King Fahd Industrial Port

Size limits

LOA 339.76m, beam 60m, draught 29.0m, 362,929DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Tropical.

Tides

The tidal range is about 1 meter at spring tides, but fluctuations due to non-tidal effects are up to 3 meters. Fluctuations due to non-tidal effects are caused by storms, which can cause a mean sea level drop of 0.5 meter, and a significant increase in mean sea level after the storm or as it subsides. Generally, the tides are semidiurnal with a period of 12hr 25 minutes. Currents in the area are influenced by local wind conditions, tide, and the general circulatory pattern of the Red Sea.

Sea conditions can vary considerably within the port limits. Wave heights in the port area are usually lower than 2 meters during sea breezes.

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

Approach

Port Approaches: Masters of deep draught vessels should be aware that there are extensive unsurveyed areas between the main shipping lanes and the approaches to Yanbu. Two approach corridors to the pilot boarding area off Shermo Reef were surveyed early in 1981, and an approach corridor to the S pilot boarding area was examined in 1982.

The Northern Approach Corridor, some 48nm long, extends in a W'ly direction from just W of Shermo Reef at approximately 24°03'N 037°45.2'E to 24°04'N 036°53'E. Depths range in general from 650m inshore to 950m offshore, with 2 isolated shoals with a least depth of 132m and 184m in approximately 24°04'N 037°36'E and 24°07'N 037°36'E respectively.

The other approach corridor to the Northern Pilot Boarding Area, some 43nm long and 3nm wide, extends in a SW'ly direction from just W of Shermo Reef, 24°03'N 037°45.2'E to 23°22.5'N 037°28.5'E. No hazards discovered and depths generally 650m inshore to 700m offshore.

The approach corridor to the South Pilot Boarding Area, approximately 754nm in length and 2.7nm wide, from 23°22'N 038°24.7'E, extends approximately SSW to 22°32'N 038°05.4'E and has a least depth of 445m of water in a general depth of 500 to 880m.

The buoyage system in use in King Fahd Industrial Port at Yanbu is IALA System "A".

Anchorages

Port Approaches: There are no anchorages considered suitable for deep draught vessels without local knowledge in the vicinity of either pilot boarding area. Vessels not cleared to enter King Fahd Industrial Port at Yanbu are required to remain outside the territorial waters of Saudi Arabia.

Inner Anchorages: An inner anchorage to be considered as an emergency anchorage and not a "safe" anchorage has been established approximately 1nm SW of the Port Control Tower (27°57.4'N 038°13'E) within the Controlled Navigation Zone of the port. Five vessels can be accommodated in this anchorage. The minimum depth in the anchorage is 35m and the holding ground is considered to be unpredictable. Normally vessels will use 6 shackles of cable when anchoring. A SEAPA pilot will conduct vessels to a designated anchorage position.

Refer to Port Notice No 1/93 - Guidelines for Use of Inner Anchorages.

The following anchorages are available:

N1: Beacon 2C brg 281° x 1.06nm. Max draught 15m.

N2: Beacon 2C brg 290° x 1.26nm. Max draught 16m.

N3: Beacon 2C brg 288° x 1.56nm. Max draught 16m.

N4: Beacon 2C brg 297° x 1.80nm. Max draught 22m.

N5: Beacon 2C brg 303° x 2.15nm. Max draught 22m.

Freighter anchorage position 23°53.2'N 038°17. 8'E.

Restrictions

Confirmed berthing allocation only. There are no "waiting anchorages".

Tugs

There is no requirement for masters to order tugs. The number of tugs to be used during berthing and on departure will be specified by the Harbour Master and will meet incoming vessels at the vicinity of No 14 lightbuoy (23°54.9'N 038°12.9'E).

Towing lines will be provided by the tugs, which will rendezvous with vessels bound for the NGL and Crude Terminal in the vicinity of No 14 Buoy. All tugs are fitted with foam and water monitors for fire fighting and spray booms for pollution dispersal work.

There are 15 tugs (2,000-5,600hp) available. Mainly VSP water tractors.

Mooring

Vessels equipped with both wire and synthetic mooring lines must avoid mixing such lines to the same dolphin. During the periods of unsettled weather, arriving vessels fitted with sufficient wires will be preferentially berthed, whereas vessels equipped with synthetic lines or too few wire lines will not be berthed until the weather improves. If a ship with synthetic lines is already moored and squall conditions arise, loading to that vessel will be stopped and the loading arms disconnected until weather conditions improve and it is judged safe to resume the loading operation. The use of nylon or other highly elastic line is prohibited.

Each mooring dolphin and breasting dolphin is equipped with triple quick-release mooring hooks and with a mooring winch.

Vessels must be moored to the entire satisfaction of the pilot. Vessels must be ready at all times to put out more lines as required by the harbour master or Pier personnel, or as directed by weather changes. All vessels moored to the piers must have deck winches in readiness for immediate use. All vessels moored with automatic tension winches will set the manual brakes on these winches.

Pier crew are on duty continuously to handle loading arms and mooring lines. Mooring lines onboard vessels will not be handled by shore personnel.

All loading connections are equipped with electrical insulating flanges, therefore ship to shore bonding cables are not required.

Mooring Arrangement (for Yanbu Refinery Terminal):

Port mooring boats will run lines to the dolphins from the tanker. The terminal will supply suitable messengers for heaving the lines to the hooks.

All berths are equipped with either double or triple quick release hook systems. All hooks can be released remotely in case of emergency.

Normal mooring on Berths No 91 and 92: Three (3) head, stern and breast lines each end and two (2) spring lines each end.

Normal mooring on Berths No 93 and 94: Three (3) head and stern lines on each end an two (2) breast and spring lines on each end.

It is recommended that the tankers of 40,000-80,000DWT provide wires for their spring and breast lines, with a minimum for such a size tanker of two (2) mooring wires.

All mooring lines should be of similar size and material and be in good condition. Manual brakes should be set on tension winches when mooring is completed. The terminal operator will monitor the mooring loads on each hook and inform the vessel if any undesirable situation develops. It remains the master's responsibility to ensure that his vessel remains safely moored.

Charts and publications

BA 158, 326, 327, 328. Saudi Arabian 17, 164, 171, 172 and 173. Admiralty Pilot NP64, NP286(8).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

All port operations are carried out by King Fahd Port Control. Address all telexes to Director KFIP: +495 662364 KFPYB SC or +495 662365 YANBU SJ with copy to Control Tower KFIP, Yanbu: +495 662360 PORTCT SJ.

Standard messages

Tankers:

The following information must be sent to the Director General, King Fahd Industrial Port at Yanbu as soon as the vessel receives orders to proceed to the port. The information should also be sent to the relevant terminal operator.

Gas Tankers:

The following information must be sent to the Director General, King Fahd Industrial Port at Yanbu and terminal operators as soon as the vessel receives orders to proceed to the port.

In addition to the pre-arrival information requirements above, further notification of ETA is required 5 days, 72 hours and 24 hours prior to arrival at the port, stating which pilot boarding area. Changes in ETA in excess of one hour must be notified thereafter. On coming within range of Port Control the ETA must be confirmed by VHF.

Notice of readiness

NOR to be presented on arrival, with copies to the agent and the relevant terminals.

Health

Quarantine signals must be displayed by all vessels approaching the port. These signals must be displayed continuously until pratique is granted.

Sunrise to sunset: Quarantine flag

Sunset to sunrise: Signal lights Red over white.

Customs and immigration

Trafficking in these items between ships, and between ships' crews and shore personnel, is strictly prohibited. Also see "General".

Each crew member may have 200 cigarettes or 0.5lb tobacco, but all alcohol and wine, beer etc, must be sealed. This applies to all persons onboard.

On arrival of the ship at anchor or berth, and given that all the pre-entry requirements have been fulfilled, the ship will be boarded by the immigration authorities along with coast guard, port health officer for Inspection. Similarly, when a vessel completes cargo, the agent is responsible for issuing a letter of notification to all relevant authorities. The letter duly signed and stamped by the customs, coast guard and quarantine departments is shown to the immigration department who will dispatch one of their officers to the vessel. This officer checks the crew list against the passports and obtains assurances from the master that the crew is the same as on arrival apart from any agreed repatriation, and that no crew member has been involved in any mishap. Once the mmigration officer is satisfied he gives one copy of the Departure Permit to the master and one copy to the port management, concluding the formalities.

Flags

Every vessel entering the King Fahd Industrial Port at Yanbu must hoist the flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the foremast and keep it flying at all times throughout the vessel's stay in port. The flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must be in good condition and properly displayed with the Arabic writing at the top of the flag and the sword at the bottom.

Notices and regulations

Port Regulations: Every vessel which arrives at the port must have a copy of the Rules and Regulations for Seaports issued by the Co-operations Council for the Arab States of the Gulf onboard. On first arrival at the port, these Rules and Regulations must be obtained.

All vessels fitted with inert gas systems must be inerted.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Ministry of Interior / Coast Guard.

Position: Head of Port Security Department.

Address: Coast Guard HQ, Riyadh, 11135, Saudi Arabia.

Tel: +966 4020 222

Fax: +966 1 402 0274

Mob: +966 0505 910400

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

Repairs

No repairs of any kind are permitted alongside berth unless mutually agreed by the master, harbour master and terminal manager.

Repairs will not normally be allowed at the anchorages without special permission from the port management.

Dry docks

Not available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available from barges at the anchorage.

Stores: Available locally but limited, masters are advised to contact agent well in advance. Storing is not permitted alongside Saudi Aramco berths.

Medical

Al Ansari Specialist Hospital in Yanbu, 6km.

Crew change

Possible, should be arranged well in advance.

Transport

Nearest airport: Prince Abdulmohsin Bin Abdulaziz Airport, 35km.

Working hours

Continuous throughout 365 days, 24 hours.

Where it is

King Fahd Industrial Port (Yanbu), (not to be confused with King Fahd Industrial Port (Jubail) - a Sub- Port of Jubail), is located approx 20km S of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia.

The port

King Fahd Industrial Port has a natural harbour built over a distance of 25km and is protected from the open sea by an offshore barrier reef lying parallel to the coast. The main cargoes handled are crude oil, oil based products, LPG, chemicals, petrochemicals, containers, Ro-Ro, bulk cargo and general cargo.

Traffic

Approx 126,000,000t of cargo, 100TEU and 2,000vessels handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at King Fahd Industrial Port?

Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels entering, navigating within or living the pilot zones in all Saudi Aramco Oil Ports and Terminals.

What time zone is King Fahd Industrial Port in?

Local time at King Fahd Industrial Port is UTC+3. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at King Fahd Industrial Port?

The deepest berth listed is at Ras Al Ma'Ajjiz Terminal: 29.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at King Fahd Industrial Port?

1025.

Which load line zone is King Fahd Industrial Port in?

Tropical.

What is the UN/LOCODE of King Fahd Industrial Port?

The UN/LOCODE of King Fahd Industrial Port is SAYBI.

What crews who called at King Fahd Industrial Port 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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