PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Poti
Pilot
updated Sep 2010Compulsory and available throughout 24 hours. Vessels should request pilots 48 hours in advance. Pilot boards vessel 1nm W of end of Zapadnyy Mol, (42°10.1'N 041°37.9'E).
The harbour master's office will give the master of a vessel appropriate instructions if the pilot is not able to disembark in the outer roads due to poor weather or heavy seas.
Key data
updated Jun 2020Size limits
LOA 199.99m, beam 32.26m, draught 10.3m, 64,012DWT.
Water density
1015. Variable.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Range max 60cm in winter months.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poti Dry Berths | — | 200 m | 13 |
| Channel Energy Poti | 10.50 m | 185 m | 1 |
| APM Terminals Poti | — | 171 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 Sep 2011Approach
The alignment 129° of these light beacons leads along the first leg of the channel, dredged to 10.5m and 100m in width, passing between a pair of lightbuoys (lateral), and close NE of a spar buoy (starboard hand) located 0.05nm E of the head of Zapadnyy Mol.
Second leg: The alignment 159° of a light beacon (orange rectangle, black stripe, height 15m) (42°09.0'N 041°39.2'E). and Potiyskiy Light leads into the inner harbour along the second leg of the channel which is 55 to 80m wide.
Caution: NW gales cause silting in the entrance channel and basins, decreasing depths by up to 0.6m. Dredgers are constantly at work.
Port limits
The port area is contained between the parallels of 42°12.0'N and 42°05.0'N, extended seaward for a distance of 10nm.
Anchorages
Outer anchorages: The outer roadstead, bounded by the parallels of 42°12'N and 42°08'N, and the meridian of 041°35.0'E contains Anchorage Areas No 200 (Tankers) and 300 (bulk carriers). Anchorage outside the limits of these areas is prohibited.
A mooring buoy is positioned in the S end of Anchorage Area 300, 1.5nm WSW of the head of Zapadnyy Mol.
Restrictions
Vessels are prohibited from entering the port when the entrance and leading lights are obscured by fog.
Speed should not exceed 4kts in the port areas with towage assistance.
Night entry for vessels exceeding LOA 180m is prohibited.
Tugs
Compulsory for berthing vessels over 1,000DWT. Four tugs available and should be arranged by agents.
Charts and publications
BA 3313, 3317; Sov 987. Admiralty Pilot NP24, NP286(3).
Inspections
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Georgian Maritime Administration.
Position: Senior Deputy Chairman
Address: 60 Gogebashvili Str, 6017, Batumi, Georgia.
Tel: +995 222 73 909.
Fax: +995 222 73929
Mob: +995 77 408238
Email: [email protected]
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Abkhazia, Georgia: Georgia has advised the IMO that due to the tense situation in the state of Abkhazia resulting from mercenaries, arms and drug smuggling the Abkhaz section of Georgian waters is closed for navigation to all types of vessels, except international humanitarian cargo shipments. Several vessels have failed to obey this regulation and have been detained by navy guards, the cargoes inspected and the vessels fined.
About Poti
updated Jun 2020Where it is
Poti is located at the eastern end of the Black Sea, approx 110km N of the Turkish border.
The port
Potiis the principal port for the transhipment of cargo to and from Central Asia and the Trans-Caspian district, has recently been acquired by APM and RAKIA, handling liquid and dry bulk, ferries as well as containers.
It is also the shipping port for the export of manganese ore from the Caucasian and Chiaturi regions.
The port consists of an outer roadstead and an inner harbour. The inner harbour, which is protected by breakwaters, consists of 4 basins approached by a channel. It has 15 berths, with total berth length of 2,900m and more than 20 quay cranes. APM intend to expand port facilities.
Traffic
Approx 8,000,000t of cargo, 4000,000TEU and 1,300 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Poti
What are the pilot arrangements at Poti?
Compulsory and available throughout 24 hours.
What time zone is Poti in?
Local time at Poti is UTC+4. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Poti?
The deepest berth listed is at Channel Energy Poti: 10.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Poti?
1015. Variable.
Which load line zone is Poti in?
Summer.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Poti?
The UN/LOCODE of Poti is GEPTI.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Poti 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.
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.