Liepaja

1. Liepaja pilot boarding Pilot boards56°30.0′N 020°49.9′E
2. B Pilot boards56°34.8′N 020°56.0′E
3. C Pilot boards56°32.4′N 020°58.6′E

Size limits

LOA 229m, beam 35m, draught 9.4m, 84,904DWT.

Load line zone

Summer Zone for vessels over 100m in length and Winter Seasonal Area for vessels of 100m or less in length. Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

The port is non tidal, winds from the E can cause water levels to fall by 0.6m and from the W can cause a rise of 0.9m.

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

Approach

The harbour at Liepaja has 3 entrances which are approached via a safety fairway under VTS control:

Vidus Varti: The middle and the main entrance, is approached via a channel, with a width of 100m and marked by leading lights and buoys (spar) and has a depth of 8.9m.

Ziemela Varti: Is the N entrance, minimum charted depth is 5.6m; close N of this entrance is a shoal marked by a buoy (spar, cross topmark). This channel is closed at present.

Dienvidu Varti: The S entrance is approached via a channel with a least depth of 10.4m, but it is liable to silting.

Lights, each side of the middle entrance are exhibited as follows:

S side: Green metal column, 5m in height, with an elevation of 15m.

N side: Red metal column, 5m in height at an elevation of 9m.

Leading Lights:

Front Light: (56°32.7'N 020°59.9'E), 20m in height with an elevation of 21m, white metal pyramid with white trapezium with black vertical stripe.

Rear Light: (56°32.9'N 021°00.8'E), red metal pyramid, top red, white vertical stripe, 30m in height, with an elevation of 33m, in a position 0.54nm ENE of the front light.

The above alignment leads through the dredged channel and through the middle entrance into the outer harbour.

Having entered through the middle entrance, a vessel proceeding to Commercial Harbour or to the channel between the old and new parts of the town should follow the leading lines, respectively, bearing 351.7°-171.7°.

The depth of fairway to Dienvidu Varti is 11.0m, fairway to Vidus Varti is 9.0m.

Port limits

Also including the Avant Port (inner roads), Free Port, Winter Port and the Trading Channel up to the tram bridge, the Navy Channel, the Tosmare Basin.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Port is closed when speed of wind exceeds 27kts.

Because of the comparatively shallow depths in the dredged channels, deep draught vessels may not handle well at slow speed and may be considerably influenced by the currents which set at right angles to the leading line therefore they should maintain sufficient speed in order to remain accurately on the leading line at all times.

Nuclear powered vessels must have special permission before entering port.

Anchorages

Permission is required from traffic control operator to anchor on the inner roads in the Avant Port to the N from the parallel 56°32.80'N.

Launching of craft from vessels lying at anchor on the inner roads in the Avant Port and which have been granted free pratique is permitted through the traffic ontrol operator.

Vessels lying at anchor in the Avant Port must have their main engine on stand-by mode for immediate operation.

Vessels lying at anchor in the Avant Port have to leave immediately upon the instructions of the traffic control, if required.

The anchorage is exposed to bad weather from certain directions.

There is no special explosive anchorage.

Tugs

The number and capacity of tugs required for the vessel is ordered by the master taking into account the pilot's advice. In the case of dispute the harbour master takes the final decision. Tugs are available with fire fighting capacities. Vessel lines are used.

Mooring

There are no special requirements for mooring. Number of lines to be used is according to requirements. Berthing side is also determined according to requirements.

Charts and publications

BA 2048, 2231, 2289, 2292. Admiralty Pilot NP19, NP286(2).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

If a vessel has dangerous cargo onboard, information regarding the Code of the dangerous cargo, volume and shipper are required.

Vessels to advise the Traffic Control operator by VHF 2 hours prior to their arrival abeam of Buoy "A".

If the passage time from the previous port to the port of Liepaja is less than 24 hours the vessel should give information regarding ETA not later than 1 hour after sailing from the previous port.

Vessels of less than 700GT should request permission from the traffic control operator to enter the port not less than 3nm from the entrance to the port and maintain communications with Traffic Control until safely moored.

All arrival formalities must be completed in the port not later than 12 hours after the vessel has arrived.

Communications

VHF: VTS: Ch 16 and 11.

After receiving permission to enter the port or sail from the port, the vessel has to maintain communication with traffic control on Ch 11, callsign "Liepaja Radio 1", until it has been moored at the berth or left the port limits.

The weather report and the weather forecast are broadcast daily on Ch 11, at 0805hrs and 2005hrs, local time.

Notice of readiness

Subject to the Charter Party agreement and that of the vessel's agent.

Documents

* Required when a vessel carries a cargo of natural origin.

Health

There are no special requirements. A copy of the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Declaration and the Master's Declaration of Health should be given to the agent whose responsibility it is to obtain free pratique. Before free pratique is granted to the vessel, it is forbidden for the crew and the passengers to disembark from the vessel.

Sanitary supervision in the port is carried out by the phytosanitary and veterinary departments.

All companies (entrepreneurial societies) in the port area have to permanently maintain their territory, warehouses, berths, premises and roads according to the requirements of the sanitary and technical regulations.

The master must inform the harbour master and the sanitary service via his agent regarding any unfavourable sanitary epidemiological situation and any sick crew members or passengers onboard not later than 12 hours prior to the arrival of the vessel.

Vessels lying in the port must have a Ship Sanitation Control Certificate, if it has expired, sanitation control must be performed.

It is forbidden to use water from the port basin for drinking and sanitary purposes. Water is available on the jetty.

Customs and immigration

The vessel's agent or traffic control advises customs and immigration regarding vessel's arrival.

It is forbidden for crew members and passengers to disembark the vessel without a Seaman's Book, Passport or Visa.

Flags

All vessels in Liepaja port basin must hoist their national flag and the national flag of the Republic of Latvia in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Latvia.

Notices and regulations

All operating regulations can be obtained through the traffic control or the vessel's agent.

No vessel movement is allowed if the visibility is less than 0.3nm or the wind speed exceeds 27kts. In the Trading Channel in W winds the movement of vessels is allowed at wind speeds of less than 23kts and when proceeding to the Tosmare Channel swing bridge at a wind speed of not more than 19.4kts.

The movement of vessels in the port basin is regulated by the traffic control. Priority is given to vessels that perform rescue activities and to passenger and liner vessels.

Vessels moving in the port must observe the International ColReg 72 convention and the present regulations.

Vessel's ETD has to be reported to the port control no later than 4 hours prior to sailing.

In order to arrange sailing of the vessel from the port it is necessary to submit all documents required in "The Regulations on Navigation in the Waters of the Republic of Latvia", confirmed by order No 5 of Apr 5 1993 of the Minister of Marine Affairs as well as the Appendix, "Regulations on settling documents for sailing in the state authorities in the Latvian ports".

It is forbidden for a vessel to sail from the port if the sailing documents have not been sent to port control.

Upon sailing from the port any list must not exceed 3°. The allowed draught and the trim must not exceed 0.3% of the length of the vessel. The vessel may be cleared outwards only after all documented defects have been eliminated.

If spilling or leakage of oil products occurs on deck or overboard during cargo operations, all such operations must cease and the master must immediately advise the cargo operator, harbour master and the agency.

Port State Control here: Paris 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: Ship and Port Security Inspectorate, Maritime Administration of Latvia.

Address: Trijadibas Str 5, Riga LV-1048, Latvia.

Tel: +371 706 2129.

Fax: +371 786 0082.

Mob: +371 659 6792

Website: http://www.maritimeadministration.lv

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

Repairs

All kinds of repairs can be undertaken at Tosmare and Liepaja shipyards.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available.

Stores: Ship chandlers available.

Medical

Liepaja Regional Hospital, approx 8km.

Crew change

Possible.

Transport

Nearest airport: Liepaja International Airport, 9km.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Liepaja is located on the Baltic coast, approx 200km WSW of Riga and approx 50km N of the Lithuanian border.

The port

The port basin of 810ha includes the Commercial Channel, Avant Port, Free Harbour, Winter Harbour and the Navy Channel with the Tosmare Basin and is kept ice free in winter.

The port handles the import, export and transhipment of general cargo, timber, metals, fertiliser, bulk and liquid cargo, in addition to rendering services to Ro-Ro, passenger ferries, fishing vessels and in the summer, yachting services.

Traffic

Approx 6,600,000t of cargo, 63,500TEU, 1,600 vessels and 32,000 passengers handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Liepaja?

The pilot boards at Liepaja pilot boarding, 56°30.0′N 020°49.9′E. Liepaja has 3 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Liepaja in?

Local time at Liepaja is UTC+2. Clocks go to UTC+3 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+2 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Liepaja?

The deepest berth listed is at Terrabalt LSEZ: 9.40 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

Which load line zone is Liepaja in?

Summer Zone for vessels over 100m in length and Winter Seasonal Area for vessels of 100m or less in length.

Who carries out Port State Control at Liepaja?

Port State Control at Liepaja: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Liepaja?

The UN/LOCODE of Liepaja is LVLPX.

What crews who called at Liepaja 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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