PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Johor
Pilot
updated Sep 2014- Johor Port Marine Advisory – RVP Off Brother embarkation location Pilot boards01°15.2′N 103°20.0′E
Johor Port pilots are available 24 hours a day. Pilotage is compulsory for vessels exceeding LOA 45m or over 30m in height, entering or leaving the pilotage district areas. All vessels calling at Johor Port are required to inform the Johor Port Control Station 2 hours before arrival at the pilot boarding ground via VHF Ch 11 and are to confirm ETA 1 hour before arrival.
Pilot boarding positions 01°18.9'N 104°07.2'E and 01°19.35'N 104°15.63'E. If a pilot does not board on arrival, the vessel is required to anchor at the designated Johor anchorage. Upon anchoring, all vessels are required to report their positions to the Johor Port Control Station.
Key data
updated Aug 2025Size limits
LOA 361m, beam 65m, draught 13m, 90,000DWT.
Water density
1020-1025.
Load line zone
Tropical.
Tides
Range 2.5m (springs), 1.0m (neaps).
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Container Terminal | 13.00 m | 300 m | 3 |
| Lotte Chemical Titan | 13.00 m | 284 m | 4 |
| Dry Bulk Terminal | 12.90 m | 361 m | 9 |
| Palm Oil Terminal | 11.20 m | 195 m | 4 |
| TNB Sultan Iskandar Power Station | — | — | 1 |
| Far East Oil Terminal One | 10.10 m | 252 m | 1 |
| Liquid/Breakbulk Terminal | 10.00 m | 229 m | 4 |
| Pasir Gudang Ferry Terminal | 3.90 m | 34 m | 2 |
| Idemitsu Petrochemicals Complex Terminal | — | 149 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Feb 2023Approach
Entry into Johor Port is by way of the Singapore Straits and approach through Kuala Johor, Serangoon Harbour and East Johor Straits for ships with max draught of 12.0m.
Western approach: From a position approx 0.3nm NE of Pulau Merambong (01°19'N 103°37'E), the W part of Johor Strait leads NE and E for approx 14nm to The Causeway at Johor Bahru.
This passage is used by local vessels visiting Johor Bahru and it should not be attempted without local knowledge.
Eastern approach: The common approach channel to the E part of Johor Strait and Sungai Johor leads NW from the vicinity of 01°19'N 104°07'E, passing NE of Johor Shoal and through Kuala Johor.
Then the route through the E part of Johor Strait leads in a general WNW direction through Serangoon Harbour (01°23'N 103°58'E), passing Pasir Gudang or Johor Port at Pasir Gudang (01°26'N 103°54'E) and the commercial berths at Sembawang to Sembawang Shipyard (01°28'N 103°50'E).
Then Johor Strait continues 4nm W to The Causeway (01°27'N 103°46'E) at Johor Bahru. The channel is well marked with lightbuoys, leading marks and light beacons, but is less than 0.2nm wide in places.
The main channel of the E part of Johor Strait is entered S of Pulau Ubin (01°25'N 103°58'E). Johor Shoal Lightbuoy to Pasir Gudang Port has a depth of 12.0m CD.
Pasir Gudang Port to Sembawang Shipyard: Depth 11.4m.
Sembawang Shipyard to Ordnance Reach: Depth 11.0m.
The shallowest parts of the passage are:
Between Tanjong Changi (01°23'N 104°00'E) and Malang Tigo (1.5nm E) and;
SE of Malaysia Shipyard (01°27'N 103°53'E).
Note. Depths given refer to fairways, partly marked by sectored lights and leading lights. Some places do have lesser depths, especially at the edge of channels.
Anchorages
No anchoring or passage is permitted in the area S and E of the Changi Naval Harbour (01°19.00'N 104°02.00'E), except those vessels authorised by the Commander, Republic of Singapore Navy.
Restrictions
Speed restrictions: Maximum navigational speed in the channel is 12kts. At sensitive locations stated below, speed should be reduced to 6kts.
Mooring
Mooring information is available 24 hours a day. The number of mooring gangs supplied will be determined by the LOA of the vessel and mooring boat assistance is also made available.
Charts and publications
BA 2403, 3831, 4044, 8285. Admiralty Pilot NP44, NP286(4).
Reporting before arrival
updated Jan 2019ETA and pre-arrival notices
All ships proceeding to Johor are required to notify the Port Authority 48 hours prior to vessel's arrival with 2 hours before the ETA at the pilot station via VHF Ch 11.
Communications
Singapore Radio, which works throughout 24 hours, can be used for long range communications.
Inmarsat communication is possible.
Port: VHF Ch 11, 21 and 63. Callsign "Johor Port Control"
Tel: +607 253 5888. Fax: +607 251 0980. Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.johorport.com.my
Operations: VHF Ch 11, 63, 65.
Pilotage: VHF Ch 02, 06.
Emergency: VHF Ch 07, 62.
Notice of readiness
As per vessels charters' advice.
Documents
A Malaysian Crew List (original copy obtained from the Immigration department) must be prepared (2 copies). This is undertaken by the local agent and is based on the Crew List obtained from the ship. For other officials/departments a ship's Crew List will do (7 copies required).
The above documents are distributed to Immigration, Health, Harbour Master, Customs, Traffic Control Officer and, if necessary, to the agriculture department.
In addition to the above, a time sheet will be issued by the Immigration department which the Master is to sign and endorse. Other documents, such as Maritime Declaration of Health, arrival and departure report for the Marine department and Customs will be pre-prepared by the local agent and is to be endorsed by the Master on arrival.
Health
Free pratique can only be applied for on arrival of the vessel at berth. Application by radio is not applicable at present.
All vessels applying for a Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate/Ship Sanitation Control Certificate should be empty of solid cargo. Application should be accompanied with the existing Ship Sanitation Control Certificates or Exemption Certificate and at least 24 hours notice should be given to the Port Health office.
A Port Health Clearance Certificate must be obtained from the Port Health Office by all vessels in order to sail from the port.
Every vessel is required to use proper design of rat guards on all mooring ropes so as to prevent any rodent from leaving or boarding a vessel during its stay in port.
Customs and immigration
The Master of the vessel shall exhibit the signal until the vessel has been examined by the Immigration Officer who will authorise the signal to be hauled down.
During the stay of the vessel in port, the members of the crew are free to move about only within the port limit. Any person leaving the vessel shall take his Seaman's identity book or passport.
Any seaman who wishes to visit places outside the port limit may apply through the shipping agent. Successful application will require the crew to appear before an Immigration officer for issuing of pass or endorsement. The said crew member is required to report to the Immigration office, upon return from his visit, before boarding the vessel.
Before departure of a vessel, the shipping agent is required to notify the Immigration department. Immigration inspection will then be carried out to determine that all members of the crew and passengers, if any, are all onboard before departure.
Flags
In addition to normal Interco flags and ensigns, vessels may, at times and on special occasions, be required to "dress overall" whilst in port. The local shipping agent will notify the vessel on such occasion as and when required.
Notices and regulations
1. East Johor Straits Guidelines.
2. Port Marine Circular No. 17 of 2001 - VHF communications and reporting procedures for vessels manoeuvring within the traffic information area (TIA) in East Johor Strait.
3. All Port Circulars from Malaysian Marine Department (MMD) Southern Region.
Inspections
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: Marine Industrial Control Division.
Contact person: Director.
Address: PO Box 12, 42007 Port Klang, Malaysia.
Tel: +60 3 3346 7777.
Fax: +60 3 3168 4454.
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.marine.gov.my
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated Jan 2014Repairs
Malaysian Marine Heavy Engineering (MMHE) previously know as, Malaysian Shipyard and Engineering, located a few kilometres upstream and adjacent to the Port of Johor, is one of the biggest ship repair facilities in South East Asia. The shipyard has the expertise to repair and meet the maintenance requirements of the most sophisticated vessels including LNG carriers, gas tankers and crude oil tankers.
Dry docks
A ship lift of 50,000DWT is also available.
The shipyard has 8 fitting out berths of which 3 are for VLCC size vessels each having a draught of between 7.0-8.0m. A slipway can accept vessels of up to 10,000DWT.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Fresh water supply is available alongside wharves, jetties and two water barges with capacity of 10,000 litres. The Ferry Terminal has 2 pontoons for loading fresh water, at a rate of 40tph.
Bunkering: Vessels can replenish their supplies of bunker fuel either alongside the wharves or at the anchorages via bunker barges.
Stores: Available.
Medical
A hospital is situated in the town (2km).
Crew change
Crew change is possible and each request is considered on its merits.
Transport
Nearest airport: Senai Airport (80km).
Nearest railway: The port is easily accessible by road and rail from the state capital city of Johor Bahru. The rail link has its station inside the port at the Container Terminal. Railway sidings to various industries in and outside the port area are provided.
Working hours
Office hours: Sunday to Thursday 0900-1730hrs and alternate Saturday 0900-1300hrs.Throughout 24 hours, except 2-4 hours during Eid. Malaysia's Johor state has announced that from January 1 2014, the state's rest days will be on Fridays and Saturdays instead of Saturdays and Sundays
About Johor
updated Apr 2022Where it is
Johor Port is situated at the S extremity of the Malaysian peninsula, on the E shoreline of the Johor Straits, approx 20nm E of Johor Bahru, the capital city.
The port
Johor Port is a major gateway for Malaysia with a Free Zone area. The port is located in the heart of a dynamic industrial estate in Pasir Gudang, home base to a variety of industries such as petrochemicals, engineering, electrical equipments, furniture and food industries.
Johor Port is a multipurpose port able to handle all types of cargo requirements through its bulk, break bulk, liquid bulk and container terminal facilities. It has a large storage facility for palm oil and a key export centre for petrochemical products. The port also is a London Metal Exchange accredited port to handle and store all seven types of non-ferrous metals.
Due to the shortage of land to expand the current port, the new port of Tanjung Pelepas has been built to cope with the increase in cargo handling capacity.
A Free Zone has been set up within the port area to simplify procedures with duty exemptions, less documentation and partial importation procedures.
Traffic
Approx 33,000,000t of cargo, 1,000,000TEU and 4,000 vessels are handled annually.
Questions about Johor
Where does the pilot board at Johor?
The pilot boards at Johor Port Marine Advisory – RVP Off Brother embarkation location, 01°15.2′N 103°20.0′E.
What time zone is Johor in?
Local time at Johor is UTC+8. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Johor?
The deepest berth listed is at Container Terminal: 13.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Johor?
1020-1025.
Which load line zone is Johor in?
Tropical.
Who carries out Port State Control at Johor?
Port State Control at Johor: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Johor?
The UN/LOCODE of Johor is MYPGU.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Johor 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.