Esbjerg

Size limits

LOA 264.6m, beam 42m, draught 10.3m, 82,146DWT.

Water density

1021.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

The tidal range is normally 1.3m but gales from the W can raise the water level up to 4m, storms even more. Gales from the E can lower the water level by 1m or more. The tidal currents are strongest at half tide and set across the harbour entrances with speeds of up to 3kts at spring tide. Water levels can be obtained from the Harbour Office at Esbjerg.

Gradyb Barre Mean Spring Range approx 1.5m, Mean Neap Range 0.9m.

Esbjerg Mean Spring Range approx 1.8m, Mean neap Range approx 1.0m.

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

Approach

The port is approached by a dredged channel between the seaward end of Gradyb Barre and the harbour abreast Trafikhavn (least width 200m wide). The water depth is 10.3m MLWS near the centre line of the Channel and 9.3m towards the sides. Sediment deposition between dredging periods can sometimes reduce these depths.

The fairway is marked by a red lightbuoy, Fl(3)R10s. From this position, vessels proceed NE'ly through Gradyb channel across Gradyb Bar which is well marked with buoys and leading lights. Then between the NW end of Fano and the S end of Skallingen, then N around Fano and SE into Esbjerg Roads, the waters which lie between the NE side of Fano and Jylland.

Port limits

From approximately 400m NW of Basin No 6, along the 4m contour, to approximately 800m SE of Tauruskaj.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Vessel Traffic Information is provided by the Harbour Control from the fairway entrance of Gradyb.

Reporting points are the Fairway, the Jerg Bank Light and the berth.

Report to Esbjerg Harbour Control. There is radar and AIS coverage.

Anchorages

Located 2-4nm WNW of the Fairway Buoy, (Racon "G"), depth 14m to 15m. Anchoring is prohibited in the fairway.

Smaller vessels may anchor safety in the entrance to Hjerting Lob (55°29.5'N 8°21.5'N).

Anchoring and fishing are prohibited in an area extending SSE along the W coast of Faro from its NW extremity.

During periods when ice is about, anchoring in Gradyb and adjacent channels is not advised.

Restrictions

NAABSA: Vessels will normally stay afloat, however vessels with maximum draught may touch bottom (sand or mud) when strong winds from E prevail.

Ships with a draught of 9.0m and over must enter the harbour at HW.

Min Under Keel Clearance (UKC) in approaches normally 10% of draught.

OVERHEAD CABLES: Span the channel on 12 masts (safe vertical clearance of 6m) SE of the port area between Fano and Jylland; lights are exhibited from the two masts between which the SE buoyed channel (buoyed between April and mid November) passes W of Vese Banke. A daymark (red triangle on white) is fitted to the SW mast and a daymark (green triangle on white) is fitted to the NE mast.

ICE: Ice may form on the banks bordering Gradyb in harsh winters which may break adrift at HW and be carried by the out-going tide into the fairway. In exceptionally cold winters this may result in a hazard to navigation. Fixed ice over the whole of the fairway is very rare. When ice is present, it is better to enter Esbjerg during an in-going tidal stream as the ice will have been carried E beyond the harbour basins.

RESTRICTED AREA: An area to which entry is prohibited extends about 1nm from the coast from Gradyb to latitude 55°49'. This is indicated on charts. The prohibition does not apply to vessels under 5gt.

ENTRY REGULATIONS: Gradyb is regarded as a narrow channel but the requirement for an inbound vessel to give precedence to an outbound vessel in a narrow channel only applies in the dredged channel across Gradyb Barre.

Tugs

Towage is not compulsory. Two tugs of 2,500hp and 3,000hp are available, to be ordered 3 hours in advance. Additional tugs are available on request.

Mooring

Vessels preparing to depart or shift to another berth must obtain permission by calling Port Control on VHF Ch 12 at least 15 minutes in advance. If the departure or the shifting is postponed more than 10 minutes, a new corrected message shall be given to the Port Control without delay.

Charts and publications

BA 420, 3766,1422. Danish Chart 95 (Int 1451) covers the entrance. BA 3768 covers the approaches. Admiralty Pilot NP55, NP286(2).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Ships carrying dangerous goods should report to Port Control at least 12 hours before arrival.

Before departing, vessels should request clearance from the Port Control.

Clearance is given at least 15 minutes before departure.

If a vessel is unable to depart within 10 minutes of ETD, Port Control should be advised and further clearance sought.

It is advisable for large vessels to arrive at the appropriate basin entrance at slack water in order to minimise the efdect of tidal streams.

Communications

COASTAL RADIO STATION: "Lyngby Radio" 24 hour service on medium wave.

Notice of readiness

NOR should be tendered in accordance with Charter Party terms.

Health

Health Certificate required, 1 copy. Free Pratique normally granted after berthing.

Renewal of Ship Sanitation Control Certificates and Exemption Certificates is possible.

Flags

The Danish flag must be hoisted on the foremast when entering Danish territorial waters.

Notices and regulations

If two approaching vessels cannot pass each other without danger, the inbound vessel must wait. A vessel is considered to be inbound when it has given the notice of being inbound on VHF Ch 12.

Effective from 01st September 2016, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) will require sea carriers calling at EU ports to file Container Status Messages (CSMs). Vessels experiencing technical communication problems should report the issue via e-mail to the Commission's help-service email: [email protected].

Port State Control here: Paris 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: Danish Coastal Authority.

Position: Senior Project Manager.

Address: Postboks 131, DK-7620, Lemvig, Denmark.

Tel: +45 99 63 63 63.

Fax: +45 99 63 63 99.

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.maritimsikring.dk

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

Repairs

Several repair faciilites are available. Divers are also available.

Dry docks

Esbjerg Shipyard (Granly Group): A floating dock with a capacity of LOA 120m, 4,500DWT is available. The slipway can accommodate vessels up to 750t, length 57m.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available from quayside hydrants.

Bunkers: All grades available, either from road tanker or barge. MGO delivered via ex-pipe to all berth.

Medical

Approx 2km.

Crew change

Available.

Transport

Nearest airport: Esbjerg Airport, 8km from the port. Daily flights to London and Stavanger.

Nearest railway: Approx 2km.

Working hours

Mon-Thu 0700-1630hrs. Fri 0700-1530hrs. Meal breaks, 0830-0900hrs and 1200-1300hrs. Sat, Sun and holidays: Work can be arranged as above with same meal hours as above. Weekend work to be ordered before 1200hrs on Fri.

Overtime rates: Mon-Thu 1600-2000hrs at 50% extra, 2000-2130hrs at 100%. Fri 1530-1930hrs at 50% extra, 1930-2130hrs at 100%. Sat 0700-1030hrs at 50% extra, other hours at 100%. Sun/holidays all hours at 100% extra.

Where it is

Esbjerg is located on the W coast of Jutland, 15nm ESE of Blavands Huk Point and is sheltered by Fano Island to the W and the Peninsula of Skalingen.

The port

A large, sheltered and well equipped port handling most types of cargo and ferry/cruise ship passengers. Principal cargoes include containers, Ro-Ro, fossil and liquid fuels, aggregates and fish. Latterly, the port is benefitting from the wind turbine and offshore industries and now has one of the worlds largest mobile heavy lift harbour cranes, 48m high.

To the NW, the port includes commercial fishing berth areas of Nordhavn consisting of Industrifiskerihavn (Basins 5 and 6) and Konsumfiskerihavn (Basins 1 and 2). More recently, these areas are also used for offshore services and include the expansion of Esbjerg Shipyard area. In the middle of these locations, Basin No 4 has been filled in to provide extra quayside facilities.

Trafikhavn and Sonderhavn mainly deal with tanker, container, bulk and Ro-Ro cargo with various supply bases for offshore oil and gas field support vessels.

Dokhavn and the principal ferry berths in Faergehavn, are accessed from Sonderhavn. Atlantkaj, Australienkaj, Arieskaj and Tauruskaj are all shoreline quays.

To take advantage of the recent boom in the North Sea offshore windfarm market the port has expanded E in the Osthavnen area with 1km of new quays.

As part of its long term plans, Esbjerg is also increasing the number of short sea routes it caters for between the port and other European ports. The port is open all the year round, even in severe weather. Berths are referred to principally by quay name.

Traffic

Approximately 4,000,000t of cargo, 46,000TEU, 5,000 vessels and 1,900,000 passengers are handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Esbjerg?

Pilotage is not compulsory except for tankers of LOA 60m or more, for vessels being towed, and vessels carrying (or with uncleaned tanks which last carried) gas or dangerous chemicals, when navigating between the Port and the Sea Buoy at Gradyb Bar.

What time zone is Esbjerg in?

Local time at Esbjerg is UTC+1. Clocks go to UTC+2 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+1 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Esbjerg?

The deepest berth listed is at South Port: 10.30 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Esbjerg?

1021.

Which load line zone is Esbjerg in?

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Esbjerg?

Port State Control at Esbjerg: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Esbjerg?

The UN/LOCODE of Esbjerg is DKEBJ.

What crews who called at Esbjerg 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.

Read and add tips for Esbjerg →