PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Labuan
Pilot
updated May 2010Pilotage is not compulsory for vessels entering and using Liberty Wharf. However, pilotage is compulsory for vessels entering and leaving the lay-up anchorage in Brunei Bay and for the SBM. Berthing Master, who acts as the pilot, mooring assistant and surveyors board vessels 2.5nm WSW of the SBM.
Berthing Masters for the iron ore and methanol jetties are provided by the Sabah Gas Industries.
Vessels requiring a pilot should notify the Harbour Master, through Kota Kinabalu Radio. The pilot will normally board off Pulau Papan. The pilot launch is equipped with VHF.
Key data
updated Jan 2023Size limits
Offshore: LOA 251.98m, beam 45m, draught 23.5m, 115,949DWT.
Harbour: LOA 292.08m, beam 45m, draught 18.0m, 180,882DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Tropical.
Tides
Range 2.3m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petronas LNG Ltd (PLL) Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Labuan Crude Oil Terminal (LCOT) | 18.90 m | 252 m | 1 |
| Antara Steel Mills Terminal | — | 292 m | 1 |
| Petronas Methanol Labuan 1 Terminal (PML1) | 10.80 m | 185 m | 2 |
| Labuan Terminal | — | 120 m | 1 |
| Labuan Liberty Port Terminal | 8.54 m | 190 m | 4 |
| Asian Supply Base Labuan Terminal | — | 157 m | 3 |
| Labuan Ferry Terminal | — | 80 m | 1 |
| Labuan International Ferry Terminal | — | 48 m | 4 |
| Sabah Flour & Feed Mills Terminal | — | 186 m | 1 |
| Petronas Methanol Labuan 2 Terminal (PML2) | — | 183 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 Jan 2023Approach
A buoyed channel has been dredged to 18m between a position 2.5nm SSW of Pulau Papan to the Iron Ore Jetty. The entrance to the dredged channel is marked by a lightbuoy.
Anchorages
Brunei Bay provides reasonably sheltered anchorage for larger vessels, especially VLCC's. Port charges are about the lowest in the region for laid-up ships.
Vessels should moor if the harbour is congested, in suitable depths, clear of the fairway.
Explosive Anchorage: SE Harbour Shoal.
Quarantine Anchorage: NW of Pulau Papan and E of Explosive Anchorage. Petroleum Anchorage: NE of Harbour Shoal and N of Explosive Anchorage, also 5.25nm W of Tanjung Punei.
Prohibited anchorage: A prohibited anchorage exists within 610m of the SE head of New Liberty Wharf.
Tugs
Tugs are available for towage as well as berthing and unberthing. Marine Department has one tug and Sabah Gas Industries have three tugs.
Charts and publications
BA 947, 1844, 2111, 2109. Admiralty Pilot NP31, NP286(4).
Reporting before arrival
updated Jul 2014ETA and pre-arrival notices
Initial ETA should be sent 7 days prior to the vessel's arrival followed by further ETA's at 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to arrival. In addition to the date/time of arrival the message should also include arrival draughts, pilot requirements and any other requirements of the vessel.
Communications
Singapore or Kota Kinabalu Radio are recommended for passing messages. Singapore Radio works throughout 24 hours; Kota Kinabalu works from 0800-1600hrs weekdays and 0800-1200hrs on Sat.
VHF: Marine port control: Ch 16, 14. (24 hours).
Health
The Sabah Government are signatories to the World Health Organisation convention on quarantine regulations. The Port Health Doctor will not board unless the vessel is arriving from an infected port. A Maritime Declaration of Health is to be completed and handed to the agent, together with a copy of the Crew List and a copy of the Passenger List.
The vessel should contact its agent prior to arrival advising the last port of call and whether vessel is healthy.
Pratique is normally granted by radio and vessels should only proceed to the quarantine anchorage if arriving from an infected area.
Ship Sanitation Control Certificate or Exemption Certificate can be renewed for a 3 month period.
Customs and immigration
Customs: Allowance per person per day is 142ml of spirit or 1,136ml of wine; beer or stout, 1,136ml, cigarettes, 25 or cigars, 8 or tobacco, 28.3gm or snuff, 28.3gm. Up to 3 days allowance issued at a time.
Immigration: Immigration officer boards vessel on arrival and clears the ship inwards. The officer requires 2 copies each of the Crew List and Passenger List.
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 2023Repairs
The Sabah Shipyard Repair and Engineering Sdn Bhd provides full repair services for ocean going vessels. The company also undertakes ship building.
Dry docks
The shipyard has a synchrolift of up to 6,940t capacity.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available and supplied by the Public Works Department from hydrants at the New Liberty Wharf.
Bunkering: Black furnace oil and high speed diesel are available at the Shell depot. Notice of 48 hours must be given.
Medical
Nearest hospital: Labuan Hospital (5km).
Transport
Nearest airport: Labuan Airport (2.4km).
Working hours
Stevedores are arranged by agents with the contractor. Working hours are: Normally 0800-1200hrs and 1300-1700hrs.
Overtime payment will be levied for working outside these hours and on Sundays and public holidays.
About Labuan
updated Oct 2017Where it is
The port of Labuan takes its name from the island on which it is situated. The island, which is 19km long and 11.3km wide, is situated off the W coast of Sabah.
The port
Labuan, a Federal Territory, is a free trade zone and the port serves local importers and exporters and the oil and gas industries.
The port has facilities for handling general, containers, bulk and oil cargoes on six main wharves and an SBM. There is a lay-up anchorage in Brunei Bay to the S, some 8km offshore, used by VLCC's. Labuan is a base for these operations as well as being the centre of the supply industry for the oil industry around the South China Sea and Borneo.
There is a crude oil terminal and SBM at Tanjung Kiamsam (LCOT), approx 10km W of Labuan.
Foreign Barter Trade: Barter trade boats from the Philippines call at Labuan port with inward cargoes of native rattan, wood, decorations and fruits such as mangoes, maize, mangosteen, and outward cargoes mainly of textiles, hardware, canned food and electrical goods.
Questions about Labuan
What are the pilot arrangements at Labuan?
Pilotage is not compulsory for vessels entering and using Liberty Wharf.
What time zone is Labuan in?
Local time at Labuan is UTC+8. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Labuan?
The deepest berth listed is at Labuan Crude Oil Terminal (LCOT): 18.90 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Labuan?
1025.
Which load line zone is Labuan in?
Tropical.
Who carries out Port State Control at Labuan?
Port State Control at Labuan: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Labuan?
The UN/LOCODE of Labuan is MYLBU.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Labuan 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.