Newcastle

Size limits

Draught 9.0m.

Water density

1015.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Mean Spring Range approx: 1.75m, Mean Neap Range approx 1.21m.

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

Approach

Newcastle is approached through buoyed and dredged channels in Miramichi Bay, Miramichi Inner Bay and Miramichi River.

Under the navigation span of the Centennial Bridge at Chatham.

From abreast French Fort Cove, the buoyed channel follows the NW bank, curving towards the S, to a position abreast the wharves at Newcastle (47°04.7'N 065°23.9'W).

Miramichi River above Newcastle:

From a position abreast the wharves at Newcastle, the river leads S under Morrisey Bridge and No 3 Bridge before dividing into two. After passing through the swing span of Morrissey bridge, the river continues S, to a position abreast Strawberry Point.

Except for small craft, navigation is restricted by No 3 Bridge and Northwest Bridge and Southwest Bridge, which span both arms of Miramichi River. From SE of Strawberry Point a buoyed channel leads S for approx 0.8nm along the waterfront of Nelson-Miramichi, passing 0.1nm E of Beaubears Point, (46°58'N 065°34'W), the NE extremity of Beaubears Island, (wooded with steep clay banks, 6m in height) towards a wharf on the E side of the river at Nelson-Miramichi and then to the railway bridge 2nm above Strawberry Point.

From SE of Strawberry Point a buoyed channel leads NW of Beaubears Island towards Northwest Bridge.

Anchorages

Safe anchorage for vessels waiting to proceed inbound or outbound is available in summer between the W coast of Portage Island, (47°10'N 065°03'W) and Horseshoe Shoal, in depths of 7.0-9.0m.

Restrictions

Bridges:

Highway Bridge (47°06'N 065°21'W): With a vertical clearance of 6.4m spans Bartibog River 0.5nm above the river mouth.

Centennial Bridge: (47°02'N 065°29'W) Just upstream from the wharves a high level road bridge with a navigation span near the SE end of 35m. The width between the supporting piers on each side of the channel is 152m. An airdraught of 34.7m.

Morrissey Swing Bridge (Juke Road Bridge) Now Permanently closed to road traffic (47°00'N 065°34.'W) greatly reducing access by larger vessels on the river. The bridge Spans the river from Chatham Head to Newcastle and has a vertical clearance of 2.4m when closed (30m when it used to be open) allowing a channel width of 24.4m.

No 3 Bridge (46°59'N 065°33'W): with a reported vertical clearance of 6.1m spans the river at Strawberry Point (46°59'N 065°34.0'W), 0.4nm S of Morrissey Bridge. This bridge, together with the permanent closure of Morrissey Bridge, restricts navigation to only small craft on Miramichi River, upriver of Newcastle.

Railway bridges span Northwest Miramichi River and Southwest Miramichi River about 2nm SW of Strawberry Point. Both Bridges have a vertical clearance of 6m.

Overhead cables:

An overhead power cable, with a vertical clearance of 41m spans the river at Middle Island (47°03'N 065°27'W). A vessel passing underneath this cable must maintain a minimum clearance of 3.6m.

Overhead cables span the river close S of Morrissey Bridge, with a vertical clearance of 30m. Vessels must maintain a safety clearance of at least 3.6m when passing under these cables.

Tugs

Tugs are available from Chatham.

Charts and publications

BA 2034; Can 4910. Admiralty Pilot NP65.

US 14174; US Sailing Directions 145.

Can 4912. Can Sailing Directions ATL108E.

Communications

Halifax Coast Guard Radio (callsign "VCS") can be used for passing messages throughout 24 hours. Amver messages can be passed through "VCS".

Halifax Coast Guard CRS has sites at Sambro (44°28.33'N 063°37.27'W); Ecum Secum (44°57.87'N 062°08.92'W);

Kingsburg (44°16.53'N 064°17.25'W). HF and MF frequencies are used, depending upon distance from station.

VHF: Ch 16.

Notice of readiness

NOR normally tendered when vessel secured alongside berth except most tankers tender on arrival pilot station or at port limits.

Health

Pratique should be applied for when arriving from a country which has infectious diseases or death onboard from unknown causes. Pratique is applied for through the vessel's agent.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Exemption Certificates can be renewed.

Customs and immigration

Allowances: For each officer or crew member the allowance is 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 0.9kg of tobacco and 1.1 litres of liquor or 8.2 litres of beer or ale.

A penalty for non compliance will be implemented.

Immigration: Routine filing of documents is undertaken by the vessel's agent. There are no restrictions on crew and/or passengers except those who require a visa. If they do not possess a visa they must remain aboard the vessel.

Flags

State flag to be flown over the stern and Canadian flag at the mast.

Notices and regulations

The max speed limit is 7kts in the channels above Oak Point.

Port State Control here: Paris MOU, 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 Canada

Transport Canada,

Inspection and Operations Standards Division,

Tower C, Place de Ville, 330 Sparks Street, 11th Floor, Ottawa, ON K1A 0N5.

For Flag State Inspection Standards (Canadian Vessels):

Tel: +1 613 991 3135

Fax: +1 613 991 4818

Teletypewriter / TDD: +1 888 675 6863

Email: [email protected]

For Port State Control Standards (Foreign Vessels):

Tel: +1 613 991 3135

Fax: +1 613 993 8196

Teletypewriter / TDD: +1 888 675 6863

Email: [email protected]

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Directorate Marine Security - Transport Canada.

Position: Director General.

Address: 112 Kent Street, Tower B, Place de Ville, Ottawa, ON, K1A ON5, Canada.

Tel: +1 613 851 6302

Fax: +1 613 949 3906

Website: http://www.tc.gc.ca

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

Repairs

Minor repairs are available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available by road tanker

Stores: Available..

Medical

Miramichi Hospital.

Transport

Nearest airport: Chatham, 15km.

Nearest railway: Rail facilities are located near the port (CN and CP Rail).

Working hours

Normally 0800-1700hrs. Overtime as required.

Where it is

The port of Newcastle is located 6.5km above Chatham on the Miramichi River, New Brunswick. The two towns of Chatham and Newcastle were amalgamated in 1995 and are also known as the City of Miramichi. Newcastle is also known as Miramichi West and Chatham is also known as Miramichi East.

The Newcastle Marine Terminal, operated by The Miramichi Port Committee, has been designated as an Occasional Use Marine Facility by Transport Canada.

The port

Newcastle Marine Terminal is located close to the Morrisey Bridge. The port has facilities for handling oil, cement, wood products and general cargo.

The port is open all year, icebreaker assistance on request during winter months.

What are the pilot arrangements at Newcastle?

Pilotage is compulsory within a line drawn from Pointe Morin, 47°13'N 065°06'W to the N end of Portage Island, 3nm SE, then in a direction 114° to position, 47°07.5'N 064°47.0'W, then in a direction 191° to Pointe Escuminac.

What time zone is Newcastle in?

Local time at Newcastle is UTC−4. Clocks go to UTC−3 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−4 on 7 Nov 2027.

What is the water density at Newcastle?

1015.

Which load line zone is Newcastle in?

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Newcastle?

Port State Control at Newcastle: Paris MOU, Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Newcastle?

The UN/LOCODE of Newcastle is CANCT.

What crews who called at Newcastle 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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