PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Maceio
Pilot
updated May 2010- Maceio pilot boarding place Pilot boards09°42.0′S 035°44.4′W
Pilotage is compulsory for all foreign vessels and available 24 hours. Vessels should inform the agent by radio at least 24 hours prior to arrival, if the ETA falls on a Saturday or Sunday then the ETA must arrive by the preceding Friday. Pilots board 0.5nm W of Peixe Pau Lightbuoy in position 09°42.05'S 035°44.37'W, from a launch, painted red and white which is equipped with a radio.
Key data
updated Mar 2023Size limits
LOA 339m, beam 41.0m, draught 10.5m, airdraught 13.0m (sugar terminal), 65,125DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Tropical.
Tides
Range 1.30m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maceio | 10.50 m | 339 m | 6 |
| Braskem Terminal | — | 174 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Dec 2018Approach
Approach and entry: The port is approached from seaward by passing S of the extensive shoals extending S and SW of Ponta Verde to a position 0.5nm SW of their SW extremity, Baixo de Peixe-Pau, where the pilot boards. Approach channel is 120m wide with depths between 11.0-14.0m. Vessels with a draught of 9.1m can enter at any time, vessels with draught up to 10.5m must use the height of tide.
The bay is divided into Enseada Pajucara, to the E and Enseada de Jaragua, to the W, by a point situated 1.5nm WSW of Ponta Verde.
A breakwater extends 0.55nm SSW from the point between the bays, along the W side of the reefs and then turns WNW for 0.5nm. On the W side of the inshore part of the breakwater there is a reclaimed area 0.25nm wide.
Anchorages
Vessels less than 3,000GT can anchor, in 6 to 7m, about 0.5 mile WNW to W of the head of the breakwater.
Vessels greater than3,000GT can anchor in charted depths of 9.2 to 14.5m in area, best seen on the chart, lying W of the head of the breakwater.
Vessels awaiting the pilot can anchor, in 13m, W of Baixo do Peixe-Pau Lighted Buoy.
Vessels awaiting to use Braskem Terminal anchor in an area, lying about 2 miles SE of the head of the terminal pier, in charted depths of 14.9 to 16.8 m.
Restrictions
The berthing of tankers is restricted to daylight hours.
Tugs
Compulsory and 4 tugs available, largest with capacity 1,680hp. Vessels up to 5,000DWT require one tug and vessels over 5,000DWT require 2 tugs.
Charts and publications
BA 3977,3978, 960, Brazilian 901. Admiralty Pilot NP5, NP286(7).
Reporting before arrival
updated Dec 2018ETA and pre-arrival notices
Notice of ETA should be sent 24 hours prior to arrival. Vessels arriving on a Saturday or Sunday should ensure that their message is received the preceding Friday.
Communications
Maceio pilots contact:
VHF: Ch 12, 14 and 16
Telephone: 55-82-3311-8017, 55-82-3311-8014
Fax: 55-82-3311-8016, 55-82-3326-2175
E-mail: [email protected]
Customs and immigration
Contraband: Brazilian laws are very strict with respect to smuggling and masters are requested to instruct their crews not to take more than 2 packets of cigarettes and other articles ashore. Cigarettes in cartons, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, narcotics, souvenirs, explosives, firearms, etc should be collected prior to arrival in port and listed with the items in the Crew's Personal Effects List and placed in the custody of the master.
Immigration: All a vessel's passengers and/or crew members may only enter the national territory after their documents have been inspected by the federal police department, the revenue authorities and the port health authorities.
Vessels owners are responsible for the disembarkation and the embarkation of transit passengers as well as crew members who fail to join a vessel before it sails. Such responsibility includes the maintenance and other expenses until repatriation. In the event of non existence of a compulsory deposit as guarantee to cover such expenses, owners will sign, at the federal police department, a form of responsibility inherent to such obligations as therein expressed.
Flags
All vessels, while in Brazilian ports, must fly the Brazilian national flag from 0800hrs to sunset.
Inspections
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Comissao Nacional de Seguranca Publica nos Portos, Terminais e Vias Navegaveis - CONPORTOS.
Contact person: Ezio Borghetti.
Position: Secretario Executivo.
Address: Esplenada dos Ministerios, Bloco T, 5 andar - Ministerio da Justica, DF, 70064-900, Brasilia, Brazil.
Tel: +55 61 429 3173.
Fax: +55 61 429 9169.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mj.gov.br
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
About Maceio
updated Sep 2026Where it is
Maceio harbour lies to the N of the city and is the most sheltered natural harbour between Recife and Salvador.
The port
The principal imports are fertilizers, frozen fish, maize and wheat. The principal exports being molasses, sugar cane products. The port also handles liquid bulk and passengers.
Traffic
Approx 2,500,000t of cargo handled annually.
Questions about Maceio
Where does the pilot board at Maceio?
The pilot boards at Maceio pilot boarding place, 09°42.0′S 035°44.4′W.
What time zone is Maceio in?
Local time at Maceio is UTC−3. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Maceio?
The deepest berth listed is at Maceio: 10.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Maceio?
1025.
Which load line zone is Maceio in?
Tropical.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Maceio?
The UN/LOCODE of Maceio is BRMCZ.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Maceio 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.