PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Gela
Pilot
updated Feb 2017- Gela pilot boarding Pilot boards37°01.7′N 014°13.6′E
Compulsory for tankers and all vessels of 500GT and over. Vessels should send ETA 24 hours and 2 hours in advance. Berthing is during daylight hours and unberthing is throughout 24 hours. Messages can be sent through Roma (IAR). Pilot boards 1nm WSW of the W end of the breakwater, or 1nm SSE of its E end. Vessels anchoring must be accompanied by a pilot.
Key data
updated Jul 2021Size limits
LOA 184.93m, beam 32.26m, draught 9.30m, 50,747DWT.
Offshore: LOA 182.55m, draught 12.80m, 39,589DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Range 0.2m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gela Refinery | 12.80 m | 250 m | 11 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Mar 2017Restrictions
Daylight berthing only, night sailings, weather permitting.
Tugs
There are tugs available. Vessels using tugs within the sea area bounded by the meridians of 014°13'E and 014°18'E and the parallel of 37°00'N must use the port of Gela tug service. Towage is carried out by Societa Concessionaria Siciliana Salvataggi SpA with 3 tugs of no less than 1,500hp.
Mooring
All ship's above 500DWT and all vessels used for dangerous cargoes must use the Port "Gruppo Ormeggiatori" for mooring and unmooring operations and various movements along the same dock. Other vessels can moor and unmoor without using the Port "Gruppo Ormeggiatori" only if the equipment onboard is used without the safety of the ship and crew being compromised.
Vessels must be equipped with self tensioning mooring winches.
Mooring ropes or wires SWL must not be less than 72t.
Charts and publications
BA 965, 2123. US Publications 131. Admiralty Pilot NP45, NP286(3).
Inspections
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: Italian Coast Guard Headquarters, Legal Department.
Address: Viale dell'Arte 16, I-00146 Rome, Italy.
Tel: +39 06 590 841 87.
Fax: +39 06 596 482 93.
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.guardiacostiera.gov.it
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
About Gela
updated Mar 2017Where it is
Gela is situated in the Gulf of Gela on the S coast of Sicily.
The port
Gela has an oil terminal which lies 1 mile SE of this small harbour and consists of a jetty, with two berths; a detached breakwater, with six tanker berths; a pier, with two chemical berths and an offshore buoy berth for tankers.
Questions about Gela
Where does the pilot board at Gela?
The pilot boards at Gela pilot boarding, 37°01.7′N 014°13.6′E.
What time zone is Gela in?
Local time at Gela 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 Gela?
The deepest berth listed is at Gela Refinery: 12.80 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Gela?
1025.
Which load line zone is Gela in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Gela?
Port State Control at Gela: Paris MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Gela?
The UN/LOCODE of Gela is ITGEA.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Gela 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.