PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Nikolaevsk on Amur
Pilot
updated May 2010- Nikolayevsk-na-Amure boarding position a Pilot boards53°07.4′N 140°43.9′E
- Nikolayevsk-na-Amure boarding position b Pilot boards52°08.3′N 141°34.2′E
- Nikolayevsk-na-Amure boarding position c Pilot boards53°21.4′N 141°41.5′E
- Nikolayevsk-na-Amure boarding position d (temporary) Pilot boards51°26.2′N 140°53.3′E
Pilotage of sea going vessels is compulsory and is available 24 hours a day. Russian river vessels are exempted from pilotage. Requests for pilot services are given by vessel Master to the Port Duty Officer 8 hours in advance. Pilotage service is carried out by ''Trasservice'' Co.
Pilot service and rules for sailing along the Amur Bay Fairways:
Pilotage through Amur Bay is compulsory.
Pilotage area limits: Sakhalinskiy Fairway (from Buoy N1 to N68); Uzhniy Fairway (from Buoy N68 to the Amur River mouth); along the Amur River from the mouth to the port of Mago.
The Northern pilot station is located 53°29'N 141°23'E (in the vicinity of Buoy N68), the Southern pilot station is located 51°41'N 141°20'E (in the vicinity of Buoy N1).
Vessels proceeding to Amur Bay must make requests for pilots to the Pilot Station Captain or the Chief Manager of the port pilot service 24 hours before their approach to the pilot boarding station, stating their direction and maximum draught.
When the pilot embarkation and disembarkation is not possible due to stormy weather, pilotage of vessels within the limit of the pilotage area is effected from the pilot vessel leading to a place of safe embarkation. When being piloted by this method, the piloted vessel is regulated by signals established for vessels piloted through ice or by VHF and foreign vessels sailing, as established in the International Code of Signals.
Key data
updated May 2019Size limits
Max draught 4m from the latest audit.
Tides
Tides are diurnal with a range of up to 0.4m. Stream rates in the roads, depending on the tide phase, change from 1.1 to 3.8kts, the stream is constantly directed towards the bay.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Timber Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Commercial Sea Port Terminal | — | — | 3 |
| Tanker 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 Jun 2016Approach
Navigation in the fairways is carried out 24 hours a day. The fairways include the main fairways, (Sakhalinskiy, Uzxhniy, Nevel'skogo) and side fairways (Maliy, Gavrilovskiy, Khissinskiy). Vessels proceeding in the direction of buoys increasing in numeration will give way to on-going vessels. Vessels drawing more than 4.5m must hoist signals prescribed by the General Rules. Vessels without the signals will give way to vessels with the signals. Overtaking is not permitted in the area between Buoys N32 and N22.
There is a dredged fairway with depths from 4.0 - 6.9m with marks leading from the outer roads, across a shoal lying along the left bank of the river, to the harbour. The depths of the canals are maintained through constant dredging. The width of the canal between 4.0m depth contours is 80m. When sailing along the canal navigators must keep to the axis of Nikolaevskiy fairway. Masters receive permission to sail along the entrance canal, from the outer roads to the port or to leave the port, from the Port State Control Inspection. This permission is valid for 1 hour. If the vessel is not ready to proceed along the canal within that time, the Master must request permission again
Port limits
The W border of the port is marked by the line of lighted marks of Reidoviy range. The E limit is the line between Cape Kuedga and Cape Meo. The N and the S port limits are the left and right banks of the Amur River. Port waters include the outer roads as well as the port harbour.
Traffic schemes and VTS
Vessel traffic in the entrance canal is controlled by the Port State Control Inspection. Vessels visiting the port and operating in the inner waterways do not clear in and out. Vessels must ask Port State Control Inspection for permission to enter port limits 1 hour in advance.
Anchorages
The port outer roads are situated opposite the entrance to the harbour. They run along the right bank of the Amur River from the Western to the Eastern borders of the port waters. The depths range from 8.6 to 29m, with the greater depths in the W. The ground is sand and mud.
Anchorage and quarantine stay for Russian vessels is situated at the right bank of the Amur River and is limited by lines connecting the following points:
53°07.0'N 140°41.8'E
53°07.2'N 140°43.8'E
53°06.8'N 140°43.8'E
53°06.8'N 140°41.8'E
Anchorage for tankers is limited by lines connecting the following points:
53°07.2'N 140°44.0'E
53°07.2'N 140°45.0'E
53°06.8'N 140°45.0'E
53°06.8'N 140°44.0'E
Anchoring in the port waters is permitted by the Port Duty Officer who informs the Port Sate Control Inspection.
Restrictions
Vessels sailing along the Amur River below the Western border of the port waters as well as along fairways Sakhalinsky, Uzhniy, Khusinskiy, Obvodniy, Nevel'skoy (the Northen fairway) and Gavrilova in the Amur Bay must comply with COLREG-72.
Vessels sailing upstream of the River Amur from the Western border of the port waters must comply with the Rules of Navigation in The Inner Waterways of Russia.
A vessels navigating at the outer roads will give way to a vessel entering or leaving the port by the entrance fairway. There is no shore radar station signal in the port. There is no ice breaker assistance in the port and therefore vessels are not permitted to navigate port waters after the start of ice formation.
The port permits movements 24 hours a day, and is open for vessels up to 120m long and up to 18m beam, with a maximum draught of up to 4.5m. Depths in the port are constantly dredged.
In restricted visibility of less than 1km, vessels are not permitted to navigate in port waters with their radar switched off. Vessels speed notwithstanding their size and draught must not exceed 4kts
It is prohibited to drop anchor when manoeuvring or mooring. Mooring river vessels to the port berths is carried out after agreement between the District Management Duty Officer of Amur River Shipping Company and the Port Duty Officer.
When towing other vessels and/or rafts in the district from Cape Pronge to Cape Gaore (Uzhniy fairway) and Nevel'skogo fairway, the tow line length must provide for good steerage of the vessel and guarantee safety of floating navigational aids. While sailing in the Amur Bay fairways, navigators should consider the announced depths alongside their route, the tide height and vessel speed during the passage, so that the vessel will have a UKC of not less than 0.2m at the fairways bars. The order of informing vessels about actual levels at the limiting districts of the fairways is determined by the pilot service at the beginning of the navigation and is published in Notices to Mariners.
Tugs
Tugs are available.
Mooring
This list of officials can be changed by the port Chief Manager according to the vessels voyage and cargo.
Line shifting and vessel shifting at wind speed of 29kts or more is prohibited.
Only one mooring or turning operation at a time of a vessel of more than 500GT can be carried out at the port. Mooring and turning operations of sea going vessels in the port are effected with port tugs. Mooring and turning operations of river vessels are affected with the tugs of Amur River Shipping Company or the port tugs at the request of the Duty Officer of the Amur River Shipping Company District Management. Mooring and turning operations of non self propelled vessels as well as towing convoys are affected with two or more tugs.
Charts and publications
Admiralty pilot NP43, NP286(6).
Reporting before arrival
updated Aug 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
A vessel's Master, or his Agent, must submit ETA notification as soon as the vessel departs the last port of call, 24 hours before her arrival with further corrections 4 hours before the ETA. He must state the quantity of cargo and the name and address of the Consignees. The port will advise the vessel's Master or his Agent about his berth 2 hours before arrival. Vessels arriving at the port 1 hour later than the time indicated in the corrected information, or if there is no appropriate information from them, are berthed when facilities become available.
Clearing in: The Master of a vessel clearing in to be worked in the port must present appropriate documentation to the duty Captain of Port State Control Inspection. Clearing in of a transit vessel is effected by the duty Captain of the Port State Control Inspection after her anchoring at the port outer roads. Local vessels, having Health and Fire Brigade Certificates issued for a certain period and a permanent crew, clear in on agreement of the Harbour Master once within the period of validity of the above certificates. The vessel's Master will inform the Port State Control Inspection 2 hours after arrival.
Clearing out: A vessel's Master must ask the Port State Control Inspection for permission to leave the port not later than 1 hour before departure. Clearing out of coastal vessels is effected by the Port State Control Inspection onboard, 2 hours before departure. Local vessels, having Health and Fire Brigade Certificates issued for certain periods and a permanent crew, clear out on agreement of the Harbour Master once within the period of validity of the above certificates. Simultaneous clearing in and out is allowed for vessels staying in the port for less than 12 hours.
Notice of readiness
Notice of Readiness is accepted on condition of actual readiness of the vessel to load or unload that particular cargo as well as availability of all the cargo documents. If necessary, Notice of Readiness must be confirmed by an appropriate inspection. The port representative will make an appropriate remark on the Notice no later than 30 minutes after its reception indicating the start of laytime calculations.
Laytime is the time allowed to the port in accordance with the port bye-laws for effecting cargo operations: including separation, weighing, usual lashing/unlashing and stowage of the cargo, opening and closing of hatches, completing of cargo documents, dry cleaning and sweeping of cargo spaces after loading, mooring operations.
Health
There is a sanitary and quarantine service in the port. Sanitary inspection of vessels are carried out 24 hours a day. If there is sick person onboard, the Master must inform Port State Control Inspection 6 hours before arrival at the port. Masters must take all measures to prevent rats going ashore from their vessel.
Flags
All arriving vessels shall hoist their signal letter flags during daylight hours, and exhibit red over white signal lights at night, until Clearance Inwards has been completed. Departing vessels shall exhibit these signals from receipt of Clearance Outwards until the vessel is clear of port waters. Whilst these signals are displayed, it is prohibited for strangers to embark, and for other craft to approach the vessel's side.
Notices and regulations
All cargoes must be tallied on/off the vessel, as appropriate, and tally sheets signed by both ship and shore. Vessels must account for delivery of cargoes on each Bill of Lading separately. If the vessel cannot provide her own tallymen, the port tallymen count is accepted. In case of breaks in loading or unloading as well as in case of bad weather conditions, the vessel will close and open her hatches. If the port shore cranes are used, the vessel will pay all the expenses. Vessels with explosives and inflammable cargoes are not allowed to stay in the port harbour. Small vessels and non-propelled vessels are allowed to moor and stay at Berth N12 without the confirmation of the Port Duty Officer. Vessels requesting to lay-up in port shall be allocated berths by the Chief Duty Officer and the Harbour Master, appropriate to the dimensions of such vessels.
Passenger vessels are not permitted at Berth N11 when the water measuring post reading is 230cm or less. Under these circumstances passenger services are carried out at the roads. In stormy weather conditions (wind speed of more than 29kts) and poor visibility (less than 0.5nm) the movement of local passengers vessels is prohibited.
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 Transport of the Russian Federation.
Position: Head of Maritime Security Service.
Address: 3/6, Petrovka Str, Moscow 125993, Russia.
Tel: +7 495 221 7130.
Fax: +7 495 200 1003.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.msecurity.ru
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated Jun 2016Repairs
Available
Bunkers, water and stores
Water and provisions are available from the port. Bunkering: Vessels can bunker from a special port bunker barges whose anchoring position is 53°06.8'N 140°42.00'E. Vessel's Master should note that vessels are prohibited to anchor within 0.1nm from the barge.
Medical
There is a hospital approximately 3km from the port.
Transport
Nearest Railway Station: Komsomol'sk on Amur. (582km away).
Nearest Airport: Nikolaevsk on Amur, connected by regular lines with Khabarovsk, Okhotsk, Komsomol'sk on Amur, Blagoveschensk.
Working hours
The port operates from 0800 - 2000hrs with a lunch break from 1200 - 1300hrs. Usual working hours are from 0800 - 1700hrs except Sat, Sun and Public Holidays. From 1700 - 2000hrs is evening time. Payments for services rendered in the evening time, and on weekends and Public Holidays are increased by 1.25 and 2.0 respectively.
About Nikolaevsk on Amur
updated Jun 2016Where it is
The town of Nikolaevsk on Amur is located 977km from Khaborovsk and 582km from Komsomol'sk on Amur. The port is a river port located on the left bank of the Amur River, 80km from Amur Bay. It is a vital transshipment link between sea going vessels and river traffic.
The port
The port is open for foreign and local vessels and operates during summer navigation which lasts for about 5.5 months, the start and end of which is officially announced by the port's Chief Manager.
Main cargos handled include timber, mineral, construction cargos, coal and packaged cargos.
Questions about Nikolaevsk on Amur
Where does the pilot board at Nikolaevsk on Amur?
The pilot boards at Nikolayevsk-na-Amure boarding position a, 53°07.4′N 140°43.9′E. Nikolaevsk on Amur has 4 pilot boarding places.
What time zone is Nikolaevsk on Amur in?
Local time at Nikolaevsk on Amur is UTC+10. No summer time.
Who carries out Port State Control at Nikolaevsk on Amur?
Port State Control at Nikolaevsk on Amur: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Nikolaevsk on Amur?
The UN/LOCODE of Nikolaevsk on Amur is RUNIA.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Nikolaevsk on Amur 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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