PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Nanjing
Pilot
updated May 2010- No.26新生圩锚地 Pilot boards32°10.7′N 118°51.6′E
Compulsory. Pilot service is normally available during daylight hours only, but may be available at night by arrangement. Pilot Station arranges pilotage from Baoshan to Nanjing Port.
Pilots board S of Baoshan North Anchorage (31°32'N 121°23'E). Harbour pilots will replace river pilots at certain ports.
Draughts over 9.7m in FW and LOA over 205m should get permission from the Harbour Master. Max draught permitted 10.5m FW which is dependent on height of HW, last inward pilot available until 1100hrs each day. Departure from berth area should be booked one day before with pilots available from 0630-1800hrs.
Key data
updated Apr 2024Size limits
LOA 229.9m, draught 14.5m, beam 40m, 87,329DWT.
Water density
996-998.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
The highest recorded water level is 10.22m and the lowest is 1.54m.
The average flow rate is less than 2kts during the dry season in Jan and Feb each year and is 2-3kts during the flood period in Jul and Aug each year. During the dry season, the average tidal range is 0.3-0.9m and the max is 1.5m. Adverse currents appear during this time.
The highest water level of the Qin River and Huai River is 10m and the lowest is 1.82m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nanjing Xiba Terminal | — | 229 m | 5 |
| Qingjiang Terminal | — | 228 m | 3 |
| Nanjing Port Longtan Container | — | 210 m | 10 |
| Nanjing Yongxiang Wharf | — | 128 m | 1 |
| Jiangnan Onoda Terminal | — | 189 m | 1 |
| Oiltanking Terminal | — | 228 m | 9 |
| Nanjing Longtan Tianchen Terminal | — | 228 m | 2 |
| Xinshengwei Branch of Nanjing Port | — | 230 m | 17 |
| Yi Zheng No 6 | 12.20 m | 229 m | 11 |
| Nanjing Longtan Tianyu Terminal | — | 229 m | 3 |
| Nanjing Mingzhou Terminal | 11.36 m | 229 m | 4 |
| Nanjing Haihong Port | — | 97 m | 1 |
| Nanjing Hongyang Terminal | — | 110 m | 3 |
| BASF-YPC Terminal | — | 183 m | 6 |
| Nanjing Great River Petrochemical Storage | 9.80 m | 165 m | 3 |
All 46 terminals
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qiba Terminal | — | 130 m | 8 |
| Sinopec Jinling Petrochemical Company | — | 193 m | 11 |
| Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Terminal | 7.00 m | 193 m | 10 |
| Nanjing Yangzi Logistics Terminal | — | 100 m | 6 |
| Datang Nanjing Power Plant | — | 215 m | 1 |
| Fengxiang Terminal | — | — | 3 |
| Ganglian Wulianwang (Huihong) Terminal | — | — | 5 |
| Guxiong Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Hengjiang Port Logistics | — | — | 1 |
| Honglong Logistics | — | 101 m | 2 |
| Huaneng Nanjing Jinling Power Generation | — | 229 m | 1 |
| Jiangsheng Automobile Terminal | — | — | 2 |
| Jiangsu Nanre Power Generation | — | — | 1 |
| Meishan Iron and Steel Wharf | — | 143 m | 4 |
| Meishan Yunxiang Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Nangang Shitouhe Terminal | — | — | 3 |
| Nanjing CR Power | — | 100 m | 4 |
| Nanjing DashengmeiTerminal | — | — | 1 |
| Nanjing Ganghua Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Nanjing Nangang Iron & Steel United | — | 135 m | 7 |
| Nanjing Port-Machinery&Heavy-Industry Manufacture | — | 143 m | 1 |
| Nanjing Zhonglian Concrete | — | — | 1 |
| Nanliang Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Pukou Ferry Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Yuanjin Binjiang Port | — | 99 m | 2 |
| Zhongchu Wharf | — | 128 m | 2 |
| Zhongshan Ferry Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Sinopec Nanjing Chemical Industries | — | — | 11 |
| Nanjing CNPC Lian An Petrochemical | — | 180 m | 2 |
| Nanjing Huiyang Terminal | — | 183 m | 3 |
| Suji Petrochemical Terminal | — | — | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Apr 2024Approach
The Changjiang River is used as the main channel to the port and is between 480-1,200m in width, maximum draught 9.7-10.5m. The channel from Longzao to Yanziji is maintained at a depth of 10.5m, with minimum widths of 200m. The annual average water level above Wusong CD is 5.3m, and the depth is 15.0-20.0m. The channels in Qin River and Huai River have a navigable distance of 12.7km and are graded 5 and 6. The deeper channels in the New Qin and Huai River have a navigable distance of 57km.
The 6 channels in Chu River which extends from Liuhe County to the Changjiang River have a navigable distance of 43km.
Traffic schemes and VTS
Nanjing Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) covers 98km of waterway from the line between the river mouths of Cihu and Wujiang Rivers to the line between Xinhekou and Shi'er Wei.
Participation in the VTS is compulsory for the following:
Vessels of 1,000GT and over
Passenger vessels
Vessels carrying dangerous cargoes.
All communication is to be in English or Mandarin Chinese.
Anchorages
Nanjing anchorages: Usual anchorage is Shangyuanmen Anchorage (32°07'N 118°46'E), off the SE bank below Nanjing in a position S of Xifangjia (32°08'N 118°46'E), in depths from 12.8-20.1m. The tidal stream here is less than farther out in the channel.
Anchorage off the NW bank above Pukou clear of the prohibited area, or off the N end of Meizi Zhou.
Prohibited Anchorage: An area indicated by notice boards to either side of Nanjing Changjiang Bridge (32°07'N 118°44'E).
Restrictions
Arrival and departure after sunset is possible for bulk and general cargo vessels but prohibited for dangerous cargo vessels.
Nanjing Yangtse River Bridge: Airdraught max 48m.
Zhenjiang Overhead Cables: Airdraught 42m, therefore all vessels restricted to this height.
Tugs
11 tugs are available. 1 x 2, 640hp, 9 x 1,320hp and 1 x 3,600hp.
Charts and publications
BA 1621, 1623, 2946. Admiralty NP32, NP286(6).
Reporting before arrival
updated Aug 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
The Master should advise of the vessel's ETA to the state agent or through the local agent to the state agency, 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to the vessel's arrival at the pilot station. The ETA message should include the time and date of the vessel's arrival and salt/fresh water draughts.
The Master should report details of dangerous cargo onboard, including description, packaging, IMO code and gross/net weight.
Should the vessel's ETA or other circumstances change, prior to arrival, the Master should send further messages.
Communications
Vessels calling at Chinese ports are recommended to use Shanghai Radio (callsign "XSG") and Tianjin Radio (callsign "XSV") for passing messages at long range. Both stations work throughout 24 hours. Inmarsat communication is possible through Shanghai.
VHF: Radio Station: Ch 25, throughout 24 hours for telephone link calls.
Standard messages
The vessel's agent will send instructions to inbound vessels through the coast radio station being used or via Inmarsat. The instructions usually include the time and position of the pilot boarding. The Master is required to confirm receipt of messages to avoid delays to the vessel.
Notice of readiness
Normally NOR should be tendered according to the relevant clause in the Charter Party. If there is no special clause then it should be tendered according to the actual working hours of the port.
Documents
Note: In the above table LA = local agent, IM = Immigration office, CH = Customs House, QI = Quarantine Inspection office, AP = Animal and Plant Inspection office, HM = Harbour Master.
Health
Free pratique only given to PRC vessels. Once the vessel arrives in port, the Quarantine and sanitary officers board to carry out a joint inspection.
Before pratique is granted, the vessel must fly the Interco "Q" flag and no crew are allowed to proceed ashore.
Ship Sanitation Control and Exemption Certificates can be renewed in all Chinese ports licensed for handling international vessels.
Customs and immigration
Allowances: The allowance for officers and crew are 2 cartons of cigarettes and 2 bottles of liquid which must be included in the Crew's Effects Declaration to the Customs House. There is a penalty for non compliance. The punishment for additional liquids varies according to the brand.
Immigration: Shore Passes are issued to each crew member after the Master has submitted/shown all the necessary documentation required to the Immigration Officer. This includes General Declaration, Crew's Effect Declaration, Crew List and passports.
Crew are allowed to proceed ashore with a Shore Pass and their passport. All crew must be back onboard by 2359hrs. The crew are restricted to the city area and will be fined if they proceed outside this area. All foreign crew members should obey all the laws and practices of the PRC.
Flags
The national flag of the PRC, which is not old, damaged or colour faded, must be displayed in addition to normal Interco flags. Other flags are not to be displayed without permission from the Harbour Master.
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: Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Department of Water Transportation.
Contact: Senior Marine Officer.
Address: 11 Jian Guo Men Nei Av, Beijing, 100736, China.
Tel: +86 01 652 92626.
Fax: +86 01 652 92642.
Email: [email protected]
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated Jul 2014Repairs
A repair service is available.
Bunkers, water and stores
All available at berths and anchorages. Fresh water at Nanjing is very expensive.
Stores: Fresh provisions available.
Medical
Hospital in Nanjing.
Crew change
Possible
Transport
Nearest airport: Nanjing.
Nearest railway: In town.
Working hours
The port works throughout 24 hours, on a three shift basis regardless of holidays and festivals. Shift 1: 0800-1600hrs, shift 2: 1600-2359hrs, shift 3: 0001-0800hrs.
About Nanjing
updated Dec 2025Where it is
The port of Nanjing City is located in Jiangsu Province, on the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River, above Zhenzhou, 270km inland from Shanghai.
The port
The main cargoes handled in the port are coal, petroleum, metallic and non-metallic ore, iron and steel, ore materials, containers, construction materials, cement, timber, light industry products, pharmaceutical products, agricultural chemicals, fertilisers, salt and grain.
Traffic
Approx 270,000,000t of cargo and 3,700,000TEU handled annually.
Questions about Nanjing
Where does the pilot board at Nanjing?
The pilot boards at No.26新生圩锚地, 32°10.7′N 118°51.6′E.
What time zone is Nanjing in?
Local time at Nanjing is UTC+8. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Nanjing?
The deepest berth listed is at Yi Zheng No 6: 12.20 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Nanjing?
996-998.
Which load line zone is Nanjing in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Nanjing?
Port State Control at Nanjing: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Nanjing?
The UN/LOCODE of Nanjing is CNNJG.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Nanjing 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.