Macau

Size limits

Max draught 5.5m, LOA 105m, beam 17m, 5,510DWT.

Load line zone

China Sea Seasonal Subtropical Area, Summer from May to Nov, Winter Nov to Mar, Spring Mar to May.

Tides

Range 0.5-3.5m above Macau CD.

Tidal streams run across the outer entrance to the channels.

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

Approach

Outer approaches: Vessels bound for Macau approaching from SW can make for the pilot boarding station and anchorage through Daxi Shuidao (22°04.0'N 113°37.0'E) passing NW of Xiaoputai (22°02.0'N 113°38.0'E).

Vessels approaching from the S or SE and all non-Chinese vessels should conform to the defined route as far as practical and proceed to the pilot boarding position passing (with positions from Sanya Pai Light (22°05.0'N 113°48.0'E)):

N of Sanya Pai and N of the designated waiting anchorage for Zhuhai (3.5nm WSW).

Then S of Datou Zhou (5.5nm WNW) before altering NNW for the waiting anchorage, remaining clear of Yedling Shi, (6nm WSW) with a least depth of 3.7m and the rock (7.5nm W) with a least depth of 5.8m over it.

The inner and outer harbours are approached from the SE and entered through buoyed channels. The entrances to the channels leading to Macau outer and inner harbours lie approximately 5nm NW from the pilot boarding station.

The entrance to the Kaho Channel leading to the oil, cement and container terminals lies approx 4.5nm W of the pilot boarding point and to the S of the airfield. The SE and SW corners of the prohibited area surrounding the airfield are marked by lightbuoys. The oil and container terminals on Coloane are approached and entered through a channel on the SW side of the airfield.

The access channel to Macau Port Container Terminal, Cement Terminal and Oil Terminal has a width of 75m and a depth of 4.4m, below Macau CD.

The access channel to Macau Outer Harbour Passenger Terminal has a width of 120m and a depth of 4.4m below Macau CD, the max airdraught is 30m.

The access channel to Macau Inner Harbour has a width of 45m and a depth of 3.5m below Macau CD, the max airdraught is 28m.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Qing Zhou Traffic Separation Scheme for high speed vessels has been established approx 5nm ENE of the entrance to the Macau approach channels.

Anchorages

The anchorage area is defined by the parallels of 22°08.3'N and 22°09.7'N and by the meridians of 113°36.0'E and 113°37.0'E also by the parallels 22°07.3'N and 22°08.0'N and by the meridians of 113°36.7'E and 113°37.2E.

Prohibited anchorages: No vessel may anchor in the fairway of any channel, within 50m of the bridges or within 0.5nm of the Outer Harbour Channel Buoy.

Restrictions

The channel and the manoeuvring area of the outer harbour passenger terminal are prohibited to all navigation except for passenger vessels previously authorised by the Macau Marine Administration.

Three bridges with a vertical clearance of 28m cross the inner harbour channel. Light beacons mark the passage under the bridges.

Tugs

Available.

Charts and publications

BA 664, 2927, 2929, 2949. Admiralty Pilot NP30, NP286(6).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessel's ETA should be sent to Macau Marine Administration Office, 24 hours prior to arrival through agent.

Communications

VHF: Vessel Traffic Control: Ch 16, 10, 12, callsign "Macau Radio" available throughout 24 hours. Languages: Cantonese, Mandarin, Portuguese and English.

Rescue Centre: Ch 10 (156.5MHz).

Documents

Crew List and Cargo Manifest.

Health

There are no special health regulations.

Customs and immigration

Customs formalities are arranged by the cargo agent. Immigration formalities are arranged by the Port Authority or port agent.

Flags

Vessels entering Macau should fly the national flag of China (mainland) and the regional flag of the Macau Special Administrative Region SAR.

Repairs

Available.

Dry docks

Macau Dockyard.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available, in limited quantities.

Medical

Available.

Transport

Nearest airport: Macau International Airport.

Working hours

Macau Port Container Terminal and the passenger terminal operate throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Macau is located to the SE of China, on the W bank of the Pearl River Delta, comprising the peninsula of Macau and the islands of Taipa and Coloane. It lies 145km from Guangzhou.

The port

Macau consists of an outer and inner harbour, a container terminal, an oil terminal and cement terminal, located on Coloane Island, which is connected to Macau by three road bridges.

The principal exports are textiles, garments and machinery apparatus. Imports include tourism, food, vehicles, commodities and raw and semi-manufactured goods.

Traffic

Approx 3,530,000t of cargo and 140,000TEU handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Macau?

Compulsory. Pilots should be requested from the Marine Administration of Macau SAR through agent.

What time zone is Macau in?

Local time at Macau is UTC+8. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Macau?

The deepest berth listed is at Ka Ho Container Terminal: 5.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

Which load line zone is Macau in?

China Sea Seasonal Subtropical Area, Summer from May to Nov, Winter Nov to Mar, Spring Mar to May.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Macau?

The UN/LOCODE of Macau is MOMFM.

What crews who called at Macau 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.

Read and add tips for Macau →