PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Port Harcourt
Pilot
updated May 2010Compulsory, if specially requested, the pilot will board the vessel at the Fairway Buoy (04°12.56'N 007°00.28'E), during day light hours only. On passing Buoy No 29, the vessel should call the pilot on VHF Ch 14 or the signal station and advise his position. The Master will be asked to proceed to the area of Buoy No 33, whereupon he will board the vessel, the Master should keep the pilot informed at all times, of the vessels position. The pilot will proceed to the vessel by pilot boat occasionally but more often by speed boat and will board from starboard requesting dead slow speed.
The journey up the river takes approx 4-4.5 hours.
Key data
updated Feb 2021Size limits
Max LOA 199.99m, beam 36m, draught 8.9m, 64,794DWT.
Water density
1000.
Load line zone
Tropical.
Tides
Tidal range 1.86m at spring and 0.91m at neap.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal A | 8.90 m | 200 m | 4 |
| Terminal B | 8.90 m | 200 m | 4 |
| Ibeto Cement | 8.80 m | 190 m | 1 |
| Port Harcourt - Old Refinery | — | 184 m | 1 |
| Eagle Cement | — | — | 1 |
| Petrostar Nigeria Limited | — | — | 2 |
| Liquid Bulk Fuel Oil Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Masters Energy Oil & Gas Depot Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Port Harcourt - New Refinery | — | 184 m | 2 |
| Stockgap LPG Terminal | — | 184 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Dec 2020Approach
After consent from Bonny Signal Station, the vessel should proceed up the channel to Buoy No 29 near Bonny Town where the pilot will board. Masters should be aware that some of the buoys are not in the position stated on the charts. However, the channel is fairly wide and straight and once inside is quite easy to follow. The storage tanker "TUMA" is permanently moored off Bonny and vessels should proceed to starboard of the tanker at slow speed. It is not recommended that vessels enter the channel prior to first light.
The approach over the bar is by a channel, 12.8km long, dredged to a depth of 11.58m CD. The river from Bonny to Okrika has been dredged as necessary to a depth of 8.84m CD. The bar, channel and river are well buoyed with light buoys port and starboard.
Port limits
Port limits are bounded by the parallels of 04°40'N and 04°50'N and by the meridians of 006°59'E and 007°09'E.
Anchorages
Anchorages are available W of the Fairway Buoy in depths of 14.6-16.5m. Anchoring is prohibited between the S section of Berth No 6 and an area 0.2nm SW of the Tanker Berth.
Tugs
Compulsory. Tugs up to 1,490hp are available.
Charts and publications
BA 1386, 3118, 3288, 3293. Admiralty Pilot NP1, NP286(8).
Reporting before arrival
updated May 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
The ship's agent in Lagos must be advised via Lagos Radio, 7, 4, 3, 2 and 1 days prior to arrival and the same information passed to the Harbour Master at Port Harcourt by the same means. On arrival the vessel should contact the signal station on VHF Ch 14 and they will request the following information from the vessel.
Communications
VHF: Port: Ch 16, 14.
Inspections
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Nigeria Ports Authority.
Position: General Security Manager.
Address: 26/28 Marina, Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: +234 1 264 5894
Fax: +234 1 264 5894
Mob: +234 80 3301 9750.
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated Dec 2020Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: Available.
Medical
Braitwait Memorial Specialist Hospital, 2km.
Transport
Nearest airport: Port Harcourt International Airport, 28km.
Nearest railway: Port Harcourt.
Working hours
Oil terminal: Throughout 24 hours. Other berths: Two shifts 0730-2230hrs. Night work available on request.
About Port Harcourt
updated Dec 2020Where it is
Port Harcourt is situated 66km up the River Bonny estuary, part of the River Niger delta in E Nigeria.
The port
The river has been dredged to allow ease of transit, the tide at times reaching rates of 3kts.
The port is an important transhipment port for the Niger, Chad and inland Nigeria and is a railway terminus that has been evolved from a single berth harbour handling coal export to a 'mother-port' facilities with its own terminals and surrounding private jetties. The port now caters various types of dry bulk, containers, refrigerated cargo, general cargo, liquid bulk, LPG and crude oil trades.
Traffic
Approx 3,500,000t of cargo, 2,200TEU and 300 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Port Harcourt
What are the pilot arrangements at Port Harcourt?
Compulsory, if specially requested, the pilot will board the vessel at the Fairway Buoy (04°12.56'N 007°00.28'E), during day light hours only.
What time zone is Port Harcourt in?
Local time at Port Harcourt is UTC+1. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Port Harcourt?
The deepest berth listed is at Terminal A: 8.90 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Port Harcourt?
1000.
Which load line zone is Port Harcourt in?
Tropical.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Port Harcourt?
The UN/LOCODE of Port Harcourt is NGPHC.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Port Harcourt 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.
Plan a route to Port Harcourt →
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.