PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Punta Europa Terminal
Pilot
updated May 2010- Punta Europa Terminal pilot/mooring-master boarding place Pilot boards03°48.4′N 008°43.6′E
Compulsory. Pilot boards 1.5nm N of the terminal and remains onboard throughout loading. Marathon E G Production Ltd (Marathon) and the Atlantic Methanol Production Company (AMPCO) provide a European Pilot/Mooring Master to assist and advise the ship's Master with the berthing and unberthing of the vessel at the terminal.
The services of the Pilot/Mooring Master are provided with the express understanding and on the condition that, while onboard for the purposes of assisting the vessel, the Mooring Master becomes, for such purposes, the servant of the owners and/or charterers of the vessel and the ship's Master shall remain solely responsible for the safety and proper manoeuvring of the vessel. Marathon/AMPCO shall not be responsible for any damage or injury resulting from the advice and assistance given by such Mooring Master.
In the case of a vessel anchoring off the terminal to await cargo availability/daylight etc, under no circumstances should Master attempt to make contact, or take instructions from: ''The Malabo Port Control'' or ''Malabo Pilots''. Berthing instructions will only come from either the ''Punta Europa Terminal'' or the ''Punta Europa pilots''. If an E.G. national boards the vessel claiming to be the Terminal pilot, then he should be asked to leave immediately and the terminal advised accordingly.
Key data
updated Jun 2021Size limits
Offshore: LOA 244m, 105,000DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Tropical.
Tides
Currents: Offshore the current generally sets from the W towards the E at variable rates throughout the year. Inshore, in the vicinity of the berth, a strong counter current flows from the E towards the W at rates in excess of 2kts. The counter current is more pronounced during the rainy season and becomes weak and variable during the dry season.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon Terminal | — | 274 m | 2 |
| EG LNG Terminal | — | — | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Feb 2017Approach
A 10in diameter, 3,500psi high pressure gas pipeline runs from a position on the shore at 03°47.08'N 008°43.16'E, then in a curve through position 03°48.0'N 008°43.4'E to an offshore production platform in position 03°58.7'N 008°32.9'E. Anchoring in the vicinity of this high pressure gas line is extremely dangerous and is prohibited. This line is marked in the vicinity of the berth by a lighted red/yellow horizontal striped spar buoy, located to the eastward of the pipeline. A 24in diameter export pipeline runs from the shore at 03°47.08'N 008°43.16'E then in a straight line to a position 03°47.15'N 008°43.62'E. The pipeline end manifold is marked by a red spar buoy close to westward of the manifold.
Anchorages
No designated anchorage currently exists but due to the presence of a high pressure gas pipeline in the vicinity of the berth and due to the fact that shoal water has been reported in the bay between the berth and the port of Malabo, Masters are recommended to anchor to the N of Lat 03°47.0'N and to the E of Long 008°44.0'E. Anchoring to the W of Long 008°44.0'E is dangerous and is strictly prohibited. The bottom consists of mud and black volcanic sand with good holding in 41m of water.
Restrictions
Vessels will only be berthed and unberthed at the terminal during daylight.
Maximum size of vessel is 105,000DWT, LOA 244m. There are no restrictions in either beam or draught. LPG vessels, with midship manifold are restricted to lengths of between 120-215m.
Tugs
Two 2,350hp, 30t bollard pull, line handling tugs will be used in the mooring operations. These boats will be used for running, securing and tripping of mooring lines from the mooring buoys and will be under the direct control of the pilot. The tugs have fixed fire fighting capabilities and during the loading operation one of them will remain in close proximity to the tanker berth ready to assist in case of any emergency.
Mooring
Vessels berth heading NW. Both anchors are used in a running moor, the vessels stern being secured to four mooring buoys. The number of mooring lines/wires used to secure the vessel to each buoy is dependent upon the size of the vessel, the prevailing tidal/weather conditions and the type/size of mooring lines that are available onboard. Typically, 3 ship's lines will be used in securing the vessel to each buoy. All mooring wires should have synthetic tails attached to a wire otherwise they will not be accepted.
The vessel's offshore bower anchor may, or may not, be used in berthing. On completion of mooring, the vessel's main engines and steering gear should be kept available on 10 minutes standby for use if required. Repairs to the vessel's engine plant will not be permitted if such repairs limit the power availability in any way.
Charts and publications
BA 1860, 1357, 1321. Admiralty Pilot NP2, NP286(8).
Inspections
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Ministerio de Communicaciones & Malabo, Directorate General of Transports and Civil Aviation.
Address: Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Tel: +240 92605.
Fax: +240 92515.
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org.
ISPS Compliance: The US Coast Guard has reported that vessels arriving at US ports from ports in Equatorial Guinea, with the exception of Ceiba, K-5 Oil Center, Luba, Punta Europa Terminal and Zafiro Marine Terminal, will be subject to increased attention and are more likely to be boarded and inspected due to their country's failure to maintain effective anti terrorism measures.
Port services
updated Jun 2021Bunkers, water and stores
Stores: Available but are expensive and in very limited quantities.
Medical
Nearest hospital: Punta Europa MEGPL (3km).
Crew change
Repatriation is possible. A departure tax of CFA Francs 5,000 (approx US$10.00) is required at both Malabo and Douala airports.
Transport
Nearest airport: Malabo Airport (4km).
Working hours
Mon-Fri 0800-1200hrs and 1300-1700hrs.
About Punta Europa Terminal
updated Sep 2010Where it is
Punta Europa Terminal is off the N coast of Macias Ngueme Biyogo (Bioko Island) which was formerly known as Fernando Po.
The port
The terminal is operated by Marathon E.G. Production Ltd (Marathon) and is used for the export of Alba LNG, condensate, LPG and Methanol.
The SBM terminal is approximately 800m offshore and 1,500m ESE of the Punta Europa lighthouse.
Questions about Punta Europa Terminal
Where does the pilot board at Punta Europa Terminal?
The pilot boards at Punta Europa Terminal pilot/mooring-master boarding place, 03°48.4′N 008°43.6′E.
What time zone is Punta Europa Terminal in?
Local time at Punta Europa Terminal is UTC+1. No summer time.
What is the water density at Punta Europa Terminal?
1025.
Which load line zone is Punta Europa Terminal in?
Tropical.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Punta Europa Terminal?
The UN/LOCODE of Punta Europa Terminal is GQPET.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Punta Europa Terminal 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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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.