Helsingborg

1. Helsingborg boarding, northbound Pilot boards55°58.9′N 012°41.5′E
2. Helsingborg boarding, southbound Pilot boards56°04.6′N 012°36.8′E

Size limits

LOA 250, beam 32.25m, draught 12.3m, 40,100DWT.

Water density

1005-1020; Bulkhamnen, various, 1007-1008.

Load line zone

Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Zone for ships of 100m or less in length. Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Variations in water level are small. High water can be expected when strong W'ly winds prevail. Winds from E and S cause the water level to drop.

Currents: Currents may occur outside sea approaches. Caution should be exercised when entering any of the harbours at Helsingborg as there is usually a strong N going current. With winds from between W and N, however, it may set S and the change in direction occurs suddenly.

Outside the harbour the current is variable, and it is not unusual for the surface and bottom current to differ both in direction and rate.

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

Approach

The approach to the harbour basins, which are adjacent to the route through The Sound, is straight forward, providing account is taken of the current and the heavy ferry traffic. Depths for the deep water outside the breakwaters varies from 10.0m to 30.0m.

Port limits

Within breakwaters.

Anchorages

Anchoring off Helsingborg is not recommended on account of the volume of traffic in the inshore traffic zone and the northbound traffic lane of the traffic separation scheme.

Large vessels should anchor approx 1nm NNE of Ven Light in depths of 25.0m. Small vessels may use the anchorage area SW of the entrance to Raa harbour in a depth of 15.0 to 20.0m.

Vessel's anchored SW of Raa lie out of the track of the principal traffic and are not affected by the heavy swell from Kattegat during N winds; they are also E of the main strength of the current. Depths 15m to 20m.

Prohibited anchorages: Anchorage is prohibited within 70m of the seaward end of a sewer outfall marked on shore by a pair of light beacons, in line bearing 067°, situated 0.85nm S of Karnan Tower.

These beacons consist of poles each surmounted by a white triangle with a black stripe. The seaward end of the pipe lies on the dividing line between the white and red sectors of Helsingborg Light bearing 011°.

Anchorage is also prohibited inside any of the harbours at Helsingborg, or in the approach channels, except in emergency when manoeuvring. The bottom inside is hard.

Restrictions

Speed is restricted to a maximum of 4kts within the harbours.

Tugs

Normally vessels with good manoeuvrability are allowed to proceed directly to quays without the assistance of tugs.

Two tugs are available with bollard pull of 30t and 44t respectively, which may be ordered by Tel: +46 42 141430. Additional tugs are available.

Tugs join vessels in the harbour entrances.

Charts and publications

BA 2594, 877. Admiralty Pilot NP18, NP286(2).

US 44054, 44048. US Sailing Directions 194.

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Ships who are planning a port of call shall send the notification of arrival to the Helsingborg Port Control in writing by letter, fax or e-mail by the shipping company, the master or the agent. Notification of arrival should be written in the above form in advanced and no later than 24 hours before the estimated arrival of the vessel to the port, unless Helsingborgs Hamn AB, taking into account the duration of the ship's voyage or other circumstance, allows for a shorter period of time. 1 hour notice should also be called by VHF Ch 11 to the Helsingborg Port Control.

Notice of readiness

As required by custom of the port.

Documents

International Tonnage Certificate is required.

Customs and immigration

Ship's Custom's Declaration, Provision and Crew Declaration, Duty Goods and Crew List must be provided.

Notices and regulations

Delivered on arrival, according to the laws of the Port of Helsingborg.

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

Designated Authority: Swedish Maritime Administration/Swedish Maritime Safety Inspectorate.

Address: SE-601 78, Norrkoping, Sweden.

Tel: +46 11 191000

Fax: +46 11 101949

Email: [email protected]

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

Repairs

Major repairs to hull and machinery can be undertaken.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available. LNG bunkering may only take place in the port parts: Vasthamnen (Berth 903-906), Grain Quay (600-605) and Skaneterminalen (700-709).

Medical

Helsingborg Hospital, 3.6km.

Crew change

Possible. All facilities for effecting crew changes and arranging repatriation exist.

Transport

Nearest airport: Angelholm Helsingborg Airport, located at Angelholm, 41.1km (domestic only).

Nearest railway: City centre. (Knutpunkten).

Working hours

Normally 0630-2300hrs; Bulkhamnen 0700-1600hrs.

Where it is

Helsingborg is situated at the N entrance to The Sound, between the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea, facing Elsinore in Denmark, at the NE extremity of Sjaelland.

The port

Sweden's premier ferry port, Helsingborg consists of four commercial harbours, North Harbour (Nordhamnen), West Harbour (Vasthamnen), South Harbour (Sydhamnen) and Bulk Harbour (Bulkhamnen), each with their own entrance channels.

The privately owned Bulk Harbour (formerly The Copper Works Harbour) is operated by the Port of Helsingborg.

All types of commodities are handled, including oil, chemicals, industrial products, fresh/frozen food stuff and dry bulk cargo. Latterly, the port has also become a popular cruise vessel destination.

Traffic

Approx 7,400,000t of cargo, 240,000TEU, and 6,000,000 passengers handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Helsingborg?

The pilot boards at Helsingborg boarding, northbound, 55°58.9′N 012°41.5′E. Helsingborg has 2 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Helsingborg in?

Local time at Helsingborg 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 Helsingborg?

The deepest berth listed is at South Harbour (Sydhamnen): 12.30 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Helsingborg?

1005-1020; Bulkhamnen, various, 1007-1008.

Which load line zone is Helsingborg in?

Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Zone for ships of 100m or less in length.

Who carries out Port State Control at Helsingborg?

Port State Control at Helsingborg: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Helsingborg?

The UN/LOCODE of Helsingborg is SEHEL.

What crews who called at Helsingborg 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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