PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Kaohsiung
Pilot
updated May 2010- Kaohsiung Intercontinental Terminal Zone L Pilot boards22°31.9′N 120°14.1′E
- Kaohsiung Intercontinental Terminal Zone S Pilot boards22°32.2′N 120°15.3′E
- 高雄港 引水站 P1 (一港口) Pilot boards22°37.3′N 120°13.3′E
Compulsory and available throughout 24 hours on VHF Ch 13. Vessels should contact port radio 2 hours before arrival in the roads.
Pilot boards at No 1 Pilot Station (22°37.45'N 120°12.80'E), or No 2 Pilot Station (22°32.47'N 120°15.40'E). Tankers to arrange a position agreed with the pilot.2 pilots are boarded for berthing cape size vessels and tankers over 40,000GT.
Key data
updated Aug 2023Size limits
Harbour: LOA 400m, beam 61.5m, draught 17.6m, 250,993DWT.
Offshore: LOA 339.86m, draught 27.4m, 323,183DWT.
Water density
1021-1023.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Spring range 0.6m, Neap range 0.1m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ta-Lin-Pu Offshore Oil Terminal | 24.00 m | 340 m | 4 |
| Container Terminal No.7 (Evergreen Marine) | — | 400 m | 5 |
| Container Terminal No.6 (Kao ming Container Terminao KMCT) | — | 400 m | 4 |
| Kaohsiung Port Intercontinental Phase II Petrochemical Storage | — | — | 10 |
| Hsinta Power Plant Terminal | — | 300 m | 1 |
| Evergreen Kaohsiung Container Terminal | — | 400 m | 3 |
| China Steel Corporation (CSC) | — | 300 m | 7 |
| Taiwan Power Company | — | 289 m | 1 |
| Chien Tung Harbour (Terminal 7) | — | — | 1 |
| Kaohsiung Port Intercontinental Phase II Bulk and General Cargo Terminal | — | — | 3 |
| Chinese Petroleum Corporation (CPC) | — | 252 m | 4 |
| Container Terminal No.3 | — | 369 m | 6 |
| Hyundai Merchant Marine Kaohsiung Container Terminal | — | 367 m | 3 |
| Wan Hai Container Terminal Kaohsiung | — | 369 m | 5 |
| Container Terminal No.4 | — | 369 m | 5 |
All 25 terminals
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Container Terminal No.2 | — | 400 m | 7 |
| Container Terminal No.5 | — | 254 m | 2 |
| Yung An LNG Terminal | 11.00 m | 315 m | 3 |
| Container Terminal No.1 | — | 295 m | 32 |
| Penglai Commercial Harbour | 10.30 m | 335 m | 10 |
| China Shipbuilding Corp (CSBC) | — | 333 m | 7 |
| Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal | — | 224 m | 2 |
| Lingya Commercial Harbour | 10.00 m | 100 m | 10 |
| Yencheng Commercial Harbour | — | — | 5 |
| Budai Terminal | — | 77 m | 11 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Aug 2023Approach
The First Entrance: (22°37'N 120°01'E) lies between the heads of breakwaters extending 1nm SW and NW from shore.
The fairway narrows to 122m, 0.5nm within the breakwaters, where it passes between the shore and the N tip of the narrow strip of sand fronting the harbour, to enter the inner harbour. The area between the narrows and the breakwater is known as the outer harbour.
Several fixed red and green lights are exhibited on each shore at the narrowest part of the fairway.
To obtain the deepest water of 11.0m, approach First Entrance from position 1.5nm WNW steering to pass midway between the breakwater heads and then follow a mid channel course through the entrance to the inner harbour. The best time to enter is at the end of the flood stream. Max vessel size 30,000t.
The Second Entrance: (22°33'N 120°18'E) is situated 5nm SE of the First Entrance and is the deep water man made entrance through the narrow sandy strip fronting the harbour. It has a width of 250m and depth of 16.0m. The entrance is protected to seaward by 2 curved breakwaters extending 0.75-1nm WSW. Max vessel size 100,000t.
Leading lights bearing 079.5°, lead through the dredged channel of the Second Entrance. The front light is exhibited from a light beacon with a conical topmark point up; the rear light is exhibited from a similar structure, point down. The dredged channel has a width of about 180m.
Three fixed green lights are exhibited on the N side, and three fixed red lights on the S side, of the entrance to the inner harbour.
Port limits
Harbour limits extend to 2nm off breakwater, vessels are considered 'arrived' at this position.
Traffic schemes and VTS
Traffic Separation Schemes: (TSS) are established in the approaches to the port at First and Second Entrances.
Anchorages
Bunkering anchorage: Lies S of the SBM's offshore from Ta-Lin-Pu (22°32'N 120°20'E). Several areas have foul ground SW of the First Entrance. Small vessels can obtain anchorage in Outer Harbour, the area seaward of First Entrance enclosed by the breakwaters, clear of the fairway in depths from 3.7 to 7.6m.
Prohibited area: Between the First and Second Entrance breakwater a submerged pipeline extends 1.5nm SW from the shore at Ta-shan-t'ou. Anchoring is prohibited within 185m either side of the pipeline. Six lightbuoys are moored around the head of the pipeline.
Restrictions
Container ships may enter at any time, other vessels up to midnight. Vessels carrying dangerous cargo, during daylight hours only. Vessels with a max draught of 10.4m can use First Entrance only at HW.
Tankers too large to enter harbour use SPM buoys, 3nm S of the Second Entrance.
There is a 50m security zone surrounding the LNG berth and terminal.
Overtaking: A merchant vessel overtaking in the fairway must obtain consent to overtake from the other vessel.
Vessels shall not cross an anchorage area without permission from the VTS.
Tugs
There are 21 large and medium class tugs from 1,800-4,000hp available. There are 4 x 3,400hp Voith Schneider tugs available at the Yung-An LNG Port.
Charts and publications
BA 2376, 3230, 3232, 2409. Admiralty Pilot NP32, NP286(6).
Reporting before arrival
updated May 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
Notify ETA 24 hours prior to arrival through Kaohsiung agent with the following information: Name of ship; nationality; draught; description of cargo; number of passengers; whether any PRC Chinese crew members onboard; size of ship's manifold.
When within 10nm of the harbour, contact the Harbour Authorities on VHF Ch 16.
Communications
VHF: Port Control/VTS: Ch 16; 11.
Pilot station: Ch 16, 13.
Kaohsiung Pilot Association Tel: +886 7 551 2468.
Notice of readiness
NOR should be tendered as soon as vessel has arrived/anchored, subject to pilot station. Tender NOR with Master's arrival declaration cable.
Port services
updated Apr 2025Repairs
China Shipbuilding Corp offers all kinds of repair services.
Dry docks
CSBC drydock is 1,000m in length, 150m in width and 20.0m in depth and is separated into 3 stages of 380-390-180m respectively by 2 intermediate gates. Each stage can be operated independently to facilitate fabrication of ship sections, as well as to dock and repair ships.
Floating dock: Viva Island; 174m in length, 30m internal width and has a capacity of 115,000t.
KHB shipyard: Length 116m, width 19m, depth 5.0m, fixed, 5,000t, draught below 3.4m.
Medical
There are medical facilities available.
Crew change
Crew change is possible but China (mainland) crew is restricted.
Transport
Nearest airport: Kaohsiung International/domestic Airport, 5km.
Nearest freight railway: Kaohsiung Port Railway Station, 1km.
Nearest passenger railway: Kaohsiung Railway station, 10km.
Working hours
Normally general cargo; 0800-1600hrs, 1600-2330hrs (plus 100%), 0001-0700hrs (plus 100%), 0600-0800hrs (plus 100%).
Containers; 0800-1130hrs, 1230-1800hrs, 1830-2400hrs (plus 100%) 0100-0700hrs (plus 100%).
NB: For quick despatch, relief gangs can be hired to work through meal breaks.
About Kaohsiung
updated Feb 2025Where it is
Kaohsiung is the principal port. It is situated on the SW coast of Chinese Taipei.
The port
Affiliated harbours to Kaohsiung are Makong, Budai, Yun-An LNG Harbour and An-Ping (see separate entry).
Traffic
Approx 100,000,000t of cargo, 9,000,000TEU, 30,000 vessels and 250,000 passengers handled annually.
Questions about Kaohsiung
Where does the pilot board at Kaohsiung?
The pilot boards at Kaohsiung Intercontinental Terminal Zone L, 22°31.9′N 120°14.1′E. Kaohsiung has 3 pilot boarding places.
What time zone is Kaohsiung in?
Local time at Kaohsiung is UTC+8. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Kaohsiung?
The deepest berth listed is at Ta-Lin-Pu Offshore Oil Terminal: 24.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Kaohsiung?
1021-1023.
Which load line zone is Kaohsiung in?
Summer.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Kaohsiung?
The UN/LOCODE of Kaohsiung is TWKHH.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Kaohsiung 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.