Mina Salman

Water density

1030.

Load line zone

Tropical.

Tides

Range 2.4m.

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

Approach

The inner approach channel is 150m wide and approx 0.9nm in length and has a depth of 9.7m below chart datum and a maximum of up to 10.5m, which is subject to tidal restrictions. The outer approach channel from Bahrain Light Vessel to Sitra Pilot Station can accommodate vessels up to 12.5m draught at all states of tide. The buoyed channel from Sitra anchorage to the Bahrain Light Vessel is primarily for vessels confined by their draught. Vessels intending to transit this channel must obtain clearance from Bahrain Port Control prior to entering.

Vessels with draughts of less than 9.2m are requested to make use of Sitra Inward and Vidal Buoys.

The colour of beacon structures and buoys is often obliterated by guano.

Inward under 9.2m:

From a position, 26°27.8'N 051°00.0'E, 2.5nm SE of No 3 Beacon, 26°28.5'N 050°57.4'E a course should be set to a position 0.75nm N of Sitra Inward Buoy, 26°21.1'N 050° 49.7'E, (Q (9)15s), leaving the Caisson Wreck Buoy, 26° 24.2'N 050°52.7'E, (Q (6)+LFl 10s) at least 0.5nm to starboard, then;

A course should be set towards No 16 Buoy, 26°12.9'N 050° 46.3'E, (Fl Y 6s). When the vessel has reached a position with No 16 Buoy, 1.5nm ahead, course can be adjusted to due S, passing W of Vidal Buoy, (26°14.1'N 050°47.2'E), (Fl (2) R 10s) until Sitra Lightbuoy (26°10.20'N 050°42.51'E), (S cardinal)(Q (6)+LFl 10s) bears due W.

If instructed by Bahrain Port Control or the pilots to proceed in to meet the pilot, course should be altered to pass S of No 18 Buoy, 26°10.3'N 050°43.9'E, (Q R) to the Pilot Station 0.5nm due S of Sitra Lightbuoy; thus keeping clear of the deep water channel.

All vessels, unless otherwise instructed should proceed to an anchorage S of No 27 Buoy (VQ (6)+LFl 10s).

Inward over 9.2m:

Vessels wishing to use the deep water channel should follow the courses described for the recommended deep water departure channel. Vessels with draughts of between 9.2m and 12.2m may be required by Bahrain Port Control to depart from the marked channel at certain points to allow freedom of movement for vessels with draughts in excess of 12.2m.

Deep water departure channel:

The pilot will normally leave the vessel, after having passed the Mina Salman Approach Buoy, 0.2nm S of Sitra Lightbuoy, with the vessel proceeding close N of No 18 Buoy (QR).

When No 18 Buoy comes abeam, course should then be altered to 090° which will bring Sitra Lightbuoy dead astern, bearing 270°, to pass S of No 27 Buoy.

As No 27 Buoy (South cardinal yellow above black pillar buoy), (VQ (6) + LFl 10s) comes abeam to port, course should be altered to 022°.

When Buoys 21, 23 and 25 are sighted in line bearing 344° course should be altered to 344°.

On course 344°, No 25 Buoy (green conical), (Fl G 5s) and No 23 Buoy (green conical) (QG) will be passed close on the port side and No 16 Buoy (yellow can), (Fl Y 6s) on the starboard side.

As No 21 Buoy (East cardinal), (VQ (3) 5s) comes abeam to port, course should be altered to 015°, which should bring No 12 Buoy (yellow can), (Fl Y 2s) dead ahead and No 21 Buoy dead astern. The bearings of these buoys should be watched closely to estimate and correct for cross set, which is sometimes quite strong on this course and the next. On this course No 14 Buoy (yellow can), (Fl Y 10s) will be left to starboard.

On No 19 Buoy (green conical), (Fl G 3s) coming abeam, course should be altered to 002° bringing No 15 Buoy (green conical), (Oc G 5s) dead ahead. No 12 Buoy will then be left close to starboard and No 17 Buoy (green conical), (Q G) will be left to port.

In order to pass a distance of over 0.1nm E of No 15 Buoy (green conical), (Oc G 5s) course should be altered to 016° as No 10 Buoy (yellow can), (Fl (3) Y 10s) comes abeam to starboard and then altered to 356° as No 15 Buoy comes abeam to port. This course should pass 0.35nm W of Bahrain Approach Buoy (West cardinal), (VQ (9)10s). It may be advisable to reduce engine revolutions shortly after steadying on course 356°, in order to be able to increase revolutions, if required, to provide better steerage on the next course over the bar.

When Bahrain Approach Buoy bears 051° course should be altered to 051°. As this heading is approached it should be found that No 8 Buoy (red can), (Fl R 2s) and No 6 Buoy (red can), (Fl (3) R 6s) are in line to starboard, as Bahrain Approach Buoy comes abeam at 0.25nm and then should commence to open. Buoys No 13 (green conical), (Fl G 5s) and No 11 (green conical), (QG) are parallel to the course on the port side of the vessel, give clearance from the 13.1m patches, and give the extent of the bar which should be traversed at slow speed.

On No 11 Buoy coming abeam to port, course should be altered to 054° passing between No 9 (green conical), (Fl G 10s) and No 4 Buoy (red can), (Q R), followed by No 7 Buoy (green conical), (Fl G 5s) to port.

When No 2 Buoy (red can), (Fl (2)R 10s) bears E, course should be altered to 071° to pass close S of No 5 Buoy (green conical), (Fl G 3s).

No 5 Buoy should be close abeam to port when course is altered to 057° and the speed reduced in readiness to cross the spit which extends in a S'ly direction from No 3 Buoy, (VQ (6) + LFl 10s) and which has a min depth of 13.2m at CD.

When No 1 Buoy (green conical), (QG) bears 040° course should be altered to 040°, bringing Bahrain Light Vessel, (Fl (3) 20s) on the starboard bow 1.5nm after No 1 Buoy has been left to port and the min depth of water is greater than 15.2m, it is safe to go full ahead.

Masters can expect to have to make adjustments from time to time, to the recommended courses, due to set. The effects of the tide and current should be watched for at all times.

Caution: Vessels using the deep water track should reduce speed, depending on draught, in the shallower parts of the channel between No 1 and No 5 Lightbuoys, between Nos 9 and 13 Lightbuoys and close N of No 14 Lightbuoy. Deep draught vessels leaving harbour and requiring the full advantage of the tide to clear the shoal parches should aim to pass Bahrain Approach Lightbuoy (26°21.8'N 050°46.7'E) not later than 1.5 hours before the predicted high water at Mina Salman.

All vessels, with the exception of coastal vessels, should proceed to the waiting anchorages SE of No 27 Lightbuoy, and await instructions from Bahrain Port Control.

It has been reported that there are depths of less than 5.0m on the S side of the channel in the vicinity of No 12 Buoy (26°11.7'N 050°38.1'E). Mariners should consult local authorities when transiting the channel. A magnetic anomaly has been reported within the deep water jetty terminal as well as several wrecks, shoals, submarine cables, pipeline areas and prohibited anchorage areas all lie within the port.

Anchorages

Anchorage may be obtained by vessels waiting for a berth or the ride, in depths between 17.0m and 18.0m, in A1 to A4 and B1 to B7 anchorages, situated E and S of No 27 Lightbuoy (26°10.6'N 050°45.6'E). These anchorages may be used by vessels of over 100,000DWT.

It is compulsory for all vessels entering Bahrain waters for reason other than berthing at Mina Salman, ASRY, BAPCO, ALBA or other private jetties to obtain a prior written permission from the Port Director before anchoring in Bahrain waters.

Prohibited anchorage: A restricted area, in which anchorage is prohibited, crosses the S part of Khawr al Qulay'ah following the line of a power cable laid for Sitrah Power Station to ASRY. The N limit of the area is marked at intervals by buoys, where the cable crosses the entrance its position is indicated by beacons standing on the W side of ASRY. A second area initially follows the line of a submarine power cable, marked by light beacons, laid across Khawr al Qulay'ah from S of Al Manama Marina to the middle part of the Third Muharraq Causeway, from where the area continues SE to a position close off ASRY.

Restrictions

Entry restrictions apply to the area around BAPCO wharves.

Tugs

Compulsory. The port is equipped with 2 tugs with 42t bollard pull, 2 pilot cutters and a number of mooring launches and work boats. Tugs are equipped for fire fighting.

Charts and publications

BA 3737, 8042. US 62411, 62412, 62413. Bahrain Survey Directorate 1501. US Publication 172. Admiralty Pilot NP63, NP286(8).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

The below is for cargo vessels.

Further ETA's are to be sent 5, 2 and 1 day prior to arrival at the port.

Communications

Long distance radio communication should be via Bahrain Telecommunication Company's Coast Station, "Bahrain Radio" ("A9M"), PO Box 14, Manama, Bahrain, to which a regular watch should be maintained.

Bahrain Radio is equipped with Marconi Spector "ARQ" and "FEC" equipment type U2221. The equipment conforms to CCIR recommendation 476.

There are four operating positions with answer-backs, as follows, 8474A A9M BN; 8474B A9M BN; 8474C A9M BN; and 8474D A9M BN. For direct contact ships should call in the master "ARQ" mode as "A9M" monitors in the slave mode. During a link call "A9M" will work as master once contact has been established.

Bahrain Radio accepts telex tapes from local clients to be passed on to vessels fitted with radio telex (Telex: 8221 Bahrad BN). The address should include the vessel's name, callsign, and Selcal number.

Radio Navigation Warnings: These warnings relate to navigational information which may immediately affect the safe navigation of vessels at sea. Warnings are serial numbered, with the prefix "NAV" and authenticated by the signature Megulite. Warnings are broadcast by Bahrain Radio "A9M" on 487kHz, on receipt, at 0518, 0918, 1318 and 1718hrs GMT.

Each radio warning is rebroadcast for a period of from 24 hours to one month, depending upon the nature of the information it contains. At the end of the period, it is either cancelled or superseded by a new warning.

VHF: Vessels intending to call Mina Salman should advise agents via Bahrain Radio, callsign "A9M" their ETA, draught, hatch distribution and any other requirements, giving as much notice as possible.

Vessels equipped with VHF should, when within range, contact Mina Salman Port Control on Ch 74.

Notice of readiness

NOR is tendered immediately upon arrival of the vessel at the anchorage by

master/agent either by telex or fax.

Documents

The below is for cargo vessels.

Note: Cargo Manifest to be submitted by vessel's agent 3 days prior to arrival. For import cargoes, documents should include a Certificate of Origin bearing a Bahrain Embassy or Consulate stamp. The Bahrain authorities will also accept verification from any other Arab embassy or consulate.

The above documents will be inspected by port customs and immigration authorities.

The arrival/departure forms will be delivered by the agent's boarding representative, who will board the vessel after customs clearance has been effected.

Health

All vessels must display the International quarantine Signals when approaching the port and keep them displayed until pratique is granted.

Bahrain port health regulations are based on the International Sanitary Regulations adopted by the World Health Organisation in May 1951.

In accordance with International practice, Quarantine signals must be prominently displayed by all vessels approaching Bahrain port. Pratique is normally granted by the Bahrain government port health officer or the agent's representatives. Pratique will be granted by the Bapco pilot for healthy vessels scheduled for immediate berthing in the Sitra Marine area.

No persons except the Bahrain coastguard, agent's representatives and pilots are permitted to leave or board a vessel until pratique has been granted.

A radio message should be sent to the government port health officer, Bahrain, advising last Bill of Health and present health conditions aboard.

The port of Bahrain is not classed as a "Plague Port" but all crew members must have in their possession valid certificates of vaccinations and inoculations in accordance with current health regulations.

The Bahrain government port health officer is available by arrangement through the agents. The Port Health Officer, in addition to official duties, will provide consultation and treatment for other than quarantine purposes.

Emergency hospital cases will be treated as such, and will be handled by the vessel's agents or by company facilities, whichever is available first.

Ship Sanitation Control and Exemption Certificates are obtainable in Bahrain, requests should be made through agents.

Customs and immigration

The below is for cargo vessels.

Notices and regulations

Approaching Bahrain: When approaching Bahrain, the master should contact Bahrain Port Control on VHF Ch 74 giving his position, ETA and further instructions as to pilot boarding, berthing and other vessel traffic, etc will be advised.

Alcohol: Liquor trafficking between vessels alongside wharves or between vessels and shore is strictly prohibited by the law of the Government of Bahrain.

Inspection of ships in Bahrain

Director General of Ports

PO Box 15, Manama, Bahrain.

Tel: +973 719 202.

Fax: +973 725 534.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Directorate of Ports, Manama.

Position: Head of Maritime safety and Environment Protection.

Address: PO Box 453, Manama, Bahrain

Tel: +973 17 719602.

Fax: +973 17 729709.

Mob: +973 39 478712.

Email: [email protected]

Recognised Security Organisations:

RSO - Security Consultant Services: Class NK.

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

Where it is

Mina Salman is situated S of Manama and is the principal port of Bahrain.

The port

The port occupies a natural harbour sheltered to the NE by the islands of Muharraq and Hidd.

Before the opening of the Khalifa Bin Salman port, Mina Salman was the main sea port and customs point in Bahrain. Previously handling all types of containerised and general cargo, Mina Salman is now used for handling Less Than Container Load (LCL) and government and private customs warehouses.

What are the pilot arrangements at Mina Salman?

Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels over 250GT from Sitra Anchorage Beacon and is available throughout 24 hours.

What time zone is Mina Salman in?

Local time at Mina Salman is UTC+3. No summer time.

What is the water density at Mina Salman?

1030.

Which load line zone is Mina Salman in?

Tropical.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Mina Salman?

The UN/LOCODE of Mina Salman is BHMIN.

What crews who called at Mina Salman 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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