Hartlepool

Size limits

LOA 190m; beam 33m, draught 9.4m. Required Under Keel Clearance 1.25-1.8m, depending on beam.

Max size for high sided vessels: LOA 173.5m, beam 27.5m.

Specialist Construction Vessel "Pioneering Spirit" (used for transport of Brent Delta Platform to Hartlepool for dismantling): 403,342GT. LOA 382m, Beam 124m, Draught 10m to 27m, Depth 30m. Lifting gear 48,000t.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

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

Tides

Range 4.68m (springs), 2.57m (neaps).

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

Approach

Hartlepool is approached from E through Tees Bay, then Hartlepool Bay at the N end of Tees Bay and finally through a dredged channel to the port.

Caution: There is a nominal depth in the approach channel of 5.7m. The channel is subject to silting and the Harbour Master should be consulted for the latest information.

Entrance: Leading lights and buoys lead through the 1nm length entrance channel. Deep draught vessels should always consult the Harbour Master for the latest information.

Outer approaches: From a position 1.5nm ESE of The Heugh (54°42.0'N 001°11.0'W), the track leads 1nm W to a position 0.8nm SE of the harbour entrance within the white sector of the directional light indicating the dredged channel, passing

N of a rocky shoal (1nm SE), marked by Longscar Lightbuoy (E cardinal) which lies close E of the shoal. The NE extremity (1nm SSE) of Longscar, a detached ledge of rock which dries is 0.35nm SW of the shoal. Longscar runs 0.4nm SW from its extremity, with several smaller detached patches on either side. Longscar Lightbuoy and 2 detached rock pinnacles close SW are covered by the white sector (317°-325°) of Old Pier Light.

Inner approaches: The white sector (324.4°-325.4°) of the light exhibited from a light tower 50m in height (54°42.0'N 001°11.6'W), leads through the dredged channel marked by lightbuoys and buoys, to the harbour entrance, passing (with positions from the harbour entrance):

WSW of the head of a breakwater (0.4nm ESE) which is made of sand and cement and runs 0.2nm SSE from the shore close SSE of The Heugh. The Stones, detached rocks, lie close NE of the breakwater head. Then:

WSW of a beacon (pole, 7.0m in height) (0.15nm SE) which stands on Inscar Point, then:

To the harbour entrance which has a width of 80m and lies between Old Pier on the NE side, on which stands a light (white wooden tower, two horizontal red bands,12m in height) and Middleton Light Beacon (metal tower). The light beacon stands on the head of Middleton Breakwater which runs SE from the shore.

The dredged channel continues through Outer Harbour into Victoria Harbour from where direct approach can be made to the entrance to North Basin, fitted with lock gates, width 21.3m and a depth over the sill 8.1m at MHWS. The lock is operated from 3 hours before HW to 1 hour after HW.

Both the in going and out going streams set across the approach.

Port limits

The port limits extend from the Tees Barrage to a line 3nm seaward of the Southgare Lighthouse, and from a position 4nm NW of Hartlepool to Redcar.

Traffic schemes and VTS

All vessel movements are controlled by Tees Port Control.

The Port Operations and Information Service which include Surveillance Radar covers the River Tees, Tees and Hartlepool Bays and the approaches seaward for ranges up to 12nm. Vessels entering or leaving Hartlepool, or crossing Tees Bay, should not hamper the safe navigation of a vessel using Tees Approach Channel.

Anchorages

Vessels intending to take a pilot should anchor 1-1.5nm E or SE of the Tees Fairway Buoy, bottom sand and clay. Anchorage is exposed to gales from the N through to E.

Anchorage is prohibited near and around the Ekofisk and Everest pipelines.

Restrictions

The lock is operated from 3 hours before HW to 1 hour after HW.

Tugs

There is a fleet of tugs, 2 of which have firefighting appliances.

Charts and publications

BA 2566, 2567. Admiralty Pilot NP54, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Notify ETA to Tees Port Control by VHF Ch 14, not less than 24 hours and 6 hours prior to arrival.

Vessels carrying dangerous cargo must give at least 24 hours notice of ETA to the Harbour Master.

Communications

Port Radio and Information Service, including harbour surveillance radar (24nm range from S Gare) is maintained continuously.

VHF: Tees Bay Pilots Ch 16, 09. Tel: +44 1642 485648. Fax: +44 1642 472991.

Tees VTS: +Ch 14. Tel: +44 1642 277205. Fax: +1642 277207. Email: [email protected].

Tugs (Svitzer Marine Ltd): Ch 14, 16. Tel: +44 1642 247277.

Port Authority Maintenance Craft: Ch 16, 14.

Health

Contact Tees Health Authority. Ship Sanitation Control and Ship Sanitation Exemption Certificates can be renewed.

Customs and immigration

Hartlepool is a "Port of Entry" with usual Customs procedures. Customs are based at Teesport.

Notices and regulations

All depths are expressed as nominal depths and are affected by silting and tidal conditions. Vessels should obtain up to date information from the Harbour Master.

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: Transport and Security Directorate (TRANSEC) of the Department for Transport.

Position: Head of Maritime Security Operations.

Address: TRANSEC Department for Transport, 5th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DT, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 207 944 2844 (24 hrs)

Fax: +44 207 944 2175

Email: [email protected]

Recognised Security Organisations:

RSO - ISSC Issue: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels

RSO - Security Consultant Services: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels.

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) is proposing, in line with EU regulations associated with the ISPS Code, to extend maritime security requirements to ships operating in domestic service and to port facilities serving them. The requirements would be based on those applicable to sea going vessels and generally would apply to domestic ships operating in 'sea areas', and which carry over 12 passengers or are over 500GT. Sea going ships which are certified to carry more than 250 passengers and tankers, especially those carrying oil and gas products, are considered as having the potential to be a target for attack.

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

Repairs

Minor repairs available.

Dry docks

Nearest drydock facilities are at Middlesbrough.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available at most berths.

Bunkering: Available by road tanker or barge.

Stores: Available.

Medical

Hartlepool General Hospital.

Transport

Nearest airport: Teesside (18km), Newcastle (30km).

Nearest railway: Hartlepool.

Working hours

Normally 0600-2200hrs. Nights and weekends by arrangement.

Where it is

Hartlepool is situated 3.5nm N of the entrance to the River Tees.

The port

Hartlepool has a tidal harbour (Victoria Harbour) with the enclosed N Basin being entered from Victoria Harbour.

Hartlepool's main trade is forest products, ores, coal, cars, steel and general cargo. There is also a ship breaking yard.

Lock gates open for ship movements 3 hours before to 1 hour after HW.

Traffic

Approx 23,000,000t of cargo and 3,000 vessels handled annually. Tonnage and Vessel figure also includes Teesport. ( see separate entry).

What are the pilot arrangements at Hartlepool?

Pilotage in the River Tees or in Victoria Dock is compulsory.

What time zone is Hartlepool in?

Local time at Hartlepool is UTC+0. Clocks go to UTC+1 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+0 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the water density at Hartlepool?

1025.

Which load line zone is Hartlepool 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 Hartlepool?

Port State Control at Hartlepool: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Hartlepool?

The UN/LOCODE of Hartlepool is GBHTP.

What crews who called at Hartlepool 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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