Guangzhou

Size limits

LOA 400m, beam 61.514m, draught 15.5m, 272,353DWT.

Water density

1020-1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

MHWS 3.8m, MLWS 0.4m, average tidal variance 1.8m.

Current: Average rate is about 1.5-2kts.

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

Approach

The main channels are from the Guishan Anchorage at the estuary of the Pearl River to the Huangpu Terminal, a length of 153km. This includes Dahao Channel, Rongshutou Channel, Lingding Channel, Chuanbi Channel, Dahu Channel, Nizhoutou Channel, Lianhuashan East and West Channels, Xinsha Channel, Chisha Channel, Dahaozhou Channel and Huangpu Channel.

Nansha Terminal: The current approach channel to GOCT Container Terminal at Nansha is approx 35nm from the pilot station. Water depth is 15.5m, width 240m, permitting 100,000DWT vessels to enter the port on HW. Dredging is taking place to deepen the channel to 17.0m and allow 100,000DWT vessels to enter at low tide and also make a passing place mid channel so that large vessels can sail in both directions simultaneously.

Xinsha Terminal has a channel depth of 13.0m with alongside depths of 12.5m.

Huangpu New Port (GCT) has a channel depth of 13.0m with 12.0m alongside.

Huangpu Old Port has a channel depth of 9.0m with 9.0m alongside.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Guangzhou TSS: registered high speed craft shall use the GZTSS when sailing eastbound and westbound. Other river trade vessels shall navigate in the areas outside of the GZTSS. Anchoring and fishing are prohibited in the GZTSS, separation zone and precautionary areas.

Anchorages

Prohibited anchorages: A corridor 0.25nm wide in which anchoring is prohibited is established between Huangpu and the island to the S, 0.1nm W of the shoal of Shayu Tan (23°05.3'N 113°27.6'E).

A number of areas where anchorage is prohibited are established in the river channels through Guangzhou City.

Restrictions

Entry into the port and sailing after sunset is on the basis of the tidal range and vessel type.

Max airdraught at Huangpu is 60m.

Power Cables: Cable with a safe overhead clearance of 60m crosses both channels at 23°05'N 113°28'E.

Cable with a safe overhead clearance of 28m crosses Shatu Jiang at 23°05'N 113°26'E.

Cables with safe overhead clearance of 34m in Xinzao Shuidao at 23°03.2'N 113°24.8'E and S of Nan Hedao close SE of Dache Wei (23°04.4'N 113°15.2'E).

Cables with safe overhead clearances of 27m and 25m cross the river from NW of Chang Zhou (23°05'N 113°25'E) to points close W of the large jetty at Xinzhou Jiao (23°05.4'N 113°24.5'E), the E extremity of Huangpu Dao.

Bridge: Bridge with vertical clearance of 33m crosses the river between Dawan Sha (23°02.5'N 113°19.0'E) and Henan Dao meridian of 113°17.7'E.

Tugs

There are 14 ocean going and coastal tugs available of up to 15,516hp.

Charts and publications

BA 341, 343, 344, 346, 347, 349, 3026, . Admiralty Pilot NP30, NP286(6).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

The Master should advise the vessel's ETA to the state agent or through the local agent to the state agency, 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to the vessel's arrival at the pilot station. The ETA message should include the time and date of the vessel's arrival and sea/fresh water draughts.

If there is any dangerous cargo onboard, the Master should also report details of that cargo including description, packaging, IMO code and gross/net weight.

Should the vessel's ETA or other circumstances change, prior to arrival, the Master should send further messages.

Standard messages

The vessel's agent will send instructions to inbound vessels through the coast radio station being used or via Inmarsat. The instructions usually include the time and position of the pilot boarding. The Master is required to confirm receipt of messages to avoid delays to the vessel.

Notice of readiness

Normally NOR should be tendered according to the relevant clause in the Charter Party. If there is no special clause then it should be tendered according to the actual working hours of the port.

Documents

Note: In the above table LA = local agent, IM = Immigration office, CH = Customs House, QI = Quarantine Inspection office, AP = Animal and Plant Inspection office, HM = Harbour Master.

Health

When a vessel departs its previous port, prior to calling at a Chinese port, it should apply for pratique by radio.

Once the vessel arrives in port, the Quarantine officer boards to carry out an inspection.

Before pratique is granted, the vessel must fly the Interco "Q" flag and no crew are allowed to proceed ashore.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificates and Exemption Certificates can be renewed in all Chinese ports licensed for handling international vessels.

Customs and immigration

Customs allowances: The allowance for officers and crew are 2 cartons of cigarettes and 2 bottles of liquid which must be included in the Crew's Effects Declaration to the Customs House. There is a penalty for non compliance. The punishment for additional liquids varies according to the brand.

Immigration: Shore Passes are issued to each crew member after the Master has submitted/shown all the necessary documentation required to the Immigration Officer. This includes General Declaration, Crew's Effect Declaration, Crew List and passports.

Crew are allowed to proceed ashore with a Shore Pass and their passport. All crew must be back onboard by 2359hrs. The crew are restricted to the city area and will be fined if they proceed outside this area. All foreign crew members should obey all the laws and practices of the PRC.

Flags

The national flag of the PRC, which is not old, damaged or colour faded, must be displayed in addition to normal Interco flags. Other flags are not to be displayed without permission from the Harbour Master.

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

Repairs

Major repairs available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available at berth and anchorage.

Bunkering: Available at berth and anchorage.

Stores: Available.

Medical

Guangzhou.

Crew change

Available.

Transport

Nearest airport: Guangzhou International Airport.

Nearest railway: Guangzhou.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours. Shift 1; 0800-1600hrs, shift 2; 1600-2359hrs, shift 3; 0001-0800hrs.

Where it is

The port of Guangzhou is situated at the intersection of the most important rivers of Dongjiang, Xijiang and Beijiang in South China. All three rivers intersect here as part of the Pearl River Estuary. The strategic location of the port therefore makes it one of China (mainland)'s busiest container ports.

The port is located beyond the entrance of the Pearl River serving as a gateway for other harbour areas such as Nansha, Xinsha and Huangpu.

The port

Guangzhou (originally Canton), consists of Downtown, Huangpu, Xinsha and Nansha New Port areas with over 790 berths and accommodation for small cargo vessels and feeders, including Ro-Ro, working the river system and the Chinese coast. The deeper ports of Huangpu, Xinsha and Nansha lower down the river take larger vessels.

Guangzhou mainly handles the loading and unloading of crude oil, coal, grain, fertiliser, steel, mineral ore, containers (including barging at wharf and anchorage) and RoRo.

Imports: Grain, petroleum, fertiliser, ore, steel and general/container cargo.

Exports: Rice, grain, bauxite, sugar, pig iron, general cargo.

Traffic

Approx 687,000,000t of cargo, 26,000,000TEU, 48,000 vessels and 613,000 passengers handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Guangzhou?

Pilotage is undertaken day and night, however pilotage is not undertaken between 1800hrs and 0600hrs to the (1) Oil Wharf (2) Voyage Repairs Station Wharf (3) Nan Hai Shipyard and (4) Petroleum Wharf.

What time zone is Guangzhou in?

Local time at Guangzhou is UTC+8. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Guangzhou?

The deepest berth listed is at Nansha Grain and General Cargo Terminal: 15.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Guangzhou?

1020-1025.

Which load line zone is Guangzhou in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Guangzhou?

Port State Control at Guangzhou: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Guangzhou?

The UN/LOCODE of Guangzhou is CNGZG.

What crews who called at Guangzhou 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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