Itaqui

Size limits

LOA 362m, beam 65.0m, draught 21.5m, 403,880DWT.

Water density

LW 1017, HW 1019 (rainy season); LW 1009, HW 1012 (dry season).

Load line zone

Tropical.

Tides

Range from -0.3m to 7.1m at springs. During spring tides, approx 3 hours after the start of ebb or flood tide, current rate reaches 5-6kts.

Depths at High Water are generally 5.0m higher than at Low Water.

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

Approach

The approach channel has a width of 1,852m, a length of 1,800m and a min depth of 23.0m. The channel commences abreast of Medo Island and terminates abreast of Guarapira Island.

The bar and the approach channel are free from obstacles, depths vary between 16m and 56m, the bottom is sand. The depth of water alongside the Itaqui quays vary from 9.5-19m LW, in the manoeuvring basin and at the anchorage the depth of water is 14m LW.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Port Control is carried out by Empresa Maranhense de Administracao Portuaria (Emap).

Anchorages

Anchorage Area No. 01: Not fully loaded, en route to Terminal da Ponta de Madeira, with draughts more than 11.0m (or 80,000GT). Also for vessels under repair or involved in legal proceedings.

Anchorage Area No. 02: Intended for loaded vessels with draught above 20.0m awaiting for tidal conditions to pass buoys 2, 4, 10 and 14.

Anchorage Area No. 03: Intended for loaded vessels with draught above 20.0m awaiting for tidal conditions to pass buoys 2, 4, 10 and 14 - when Area No. 02 is occupied.

Anchorage Area No. 04: Reserved for vessels with max. draught 11.0m awaiting berths.

Anchorage Area No. 05: Reserved for vessels with max. draught 11.0m awaiting berths.

Anchorage Area No. 06: Reserved for vessels with max. draught 11.0m and 80,000t displacement.

Anchorage Area No. 07: Reserved for vessels with max. draught 11.0m and 80,000t displacement.

Anchorage Area No. 08: Area used for loading/unloading explosives and fuel.

Note: Agreement from the local Port Authority is required before anchoring in Areas 6, 7 and 8.

Vessels bound for Porto de Sao Louis should proceed the Outer Anchorage and Pilot Boarding Area for the port.

Brazilian government officials may board vessels in the anchorage area to perform clearance formalities. A suitable and adequate accommodation ladder must be provided soon after anchoring.

Restrictions

Vessels arriving at the Itaqui tanker berth should approach approx 1 hour before HW.

Vessels with a draught in excess of 7.0m should only manoeuvre when the current is slight. They should only berth at half flood or HW.

There are no restrictions for manoeuvring vessels at night, with the exception of occurrences such as adverse weather conditions, light beacons not working or port operations which may require time restrictions.

Ponta da Madeira Terminal: Berthing for vessels over 100,000DWT is restricted to tidal stream rates of less than 3kts and to rates of less than 4kts for vessels under 100,000DWT.

Tugs

There are 6 tugs available, bollard pull between 41t and 60t. Contact Consorcio de Rebocadores da Baia de sao Marcos, Tel: +55 98 3235 2349, Fax: +55 98 3235 2488 or Consorcio de Rebocadores da Baia de Sao Marcos (Sao Marcos Bay Tugboating Consortium), Internacional Maritima (Maritime International), and Smith Rebras.

Mooring

PONTA DA MADEIRA: Dock structures are made of reinforced concrete, supported by concrete piles with metallic sleeves distributed with 4 breasting dolphins (located in front of the shiploader runway, length 170m); 6 mooring dolphins; a shiploader runway; support for the shiploader pilot boat; tug berth and access bridge to service road and walkways. The total distance between the outer mooring dolphins, N to S in direction, is 490m. the elevation of the breasting dolphins is 11.60m and elevation of mooring dolphins 11.00m in relation to CD.

Charts and publications

BA 541, 543, 565, Brazil 400, 310, 411, 412, 413, 414. Admiralty Pilot NP5, NP286(7).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Ponta da Madeira Terminal: Vessel's ETA should be advised 15 days (or on leaving previous port if later), and 8 days (by telex) in advance. Vessels should also send ETA 48 hours (with request for pilot and anchorage instruction) and 24 hours (with gas free condition and any amendments to previous messages) in advance.

Vessels should contact the terminal on VHF and confirm request for pilotage 4 hours in advance of ETA.

Documents

EMAP is responsible for inspection during boarding and disembarkation, as well as during the crossing and also for:

Crew license check;

Inspection of rescue equipment;

Inspection of service to the capacity of vessels.

Health

Issue of Ship Sanitation Control and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates possible.

Free pratique should be requested by radio 72 hours prior to arrival, by forwarding quarantine message to the port health authorities through the vessel's agent. Ship Sanitation Control and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates can be issued.

Customs and immigration

Contraband: Brazilian laws are very strict with respect to smuggling and masters are requested to instruct their crews not to take more than 2 packets of cigarettes and other articles ashore. Cigarettes in cartons, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, narcotics, souvenirs, explosives, firearms, etc should be collected prior to arrival in port and listed with the items in the Crew's Personal Effects List and placed in the custody of the master.

Immigration: All a vessel's passengers and/or crew members may only enter the national territory after their documents have been inspected by the federal police department, the revenue authorities and the port health authorities.

Vessels owners are responsible for the disembarkation and the embarkation of transit passengers as well as crew members who fail to join a vessel before it sails. Such responsibility includes the maintenance and other expenses until repatriation. In the event of non existence of a compulsory deposit as guarantee to cover such expenses, owners will sign, at the federal police department, a form of responsibility inherent to such obligations as therein expressed.

Flags

All vessels, while in Brazilian ports, must fly the Brazilian national flag from 0800hrs to sunset.

Notices and regulations

All vessels leaving the port bound for foreign ports will be visited by the Maritime police, as per current legislation.

Note: Vessels over 18 years old visiting Ponta da Madeira terminal are required to have a certificate from a recognised surveyor or Classification Society, attesting that the vessel is in good condition.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Comissao Nacional de Seguranca Publica nos Portos, Terminais e Vias Navegaveis - CONPORTOS.

Contact person: Ezio Borghetti.

Position: Secretario Executivo.

Address: Esplenada dos Ministerios, Bloco T, 5 andar - Ministerio da Justica, DF, 70064-900, Brasilia, Brazil.

Tel: +55 61 429 3173.

Fax: +55 61 429 9169.

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: http://www.mj.gov.br

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

Repairs

There are no repair facilities available at the port. Maintenance at tanker berth should be carried out only with prior permission from Petrobras.

Divers are available for inspection purposes.

Bunkers, water and stores

Itaqui:

Fresh water:12 fire hydrants for ship bunkering, a reservoir of 100 m³, and two cisterns of 600 m³.

Bunkers: Fuel oil and lubricants available by lighter.

Stores: Provisions provided in small quantities.

Alumar:

Fresh water: Available at the berth in quantities of 100t per vessel and must be ordered in advance. Delivery is by connection on the wharf at a rate of 20tph.

Bunkering: Bunkering facilities are not available.

Stores: Available, but in small quantities.

Medical

Sao Luis Hospital.

Transport

Nearest airport: Approx 18km.

Nearest railway: Approx 17km.

Working hours

Day shifts 0745-1130hrs and 1330-1930hrs. Night shifts 1945-2330hrs and 0130-0730hrs.

Where it is

Itaqui is located in the municipality of Sao Luis, capital of Maranhao, within Sao Marcos Bay, in the Northeast region of Brazil.

The port

Port Itaqui mainly handles solid and liquid bulk.

Traffic

Approx. 37,000,000t of cargo, 15,000TEU and 1,100 vessels are handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Itaqui?

Pilotage is compulsory from No 19 Lightbuoy and should be arranged through the agent giving at least 24 hours and 4 hours notice of ETA and 2 hours notice of ETD.

What time zone is Itaqui in?

Local time at Itaqui is UTC−3. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Itaqui?

The deepest berth listed is at Vale Terminal: 21.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Itaqui?

LW 1017, HW 1019 (rainy season); LW 1009, HW 1012 (dry season).

Which load line zone is Itaqui in?

Tropical.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Itaqui?

The UN/LOCODE of Itaqui is BRIQI.

What crews who called at Itaqui 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.

Read and add tips for Itaqui →