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PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS

Newhaven

GBNHVUnited Kingdom50°46.6′N 000°04.2′EUpdated Jul 2026Open in the Ports tool

PILOTPilotage is compulsory for all vessels over LOA 49m and LOA 20m when carrying dangerous goods.
KEY DATAUTC+0 · IALA A · deepest berth 5.90 m draught
REPORTINGNotify ETA 12 hours prior to arrival.
INSPECTIONSParis MOU port.

Pilot

updated Jul 2018

Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels over LOA 49m and LOA 20m when carrying dangerous goods. Pilots board by arrangement approx 1nm to the SW of the breakwater. In severe weather the pilot boat leads vessel in, keeping 100m from the breakwater.

Notify ETA 12 hours prior to arrival. Request for a pilot should be sent 1 hour in advance to Newhaven Radio on VHF Ch12.

Key data

updated Aug 2010
LOCAL TIMEUTC+0Clocks go to UTC+1 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+0 on 31 Oct 2027.worked out from the port's time zone
WATER DENSITY1025.
LOAD LINE ZONENorth Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.
IALA REGIONARed to port when entering.from the country
MAX SIZELOA 160m, draught 7.5m. Larger vessels will take to the bottom of soft mud at LW.

Size limits

LOA 160m, draught 7.5m. Larger vessels will take to the bottom of soft mud at LW.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

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

Tides

Range 6.3m springs, 3.1m neaps.

At the entrance both the ingoing and outgoing tidal streams attain a rate of 2kts at springs.

Max draft per terminal

TerminalMax draughtMax LOABerths
Ferry Terminal5.90 m145 m2
East Quay Commercial Terminal—120 m2

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

Approach

updated Jul 2018

Approach

The approach to Newhaven is direct from seaward then through a maintained channel protected to the W by a breakwater. The channel leads N between piers which form the entrance, then to the harbour, which is a continuation N of the maintained channel.

The entrance is dredged to a min of 6.0m.

Caution: High speed ferries with speeds of up to 40kts may be encountered in the approaches to the port.

Tide dependant can be considered as NAABSA Berth.

Port limits

The W boundary of the port is formed by the breakwater then a line to a point 90m S of the breakwater head. The S boundary is a line of bearing 075° from this point to the intersection with the coast.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Entry and departure from the port is regulated by International Port Traffic Signals, exhibited from a mast at E quay and the NW corner of No 2 Ro-Ro Berth.

Before leaving a berth, vessels must request permission to proceed from Newhaven Radio Port Control on VHF or by telephone.

Bridge signals controlling traffic through the swing bridge are exhibited from a tower (6.0m in height on the E side of the river) close downstream of the bridge as follows;

Bridge opening are arranged with prior contact with Port Control. The bridge control station may be contacted on VHF Callsign ''Bridge Control''.

Anchorages

Outer anchorage: Good anchorage may be obtained in a depth of approx 7.0m in Seaford Road on the alignment 109° of the foot of Seaford Cliff with Beachy Head Old Lighthouse (50°44'N 000°13'E) and Seaford Church tower bearing 055°.

The anchorage is clear of the track of cross channel ferries using Newhaven and is sheltered from winds from ESE through N to WNW.

Tugs

There is a 1,300hp tug available at all times.

Charts and publications

BA 536, 2154, 1652. Admiralty Pilot NP28, NP286 (1).

Reporting before arrival

updated Jul 2018

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Notify ETA 12 hours prior to arrival. Request for a pilot should be sent 1 hour in advance.

Communications

VHF: Port Control: Ch 12, callsign "Newhaven Radio".

Port Operations: Tel: 01273 616075

Email: [email protected]

Documents

The only documentation required on arrival is the Visiting Vessel's Notice of Arrival, which is taken onboard by the port supervisor when vessels berth. This is completed by the Master and then collected by the Port Operator. Frequent visitors have other arrangements made for them.

Health

Ship Sanitation Control and Exemption Certificates can be issued.

Notices and regulations

No vessel may enter or leave harbour, or any dock, lock or basin in contravention of traffic signals indicating the entry or departure is forbidden, or without the authority of Port Control or the Harbour Master.

No vessel may be navigated so as to interfere in any manner with the arrival or departure of an advertised passenger steamer.

When navigating in the harbour N of an imaginary line drawn from the head of West Pier, a speed limit of 5kts may not be exceeded. In any other part of the harbour no vessel may proceed at a speed exceeding 8kts.

Dredgers must be passed at low speed and on the side indicated by the signals prescribed for the dredger (which are in accordance with The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea).

Inspections

Port State Control here: Paris 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: Transport and Security Directorate (TRANSEC) of the Department for Transport.

Position: Head of Maritime Security Operations.

Address: TRANSEC Department for Transport, 5th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DT, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 207 944 2844 (24 hrs)

Fax: +44 207 944 2175

Email: [email protected]

Recognised Security Organisations:

RSO - ISSC Issue: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels

RSO - Security Consultant Services: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels.

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) is proposing, in line with EU regulations associated with the ISPS Code, to extend maritime security requirements to ships operating in domestic service and to port facilities serving them. The requirements would be based on those applicable to sea going vessels and generally would apply to domestic ships operating in 'sea areas', and which carry over 12 passengers or are over 500GT. Sea going ships which are certified to carry more than 250 passengers and tankers, especially those carrying oil and gas products, are considered as having the potential to be a target for attack.

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

Port services

updated May 2010

Repairs

Repairs to hull and engine are available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Most types of fuel are available by road tanker.

Medical

There is a port medical officer available. Major medical facilities are available in Brighton, 5km to the W of Newhaven.

Transport

Nearest airport: Gatwick, Sussex (54km).

Airport facilities: Domestic and international connections. Full crew change and air freight facilities.

Nearest railway: Newhaven.

Nearest motorway: A27 or A259.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

About Newhaven

updated Jul 2026

Where it is

Newhaven is located at the mouth of the River Ouse, W of Beachy Head, on the SE coast of England.

The port

The port has two ferry terminals and handles general cargo, bulk and containers. Ro-Ro vessels can be accommodated at the port.

Traffic

Approx 1,000,000t of cargo, 900 vessels and 277,000 passengers are handled annually.

Questions about Newhaven

What are the pilot arrangements at Newhaven?

Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels over LOA 49m and LOA 20m when carrying dangerous goods.

What time zone is Newhaven in?

Local time at Newhaven is UTC+0. Clocks go to UTC+1 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+0 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Newhaven?

The deepest berth listed is at Ferry Terminal: 5.90 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Newhaven?

1025.

Which load line zone is Newhaven 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 Newhaven?

Port State Control at Newhaven: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Newhaven?

The UN/LOCODE of Newhaven is GBNHV.

Tips from seafarers

What crews who called at Newhaven 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.

Read and add tips for Newhaven →

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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.