Pepel

Size limits

Harbour: LOA 294m, draught 12.04m, beam 36m, 70,000DWT,

Off Shore: 170,000DWT.

Water density

1000.

Load line zone

Tropical.

Tides

Range 2.1-3.4m above CD.

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

Approach

The channel between Freetown and the port is buoyed and has a depth of 10.7m CD.

Anchorages

Transhipment Anchorage Area:

Please refer to the below anchorage coordinates for the transhipment position:

1. 08°27.40N 13°25.65W

2. 08°28.80N 13°22.80W

3. 08°27.80N 13°22.20W

4. 08°26.20N 13°26.00W

5. 08°26.40N 13°27.40W

6. 08°28.00N 13°27.00W

Restrictions

Entrance to the channel is restricted to 2 hours before HW at Freetown, during daylight hours only. The Pepel port channel is only navigable one vessel at a time, meaning that African Minerals has to anchor additional transhipment vessels near Freetown, allowing them into the Pepel Jetty once the outgoing vessel has departed.

Charts and publications

BA 601, 623. Admiralty Pilot NP1.

Communications

VHF: Ch 16.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Sierra Leone Maritime Administration.

Position: Executive Director.

Address:PO Box 313, Maritime House, Government Wharf Ferry Terminal, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Tel: +232 22 221211

Fax: +232 22 221215

Mob: +232 76 601805

Email: [email protected]

ISPS Compliance: Pepel is currently out of use whilst it is repaired following damage caused during the rebel war. As soon as the port is planned to commence business a full survey will be completed and a security plan written.

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

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Not available.

Transport

Nearest airport: Lungi International Airport, Freetown.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

The port of Pepel is located on Pepel Island, near the mouth of the Sierra Leone River, 24km from Freetown.

The port

The port of Pepel is a single commodity, single user port operated by African Minerals for the export of iron ore. The iron ore is transported from the mine at Tonkolili, via a 120km stretch of railway (also operated by African Minerals), to Pepel port. The port consists of two piers and an STS transhipment area. Export operations to the STS transhipment area involve three, 35,000DWT self-discharging bulk carriers which load iron ore to larger, 170,000DWT bulk carriers for further transport, mainly to China (mainland).

Traffic

Approx. 2,000,000t of cargo handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Pepel?

Fairway Buoy to Freetown anchorage is compulsory if vessels summer DWT is greater than 20,000t and draught over 9.1m.

What time zone is Pepel in?

Local time at Pepel is UTC+0. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Pepel?

The deepest berth listed is at African Minerals: 12.04 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Pepel?

1000.

Which load line zone is Pepel in?

Tropical.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Pepel?

The UN/LOCODE of Pepel is SLPEP.

What crews who called at Pepel 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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