PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Hound Point
Pilot
updated Mar 2019Compulsory and available 24 hours. Pilots available from Forth Ports Plc. Vessels should send Pilotage request with ETA 24, 12 and 2 hours prior to arrival including: GT, max draught and Port of destination. Vessels should send ETD to the duty pilot at the earliest possible opportunity, but not later than 4 hours before the ETD. Compulsory ETD should be sent 2 hours in advance.
Pilots board at the Fairway Lightbuoy (56°03.51'N 003°00.09'W): For vessels bound for Hound Point Terminal, vessels of LOA150m and over and vessels carrying 12 or more passengers, irrespective of length.
Key data
updated May 2024Size limits
LOA 336.01m, beam 60m, draught 20.72m, 320,916DWT.
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 6.0m springs, 2.5m neaps. Stream rates of 2.5kts are normal, rates of 4kts can be experienced.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hound Point Terminal | 20.72 m | 336 m | 2 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated May 2024Approach
The terminal is approached direct from the Forth Deep Water Channel, with least depth 18.4m at CD. See also the entry for Forth Ports.
Traffic schemes and VTS
The Forth Navigation Service is a compulsory reporting service.
Anchorages
Anchoring is prohibited between the terminal and the shore at Whitehouse Point, where pipelines are laid.
Restrictions
The Forth Navigation Service impose traffic restrictions when vessels are moving to/from Hound Point Terminal, Braefoot Bay Terminal and Rosyth.
Tugs
BP owned tugs, managed by Targe Towing Ltd, Aberdeen.
Three stern drive tugs employing push/pull mode of towage available. "Cramond" and "Dalmeny" both with approximately 62t bollard pull, "Hopetoun" with 125t bollard pull. All have fire fighting capacity.
Mooring
The Master should ensure that the vessel is secured alongside with suitable ropes or wires. A minimum of 6 mooring lines must be used at each end of the vessel. The use of mooring lines of dissimilar materials in the same direction shall be avoided. The use of wire springs, with or without synthetic fibre rope tails, (which shall not exceed 11m in length overall and should have a breaking strain at least 25% greater than the breaking load of the wire to which they are attached), is required.
Mooring hooks on Berth 2 are fitted with a Mooring Load Monitoring System, with remote readout visually displayed in the control room. Remote release of moorings on Berth 2 can be activated from the control room.
Charts and publications
BA 736, 1407. Admiralty Pilot NP54, NP286(1).
Reporting before arrival
updated Mar 2019Communications
VHF: Ch 09, 17. Tel: +44 131 331 1325. Available 24 hours.
Forth Pilots: Ch 72, 71, Tel: +44 131 552 1420, Fax: +44 131 551 5869, Email: [email protected].
Forth Navigation Service: Ch 71, 20, Tel: +44 132 449 8584, Fax: +44 132 466 8480, Email: [email protected].
Tugs: Ch 10. Available 24 hours.
Berths are equipped with multi-channel VHF radios.
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: 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.
Port services
updated Aug 2016Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water and bunkering: Not available
Medical
Bangour General Hospital, Broxburn (16km)
Transport
Nearest airport: Edinburgh (8km) from Hawes Pier, South Queensferry.
Nearest railway: Dalmeny (1.6km) from Hawes Pier, South Queensferry.
About Hound Point
updated Nov 2014Where it is
Hound Point is situated off the S shore of the Firth of Forth.
The port
Hound Point is a crude oil loading terminal operated by BP Exploration Operating Company Limited for Forties Field Crude Oil.
The terminal consists of three concrete and steel island structures with associated berthing and mooring dolphins, all situated to the E of the Forth Railway Bridge. There are two berths and a Vapour Recovery Platform. Crude oil, supplied by the Forties Pipeline is loaded from a tank farm at Dalmeny on the southern shore of the estuary or direct from the pipeline.
Access to and from the berths is by an authorised launch running from Hawes Pier in South Queensferry.
Questions about Hound Point
What are the pilot arrangements at Hound Point?
Compulsory and available 24 hours.
What time zone is Hound Point in?
Local time at Hound Point is UTC+0. Clocks go to UTC+1 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+0 on 31 Oct 2027.
What is the maximum draft at Hound Point?
The deepest berth listed is at Hound Point Terminal: 20.72 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Hound Point?
1025
Which load line zone is Hound Point 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 Hound Point?
Port State Control at Hound Point: Paris MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Hound Point?
The UN/LOCODE of Hound Point is GBHPT.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Hound Point 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.