Port Louis

1. Port Louis pilot boarding place Pilot boards20°07.7′S 057°27.5′E

Size limits

LOA 366.07m, beam 51.2m, draught 15.5m, 204,331DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Tidal rise 0.6m. No currents in the harbour but the tidal streams set across the entrance channel at right angles with the leading line.

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

Approach

Terminal 3 (MCT 1 & 2) is approached from the pilot boarding area through English Channel, which is marked by light beacons and has been dredged to 16.5, with turning circle of 450m.

The main harbour is approached from NW and entered between Fort William (20°09.1'S 057°28.7'E) and Fort George, 0.5nm NNE, on the bearing 127.5° of leading lights. A pair of fairway light beacons mark the NW limit of the harbour and additional buoys mark the 1nm entrance channel which is dredged to 12.2m over a least width of 200m. Maximum draught permitted is 11.0m.

A Racon (Mo "T") is on the starboard fairway pillar.

Port limits

Port limits are a line joining Pointe aux Sables (20°10.32'S 057°25.40'E) and Point aux Piments (20°03.36'S 057°31.78'E), approx 8.5nm NE.

The commercial area of the port is the area inside the port bounded by the Entrance Beacons and the shore line of the Inner Harbour. Vessels at the outside anchorage lie within the limits of the port defined by an imaginary line joining Pointe Aux Sables and Pointe Aux Piments. In this area commercial activities are restricted to bunkering, ship repair or the landing of personnel.

Anchorages

Off the entrance, fair holding ground. The quarantine anchorage is close SW of the leading line in 20.0-30.0m, bottom coarse sand and coral. The outer roadstead is 0.5nm NNW of the fairway buoys in 27-37m of water.

Prohibited anchorage exists SW of the quarantine anchorage, off Grand River Bay, due to the existence of submarine cables and at port entrance of the container terminal and Conventional Port.

Restrictions

LPG, white oil and liquid ammonia vessels are only berthed during daylight hours.

Submarine pipelines: A submerged sewage pipeline, its seaward extremity marked by a buoy (W cardinal), extends 0.8nm W from Pointe Roche Noire (20°07'S 057°29'E).

Mooring

Berthing is also carried out on mooring buoys which start at the channel entrance: Quarantine Buoys 220m long; "3W" Buoys 85m long; For'd Buoy has been removed for vessels berthing at "2W" Buoys, dropping anchors and stern line made fast to "1W" For'd Buoy Berth, which is 185m long. Mostly Reefer cargo vessels are berthed at these berths for discharge of fish from small fishing vessels. Vessels carrying out general repairs can also be berthed at the buoys.

Mauritius Sugar Terminal (MST): Vessels rarely use the mooring buoys, normally berth at the sugar terminal.

Quays A-D, E - Caution: The quays are of concrete construction protected with modern rubber fendering. The fendering is not resilient and heavy landings must be avoided. The berths are little affected by passing traffic but fresh offshore winds may be experienced, especially during the afternoon.

Charts and publications

BA 710. Admiralty Pilot NP39, NP286(8).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessels should confirm above details 2 hours in advance on VHF Ch 16 or 12.

Communications

VHF: Port Master/Pilots: Ch 16, 12, 14. Tel: +230 242 0458, Fax: +230 216 3253, Email: [email protected].

Port Louis Harbour Radio: Ch 16, 12, 14, Call Sign (3BB). Tel: +230 216 9074, +230 216 9081, Fax +230 216 9078, Email: [email protected]. Maintains 24 hour watch.

Operations and Commercial Department Email: [email protected].

Port Authority Tel +230 206 5400, Fax +230 240 0856, Email [email protected].

Tugs: Ch 14.

Notice of readiness

There are no special local rules for tendering NOR. This is usually done either in writing by the Master to his agents and/or by telex/fax/email, whether in berth or not (usually as per governing Charter Party).

Documents

Other local forms are delivered and completed by agency boarding officer onboard after arrival of vessel.

Health

Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate can be renewed.

Customs and immigration

Penalty: Any Master or member of the crew failing to make a full disclosure of any dutiable goods in his possession shall be liable to a penalty as prescribed by law in force and the goods shall be liable to forfeiture.

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Penalties for non compliance of Customs regulations are usually heavy fines to be paid to the Comptroller of Customs, failing which vessel would not be allowed to sail.

Undeclared goods: Fines are 3 times value of the goods which are thereafter seized.

Immigration: There are no restrictions on crew and/or passengers.

Note: To confirm this information contact the Comptroller of Customs, Customs & Excise Department, Fax: +230 240 1032.

Flags

No special requirements for displaying flags other than those displayed as a courtesy and by Interco. On Independence Day, Mar 12, all ships in port have to be "dressed".

Notices and regulations

Cyclone warnings: Tropical revolving storms can be experienced from Nov 1 to May 15. Navigational warnings will be issued by the Port Master and notices issued to vessels in the port. All vessels should be in a state of readiness to put to sea as per the Port Master's instructions. See Navigation Section.

Regulations concerning entry: Preparations for entry. Vessel's navigation equipment and means of propulsion to be in good working condition before the pilot boards.

Port State Control here: Indian Ocean MOU.

Inspection of ships in Mauritius

Director of Shipping

New Government Home, Level 4, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius.

Tel: +230 201 2115.

Fax: +230 212 6368.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Mauritius Ports Authority, National Maritime Harbour Security Committee.

Contact person: Port Security Officer.

Address: Level 6, La Capitainerie, Quay D, Port Louis, Mauritius.

Tel: +230 240 0871

Fax: +230 242 8314

Mob: +230 259 0736

Email: [email protected]

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

Repairs

CNOI Repair Wharf: Length approx 300m.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Supplied by barges between 0700-1500hrs on weekdays. Arrangements can be made for supplying before and after these hours on weekdays, Sundays and public holidays. The loading rate is about 40tph.

Bunkering: Gas oil available by pipeline ex quay at Trou Fanfaron Fishing Quay.

Both fuel oil and gas oil can be supplied ex pipeline at Quays A, B, D & E. Gas oil can also be supplied to vessels moored at the private berth FDM. Vessels moored at Quays 1, 2, 3 and 4 and MFD can be bunkered by pipeline and bunkering barge.

A 530DWT bunkering barge, can supply fuel oil (310t) and gas oil (220t) to ships in harbour and outside anchorage.

Bulk Sugar Terminal: Bunkers are supplied through a single 8in hose with bolted flange between ship's manifold and the jetty. Ship's derrick should be plumbed mid manifold for lifting the hose, approx 2t SWL.

Stores: Available from several ship chandlers.

Medical

Arrangements for medical attendance should be made through ship's agent. Public and private clinics available within a radius of 4km of the port.

Crew change

Crew change is possible.

Transport

Nearest airport: Sir Seewoosagur International Airport is situated 35km from the port.

Working hours

The port operates throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Port Louis is situated on the NW coast of Mauritius, approx 500nm E of Madagascar.

The port

The commercial area of the port is the area inside the port bounded by the entrance buoys and the shore line of the inner harbour, handles general cargo, dry bulk, container, Ro-Ro, passengers, LPG and liquid cargo.

Traffic

Approx. 10,000,000t of cargo, 500,000TEU, 4,200 vessels and 60,000 passengers handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Port Louis?

The pilot boards at Port Louis pilot boarding place, 20°07.7′S 057°27.5′E.

What time zone is Port Louis in?

Local time at Port Louis is UTC+4. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Port Louis?

The deepest berth listed is at Terminal III Mauritius Container Terminal: 15.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Port Louis?

1025.

Which load line zone is Port Louis in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Port Louis?

Port State Control at Port Louis: Indian Ocean MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Port Louis?

The UN/LOCODE of Port Louis is MUPLU.

What crews who called at Port Louis 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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