PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Malacca
Pilot
updated Jun 2020Compulsory pilotage. At least 4 hours notice should be given to Melaka Port Authority. Pilot boarding ground is at 02°12.0'N 102°09.0'E about 1nm S of Tanjung Bruas Jetty. Berthing and unberthing permitted at night.
Pilotage and mooring for the Tanjung Bruas Oil moorings are private and arrangements are made through the National Electricity Board.
Key data
updated Jun 2020Size limits
Harbour: Max LOA 170m, beam 27m, 29,029DWT.
Off Shore: Max LOA 182m, 18,288DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Tropical.
Tides
Range 2m. Tidal streams at Tanjung Bruas oil mooring may reach a rate of 4kts at springs.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanjung Bruas | — | 170 m | 2 |
| Pahlawan Power Plant | — | 182 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 Jun 2020Approach
Approach from West: From a position SW of Tanjung Keling (02°13'N 102°10'E) and clear of the facilities at Pelabuhan Sungai Udang, the track leads E passing at least 2nm S of Tanjung Keling and 1nm S of Pulau Upeh (02°11.6'N 102°12.3'E), to clear offshore dangers.
When Bukit St Paul bears less than 055°, an appropriate approach to the anchorage may be made.
Approach from SE: From a position SW of Pulau Undan Light (02°03'N 102°20'E) the track leads generally NNW, passing (with positions from the light):
WSW of Pulau Hanyut 2.5nm NW, then:
WSW of Pulau Panjang 8nm NW noting Beting Duyong, an isolated shoal patch, 0.5nm S, then:
WSW of a 1.8m shoal patch, 0.3nm S of Batu Gelama 9nm NW, a rock which covers at HW and which is marked by a light beacon (white round concrete tower, 4m in height), then to the anchorage.
Port limits
Port limits extend from 2nm N of Tanjung Bruas Jetty to a position about 6nm E of Pulau Undan extending seawards from coastline. The area enclosed by the following lines:
02°14.29'N 102°08.64'E
02°10.99'N 102°06.91'E
02°01.02'N 102°25.11'E
02°06.30'N 102°29.50'E
Anchorages
Coastal and ocean going vessels anchor between 1-1.5nm off Malacca Harbour, depth 5.5-11.0m. No specific prohibited anchorage. Anchorage is also used for lighterage purposes.
Restrictions
Approach to river mouth restricted to shallow draught at low water.
Tugs
One 800hp tug available.
Charts and publications
BA 1141, 3946, 3947. Admiralty Pilot NP44, NP286(4).
Reporting before arrival
updated Jul 2012ETA and pre-arrival notices
Initial ETA to be sent as soon as possible advising date and time of arrival, scheduled ports of call and arrival draught. Further ETA's to be sent 10, 5, 3, 2 and 1 day prior to arrival. Message to include date and time of arrival at pilot station, numbers of crew and passengers, health condition and max arrival draught.
Communications
Radio: Singapore Radio, which operates throughout 24 hours, is recommended for long range communications.
Inmarsat communication is possible.
VHF: Pilots, Port & Terminal: Ch 12, 16. Call Port Control Melaka.
Documents
These, original certificates, will be returned back to the vessel by the port agent after inspection by the Harbour Master.
Health
Pratique should be applied for 24 hours prior to arrival.
Yellow fever: A valid Vaccination Certificate is required by all visitors, over one year old, who, within the preceding 6 days, has been in or visited any country in the yellow fever endemic zone.
Countries in the zone are: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Congo (Democratic Republic), Cote d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Guyane, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Upper Volta, Venezuela and Zambia.
Customs and immigration
Customs: The following allowances of dutiable liquor and tobacco are made for the consumption of officers, crew and passengers during the vessel's stay in port. The allowances are per person per day: Spirits, 142ml or wines, 1,136ml; beer or stout, 1,136ml. Cigarettes, 25 or cigars, 8 or tobacco, 28.3gm or snuff, 28.3gm.
Flags
Interco flags "2" over "5" to be displayed by cargo ships on arrival and "3" over "4" if passengers onboard. These are displayed for Immigration clearance.
Notices and regulations
Trafficking and possession of drugs is a serious offence and may result in capital punishment.
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 Jun 2020Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available at Tanjung Bruas.
Bunkering: Available at jetty from road tanker.
Stores: Available.
Medical
Nearest Hospital: Malacca General Hospital, 10km.
Transport
Nearest airport: Malacca Airport (10km), daily flights to Kuala Lumpur.
Nearest railway: Tampin (30km).
Working hours
Normally 0800-1600hrs (1200-1300hrs meal break); 1600-2359hrs (1900-2000hrs meal break) and 0001-0800hrs (0300-0400 meal break), if necessary.
About Malacca
updated Aug 2020Where it is
Malacca Port, also known as Melaka, is located on the SW coast of Peninsular Malaysia, facing the Straits of Malacca, it is freely accessible from all directions from the sea.
The port
The Sub-Port of Tanjung Bruas mainly handles LPG, liquid bulk, coal, container and steel product cargo. No cargo is handled at Malacca, only a small passenger ferry services available. There is also a MBM approx 750m NW of the main cargo jetty which handles fuel oil for Pahlawan Power Plant.
Traffic
Approx 713,000t of cargo and 150 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Malacca
What are the pilot arrangements at Malacca?
Compulsory pilotage. At least 4 hours notice should be given to Melaka Port Authority.
What time zone is Malacca in?
Local time at Malacca is UTC+8. No summer time.
What is the water density at Malacca?
1025.
Which load line zone is Malacca in?
Tropical.
Who carries out Port State Control at Malacca?
Port State Control at Malacca: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Malacca?
The UN/LOCODE of Malacca is MYMKZ.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Malacca 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.