Nelson

1. Nelson charted pilot boarding position (default) Pilot boards41°12.8′S 173°14.5′E
2. Nelson outer pilot boarding position (larger vessels, at pilots' discretion) Pilot boards41°11.3′S 173°14.5′E

Size limits

Draught 9.8m, LOA 264.31m, beam 40.0m, 66,529DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range: 3.75m springs, 1.69m neaps, tidal flow up to 3kts.

The normal duration of the ingoing and outgoing tide is 6 hours. However, this may be delayed by up to 1hr during adverse weather conditions. Generally, the streams follow the dredged channel, except at the entrance where they flow across the entrance, setting to the S when flooding and to the N when ebbing. At the entrance they can attain a rate of 2kts at spring tides. Eddies form continually off most berths; clockwise with an ingoing tidal stream and anti clockwise with an outgoing stream. They are formed by solid infill reclamation under the quays. Care should therefore be taken when berthing as a result of the uncertainty of the tides, particularly off Main Wharf and off the N end of Brunt Quay.

Caution: The port may be affected by Tsunamis. Initial warning of a Tsunami is given verbally.

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

Approach

Voluntary Code: (Refer to "Country Information"). Keep at least 5nm off Pit Head and at least 5nm off Pepin Island and then to the Pilot Station.

The port is approached through a dredged out channel 180m wide, and entered at Main Entrance, on the alignment of two sets of leading lights.

Front light (white triangle, point up, on piles) (41° 16.2'S, 173° 15.4'E).

Rear light (white triangle, point down) 0.3nm South South East of front light).

Directions: Vessels should proceed to the Pilot Station, 41°12.8'S 173°14.4'E. With pilot onboard, the outer leads align 165° towards the harbour entrance, off the entrance a port turn brings the vessel onto the inner leads, aligned 135°, then the channel marking beacons are followed up to the turning basin, which is 370m in diameter, and to the berths.

Controlling depth: Outside the harbour the channel is dredged to a depth of 8.0m below CD, inside the harbour the channel is 7.5m below CD.

Port limits

The seaward limit is the arc of a circle, radius 4.34nm, centred on the E extremity of Rabbit Island (41°17.0'S 173°12.0'E).

Traffic schemes and VTS

Traffic schemes have not been adopted.

Anchorages

Anchorage, both waiting and quarantine, may be obtained 2.5nm NNW with Port Nelson Landfall Light (41°15.3'S 173°16.8'E) in depths of approx 12.0m, mud.

Anchorage can also be obtained on the E side of Haulashore Island and on the E side of Boulder Bank just S of the Old Lighthouse. These anchorages should be approached with care.

Vessels are not permitted to anchor in the harbour without permission from the Harbour Master.

Restrictions

Maximum draughts are determined by the height of the tide on the day concerned, with a minimum underwater clearance of 10% in the channel and 5% of draught while on the berths.

Vessels less than LOA 130m, may enter or depart at any state of tide subject to draught and other shipping movements.

Vessels over LOA 130m, when tidal range is 2.9m or less, may enter or depart only on the flood tide, i.e. pilot on board from low water to 1hr before high water.

Controlling depth is 7.6m and 8.1m in the outer channel at chart datum.

Tugs

Operational ship thrusters may reduce the number of tugs.

Mooring

Care should be exercised when berthing owing to the uncertainty of the tidal streams, particularly off Main Wharf and at the N end of Brunt Quay. Vessels berthing at the Main Wharf do so stemming the tide. Vessels generally should not berth in winds in excess of 30kts or 25kts for wind prone vessels.

A red flag by day, or a red light at night, at the berths indicates the position abreast which a vessel's bridge should be placed.

Berthing priorities: Port Nelson Ltd manages its berths and does not necessarily allocate berths using the "first past the post" system. Main Wharf and Brunt Quay are part of a berth booking system. Contact the Shipping Services Manager.

Ro-Ro: Heavy duty pads allow berthage of both starboard and portside to vessels.

Charts and publications

NZ 6142, 61. Admiralty Pilot NP51, NP286(4).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

At least 48 hours prior to arrival in New Zealand, the following forms should be provided;

If a vessel has called at a port before, but some of these details have changed since that call, the new details should be given to the agent.

If pratique and other formalities have been completed at the first port on the New Zealand coast, no further formalities are required.

MARITIME NEW ZEALAND: The Port State Control Inspectors require the following documents to check dates of issue and expiry.

Standard messages

The agent and Port Nelson Ltd will advise pilot boarding time, berth details and port situation.

Notice of readiness

As per Charter Party or on arrival at the pilot station.

Documents

Port Nelson operates a berth booking service for all berths, available through the Duty Pilot (Tel: +64 3 5393 879).

Health

Ship Sanitation Control Certificate (SSCC) and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates (SSCEC) can be issued.

Flags

'Q' flag flown by day and New Zealand courtesy ensign flown starboard yard arm.

Notices and regulations

Regional Council Bye Laws apply. Vessels must comply with ballast water discharge restrictions and be free from Asian Gypsy Moth.

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.

Inspection of ships in New Zealand

Maritime Safety Authority

PO Box 27006, 275-281 Upper Cuba Street, Wellington, New Zealand.

Tel: +64 4 382 8198.

Fax: +64 4 382 4934.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Maritime Safety Authority of New Zealand.

Contact person: Maritime Security Adviser.

Address: PO Box 27006, Level 8 Gen-I Tower, 109 Featherston Street, Wellington, 6005, New Zealand.

Tel: +64 4 471 5366.

Fax: +64 4 494 1270.

Website: http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz

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

Repairs

All kinds of repairs including underwater welding can be carried out.

The port has the third largest slipway in New Zealand (Calwell Slipway) which can accommodate vessels up to LOA 80m, Beam 13.5m and up to 2,500t. Adjoining slipway can up accommodate vessels up to LOA2 5m.

Donker Marine have a 70ft long repair berth.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available at all quays.

Bunkering: Available.

Stores: Available.

Medical

Nelson Public Hospital, 3km from the port.

Transport

Nearest airport: Nelson, 6km from the port

Airport facilities: Domestic services to Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland .

Nearest railway: Blenheim.

Working hours

The port operates throughout 24 hours, 365 days. Cargo reception is open 0700-1700hrs Mon-Fri, and 0800-1000hrs Sat. The main office in Low Street is open 0800-1700hrs Mon-Fri.

Where it is

Port Nelson is situated in the SE of Tasman Bay, geographically in the centre of New Zealand. The port lies to the N of the town of Nelson at the head of the Maitai River.

The port

The port, jointly owned by the Nelson City Council and the Tasman District Council, is a major commercial and customs harbour and benefits from being a natural haven, sheltering behind Boulder Bank, a 13km natural breakwater which protects the harbour in all weather conditions.

In addition to handling large quantities of bulk and break bulk cargo, the port is also used as a regular port of call for liner trades servicing Australia and Europe and many Asian destinations.

Dredging is required annually at Port Nelson to maintain publicised depths at berths, basins, channels and entrances in the port area. The Harbour Master should therefore be contacted for confirmation of latest depths.

Traffic

Approx. 700 vessels, 3,200,000t of cargo and 105,000TEU handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Nelson?

The pilot boards at Nelson charted pilot boarding position (default), 41°12.8′S 173°14.5′E. Nelson has 2 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Nelson in?

Local time at Nelson is UTC+13. Back to UTC+12 on 3 Apr 2027. Clocks go to UTC+13 on 25 Sep 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Nelson?

The deepest berth listed is at Port Nelson: 9.80 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Nelson?

1025.

Which load line zone is Nelson in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Nelson?

Port State Control at Nelson: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Nelson?

The UN/LOCODE of Nelson is NZNSN.

What crews who called at Nelson 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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