Porto Santo

Size limits

Largest vessel handled: Cruise vessel "Karleiya", length 156m, draught 5.9m, 15,065t.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range 2.6m.

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

Approach

By day, Ilheu de Baixo and Ilheu de Cima may be rounded at 400m or more. The concrete breakwaters enclosing the harbour can be seen near the E end of the bay. A pipeline runs from the southern breakwater to 33°03'N 016°18.5'W. The S end of the pipeline is marked by an unlit spherical buoy, 4 ship mooring buoys surround this, of which the SW is reliably lit.

By night, the Pointe Cais or West Pier, of the town of Vila Baleria, carries the Front Leading Light, which can safely be approached bearing between 290° and 030°, if intending to anchor off the beach.

If approaching from the E, vessels should stay S of the lit, ship mooring buoy.

Port limits

The limits of the port are between 32°59.5'N 016°22.5'W and 33°03'N 016°16.5'W.

Traffic schemes and VTS

There are no traffic schemes adopted.

Restrictions

No restrictions.

Tugs

Available from Funchal.

Charts and publications

BA 1689, Portuguese 101 and 103, NOAA 51261 and Imray Iolaire E3. Admiralty Pilot NP1.

ETA and pre-arrival notices

ETA messages can be sent as follows:

By post, to the Harbour Master, Porto Santo, 9400 Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal. The message must include the vessel type and reason for calling, a definite time for berth space and agency name.

By fax, to the Harbour Master, Porto Santo with a definite time for berth space.

By radio, VHF Ch 16, between 0800-1200hrs and 1300-1700hrs, calling the Port Co-ordinator.

Communications

A 24 hour watch on 2182kHz is maintained by Madeira Radio. The working frequency is 2843kHz but 1,663.5kHz may also be used.

Call "Posto Radio Funchal" in Madeira and "Radio Naval Santo" in Porto Santo working frequencies 4409.4kHz, 8776.8kHz, 13154.5kHz, 17300.5kHz and 22671kHz.

VHF: Madeira Radio: Ch 25, 26, 27, 28.

Porto Santo Radio: Ch 23, 24, 26 and 27.

Port: Ch 16, which can be used for passing ETA's or for emergency use, between 0800-1200hrs and 1300-1700hrs. Once contact has been made the stations concerned must switch to a working channel.

On request from a vessel in distress, the vessel should transmit via Ch 16 and call Madeira Radio, Porto Santo Radio or Radio Naval Santo, controlled by the coastguard.

Notice of readiness

Tendered on arrival in accordance with the Charter Party.

Documents

It is necessary for a Portuguese agent to handle all the vessel's affairs.

Health

Normal EU regulations apply. A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is essential if arriving from a country where yellow fever is present.

Customs and immigration

Portuguese Customs and Immigration Regulations and normal EU regulations apply. All vessel's affairs with Customs and Immigration are to be handled by the vessel's Portuguese agent. All crew going ashore must be in possession of a special landing card, supplied by the agent, which must also be shown to the Immigration Officer, at the gangway, before crew proceed ashore. It is also advisable that all crew members wishing to go ashore carry their identity cards, Seaman's Books or passports. Indonesian nationality crew members cannot go ashore.

Visas are not required for member countries of the European Community or certain other countries, Canada or the United States of America. Passengers in transit going ashore must be in possession of a special landing card stamped by the authorities, which must be shown to the Immigration Officer on duty at the gangway before passengers proceed ashore. Indonesian nationality passengers cannot go ashore. These passenger landing cards will be handed over by the boarding agent, upon vessel's arrival.

Flags

There are no special flag requirements other than those normally displayed in accordance with the International Code of Signals.

It is customary to fly a courtesy ensign.

Notices and regulations

Normal Portuguese regulations apply.

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: Instituto Portuario e dos Transportes Maritimos.

Position: Chairman.

Address: Edificio Vasco da Gama, Rua General Gomes Araujo, P-1399-005, Lisbon, Portugal.

Tel: +351 21 391 4712

Mob: +351 91 971 3089

Website: http://www.imarport.pt

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

Repairs

Repair facilities available in Funchal.

Dry docks

Not available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available at Funchal.

Medical

Funchal. It is possible to receive medical aid by radio via VHF Ch 16.

Private medical insurance is essential.

Crew change

Must contact the Foreign and Frontier office in the harbour prior to crew change.

Transport

Nearest airport: Porto Santo Airport, 4km.

Working hours

Normally Mon-Fri, 0800-1200hrs and 1300-1700hrs, Sat 0800-1200hrs.

Where it is

Porto Santo is the sole port on the island of Porto Santo, 40nm NE of Madeira.

The port

The port consists of a cement berth, a main quay for trade and passengers and a secondary pier used for inter-island passenger traffic.

Traffic

Approx 170,000t of cargo, 1,700TEU, 890 vessels and 250,000 passengers are handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Porto Santo?

Compulsory. Pilots are obtained from Funchal.

What time zone is Porto Santo in?

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

What is the water density at Porto Santo?

1025.

Which load line zone is Porto Santo in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Porto Santo?

Port State Control at Porto Santo: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Porto Santo?

The UN/LOCODE of Porto Santo is PTPXO.

What crews who called at Porto Santo 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 Porto Santo →