commencing 4nm from the breakwater, has a dredged depth of 19.0m and an average width of 222m. The entrance channel between the breakwaters has a dredged depth of 19.0m and a width of 210m. Inside the harbour basin the entrance has a dredged depth of 16 to 18m. Partly loaded 9,000TEU vessels are now using the port, however berth depths are yet to be increased to take these vessels fully laden.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Note: Items g, h and i need not be reported if the information has been previously reported by Notices to Mariners or Coastal Navigational Warnings.

Restrictions

Harbour limitations: Permissible draught of vessels is such that there is 300mm under keel clearance at all times. Vessels that require to manoeuvre in the Maydon Wharf Channel and which are LOA 183m and over. Night time: Max LOA 200m, beam 26m. Vessels with a beam exceeding 35m may only berth during suitable weather conditions. Larger vessels may be accommodated on request to the Harbour Master.

Tankers and vessels carrying explosives or dangerous cargo are only able to manoeuvre within the harbour during daylight hours.

Caution must be taken as submarine cables lie 11.3nm S of Cape Natal and extend offshore 1,500m in a ENE'ly direction. The cables connect to the S coast of Madagascar and then continue to the N coast of the islands of Reunion and Mauritius.

There is a designated restricted area for vessels surrounding the SBM and strict control for vessels approaching and departing the SBM.

Tugs

The port operates 6 Schottel type tugs with bollard pull between 34-41t and 2 Voith Schneider tugs of 50t each. Each is equipped for fire fighting and salvage.

Mooring

The agent will notify the Port Authorities advising them which side the vessel is to be berthed, ie starboard or portside alongside.

Charts and publications

BA 643, 4170, 3797. Admiralty Pilot NP3, NP286(8).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Radio advise to "port captain" direct through Durban Radio, 48 hours prior to arrival, also advise ETA on VHF Ch 16 when in range.

Durban offshore berth ETA should be sent via agent at least 10 days prior to arrival and updated every 24 hours after. Changes to ETA in excess if 1 hour in the final 24 hours must be advised immediately via vessel's agent.

Communications

Port Authority contact info

Telephone: +27 31 361 3755

Facsimile: +27 31 361 8920

Port Control contact info

Call sign: Port Control

VHF: Ch 12, 16

Email: [email protected]

Port Captain contact info

Telephone: +27 31 361 8799

Facsimile: +27 31 337 5785

Bluff Signal Station contact info

Radio: 2182 kHz

Telephone: +27 31 466 1251

Pilots contact info

VHF: Ch 9, 11, 13, 14, 16

Pilots Helicopter contact info

Call sign: Durban Port Control

VHF: Ch 9, 16 (Helicopter Ch 13)

Durban SBM Service Tugs contact info

Call sign: SMIT Siyanda / Pentow Service

VHF: Ch 9, 16

Notice of readiness

NOR to be tendered upon arrival at Durban pilot station.

Documents

Cargo Documents: This will be completed and supplied to the vessel from the company that is supplying or accepting the product. In the case of break bulk or bulk cargo, the appointed agent will furnish such documents to the master prior to sailing. Departure time should be discussed with the master of the vessel and the agent will notify all parties concerned.

Health

Radio advise to "Port Health" direct through Durban Radio. To be given 48 hours prior to arrival advising ETA, last port, date sailed, number of crew and requesting radio pratique, above can also be notified to port health on telex No: 9650043. Port Health will cable vessel directly, either granting pratique or requesting further details.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Exemption Certificate issued.

Customs and immigration

Both customs and immigration will board the vessel on arrival.

Immigration: If there are passengers onboard then a Passenger List has to be handed to the immigration office. Crew are allowed to travel not more than 40km radius from the port.

Immigration formalities, off port limits:

Permission has been granted by the department of home affairs, for ASABOSA members only, to handle vessels off port limits at Durban. This includes crew changes (both on and off vessels), stores, hospitalisation, repairs, etc. Very strict procedures must be adhered to. These operations can be carried out by helicopter or launch.

Flags

National flag to be flown prior to entering port.

Notices and regulations

The nominated agent will hand the master, on arrival into port, printed documents (booklet) which advise the master of port regulations and general notices.

Vessels wishing to enter in a light condition must be sufficiently ballasted to permit safe navigation. In severe weather conditions entry of vessels insufficiently ballasted will be delayed. Only clean locally loaded ballast water is permitted to be discharged in the port.

All stevedoring activities aboard vessels are undertaken by private stevedoring companies. Chandling is also available and undertaken by private companies.

Explosives and dangerous cargoes are permitted within the harbour and the Port Liaison Officer is responsible to the Port Captain for its movement. This includes all I.M.D.G.cargoes from Class 1 to Class 9 either in bulk or containerised. All documentation for these commodities must come through this office, ie.copies of import/export permits, all hazardous manifests and issuing of Explosive Rail Permits for shipment from Gauteng to the Port of Durban for ongoing carriage to foreign ports.

Port State Control here: Indian Ocean MOU.

Inspection of ships in South Africa

The Director, Shipping Competence, Department of Transport

Private Bag X193, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.

Tel: +27 12 290 2904.

Fax: +27 12 290 2914.

ISPS

ISPS Compliance: SA Port Authority (TRANSNET)reports that South Africa's 7 commercial ports are fully compliant with the ISPS Code.

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

Head Office

Tel : (011) 351-9192

Fax: (011) 351-9196

Cell: 083 284 8210

ludwigb@Transnet National Port Authority.co.za

Richardsbay

Tel.: (035) 905-3146

Fax: (035) 905-3133

Cell: 083 417 2162

yogank@Transnet National Port Authority.co.za

Durban

Tel.: (031) 361-3771

Fax: (031) 361-3759

Cell: 083 286 2094

HennieST@Transnet National Port Authority.co.za

East London

Tel.: (043) 700-2421

Fax: (043) 700-2070

Cell: 083 417 3920

grahamk@Transnet National Port Authority.co.za

Port Elizabeth

Tel.: (041) 507-1773

Fax: (086) 500-7478

Cell: 083 301 2659

[email protected]

Mossel Bay

Tel.: (044) 604-6273

Fax: (044) 604-6232

Cell: 072 708 4378

deringj@Transnet National Port Authority.co.za

Cape Town

Tel.: (021) 449-4270

Fax: (021) 449-2274

Cell: 083 376 8826

thembanig@Transnet National Port Authority.co.za

Saldanha

Tel.: (022) 701-4344/5

Fax: (022) 714-3017

Cell: 083 285 3505

Sonwabog@Transnet National Port Authority.co.za

Repairs

Major repair work takes place at the Bayhead Terminal by Transnet and private companies. The aforementioned location covers an area of approx 33ha in which a variety of works are available including ship building, repairs, maintenance, docking and undocking. The precinct offers fixed infrastructure (Workshop 24) and various facilities including slipways, dry docks and floating dry docks. Underwater repairs and surveys are available and offered by professional divers equipped with modern equipment and marine expertise.

Repairs may be carried out at the Durban Workshops, a 1,300m² area divided into 3 bays; Fabrication and welding (1 x 5t and 1 x 7t cranes available), Heavy bay machining ( 2 x 25t cranes available) and Light bay machining (2 x 5t cranes available). A grillage area serviced by 30t / 60t / 30t crane (Demag Goliath) max lifting capacity in tandem of 120t using a spreader beam. It is further provided by a 25t / 5t crane (Demag Goliath) with lifting capacity of 25t and a 15t / 5t crane (Demag Goliath) with a lifting capacity of 15t.

Dry docks

Note: A slipway is located in the position 29° 53.252'S., 31° 0.159'E.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh Water : Available at all berths via pipeline at 50tph.

Bunker : Available (fuel and diesel oil) via pipeline at Container Terminal and Island View berths. Gas oil available at Island View Terminals berths IV04, IV05, IV06, IV07 and IV08 and blends available from IV02 to IV08. Available (fuel oil, diesel oil, gas oil and blends) via barge at all berths in the Maydon Wharf Terminal, Bulk Connection Terminal and Point Multipurpose Terminal. No bunkers are supplied outside the port.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Addington Hospital (located adjacent to the Point Multipurpose Terminal), King Edward VIII Hospital (adjacent to the Prince Edward Graving Dock), Netcare Parklands Hospital (4km).

Crew change

Available, handled on a regular basis. Modern hotels available. Seamen restricted to 48 hours stay in the Republic of South Africa after the vessel has sailed.

Transport

Nearest Airport: King Shaka International Airport (31.4km) and Pietermaritzburg Airport (64.5km).

Nearest railway: Direct rail services provided at the Container Corridor through Transnet. The extensive 688km rail network connects the port to inland terminals of City Deep, Kascon, Pretcon, Kaalfontein and Gauteng. Containers, vehicles, grain, fuel, chemicals, coal, manganese, chrome and general freight cargo are transported along the Container Corridor.

Nearest public transport: Bus routes are available.

Nearest highway: The port has direct access to N2; a national route that runs from Cape Town through to Durban and into Ermelo. The port also has direct access to N3; a national route that runs from Durban directly to Johannesburg.

Working hours

Stevedores: Stevedoring undertaken by private enterprise and appointed by vessel's agent. The port is a 7 day, 24 hour port as far as berthing and pilotage are concerned.

Cargo working hours at conventional berths are:

Mon-Fri (2 shifts), 0600-1400hrs, 1400-2200hrs. Sun, 0715-1515hrs.

Limited labour is available for overtime and Sat and Sun working, 3 x 8 hour shifts is provided on a limited basis.

Container Terminal: Continuous working seven days a week with shift changes at 0600hrs, 1400hrs and 2200hrs.

Where it is

Durban is located on the SE coast of South Africa.

The port

Port of Durban is the main port of South Africa, the largest in southern Africa and strategically placed on the worlds shipping routes, serving inland countries including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi and Swaziland. The port consists of a large modern harbour protected by N and S breakwaters with a vast array of commercial berths and an SBM for large crude carriers (VLCC's). The onshore storage tanks are connected by a subsea pipeline 48in and 2.5km in length. The port is able to cater for container, Ro-Ro, PCC, tankers, fishing, reefer, general/bulk, patrol and naval vessels. There are extensive repairs available within the harbour as well as numerous floating and dry docks.

The port is separated into numerous precincts including; Point Multipurpose Terminal (automotive and leisure), Maydon Wharf Terminal (multi-functional with a focus on break and dry bulk), Durban Container Terminal (container), Bayhead (maritime repairs and logistics) and Island View Terminal (liquid and dry bulk).

Traffic

Approx 41,000,000t of cargo, 2,700,000TEU and 2,900 vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Durban?

The pilot boards at Durban pilot boarding place, 29°48.2′S 031°07.6′E. Durban has 4 pilot boarding places, 1 of them by helicopter.

What time zone is Durban in?

Local time at Durban is UTC+2. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Durban?

The deepest berth listed is at Sapref Refinery: 22.40 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Durban?

1025.

Which load line zone is Durban in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Durban?

Port State Control at Durban: Indian Ocean MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Durban?

The UN/LOCODE of Durban is ZADUR.

What crews who called at Durban 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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