Qingdao

Size limits

LOA 400m, beam 62m, draught 21.9m, 324,954DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

MHWS 3.85m, MLWS 1.08m. Average range LW 1.0m and HW 4.0m.

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

Approach

The port's fairways are divided into outer and inner fairways. There are six major inner fairways in Jiaozhouwan, all which meet the requirements of 20,000t vessels all weather channel and 50,000t vessels' channel.

The Outer Fairway Route for Qingdao Port has a length of 25.5nm with a min width of 1.5-2.7nm and a depth of more than 15.7m. Route Nos 1-4 have depths from 13.0m to over 28.0m.

Qianwan Port Channel has a depth of 17.0m, the Ore Wharf Channel has a depth of 18.6m and the Huangdao II Oil Wharf has a depth of over 20.0m.

The fairway and channels are lit by 4 light towers, 3 pairs of leading markings, 18 light beacons, 1 light ship and 55 buoys.

AIS: Numerous AIS aids to navigation exist within the fairways and approaches to Qingdao. The channels are constantly changing and positions of fairway limits and details on AIS are changed accordingly.

Port limits

The outer harbour limit is a line joining Xiang Zui (36°01.0'N 120°18.0'E) and Taiping Jiao, 3nm NE. The inner harbour limit is a line joining Jiaozishi Zui (36°01.0'N 120°17.0'E) and Tuandao Zui, 1.8nm N.

Traffic schemes and VTS

A TSS exists in the E approach to Qingdao Gang from 35°59.30'N 120°31.00'E to the Inner Harbour Limit. It is in three sections with Precautionary Areas.

In No 1 Section, the maximum speed is 12kn and overtaking is prohibited. The central separations areas must not be crossed without prior permission from the local authorities.

Anchorages

The ports main anchorage includes quarantine, tanker and temporary anchorages.

Restrictions

Anchoring and fishing are prohibited in many navigation corridors which cross the approaches, including the TSS and the harbour area. Many submarine cables also cross the approach channels and care should be taken. There are extensive fishing areas on the other side of the main approach channel through the TSS and marine farms in the area and may not be charted or lit by buoys and beacons.

An ammunition dumping ground is centred on 36°02.86'N 120°19.38'E.

A hazardous substance area is centred on 36°00.10'N 120°22.15'E.

Seaplanes may land or take off in the area of 36°02.79'N 120°15.99'E. During these times, a blue flag is displayed over Tuandao Zui Light (36°02.70'N 120°16.96'E) or, at night, alternating red, green and yellow lights.

Tugs

Eight tugs available throughout 24 hours.

Charts and publications

BA 1253, 1254, 1502, 1505, 1506, 1507, 3480. Admiralty Pilot NP32B, NP286(6).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

The Master should advise the vessel's ETA to the state agent or through the local agent to the state agency, 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to the vessel's arrival at the pilot station. The ETA message should include the time and date of the vessel's arrival and sea/fresh water draughts. The vessel's agent will send instructions giving time and position of Pilot board. Master should acknowledge receipt to avoid delays.

If there is any dangerous cargo onboard, the Master should also report details of that cargo including description, packaging, IMO code and gross/net weight.

Should the vessel's ETA or other circumstances change prior to arrival, the Master should send further messages.

Communications

Radio: Vessels calling at Chinese ports are recommended to use Shanghai Radio (callsign "XSG") and Tianjin Radio (callsign "XSV") for passing messages at long range. Both stations work throughout 24 hours.

Inmarsat communication is possible through Shanghai.

VHF: Port: Ch 16, 09, 11, 13. Tel: +86 532 8298 2011, +86 532 8298 2070. Fax: +86 532 8282 2878, +86 532 8298 2148.

Email: [email protected]. Website: https://www.qingdao-port.com.

Pilots: Ch 09, call "Qingdao Pilot Station", Tel: +86 532 8309 1386 and +86 532 8309 1385. +86 532 8309 1393 (24hrs). Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.qdpilot.com

Qingdao VTS Centre: Ch 08. Tel: +86 532 8282 6589 and +86 532 8298 2521, Fax: +86 532 82859950 (24hrs). Email: [email protected], [email protected].

Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal: Operations Dept: Tel: 86 532 83267666 and +86 532 82988871 (24 hrs). Central Control Tower: Tel: +86 532 82988872. Website: https://www.apmterminals.com. Vessels must maintain a continuous listening watch on the nominated VHF Channel.

Standard messages

The vessel's agent will send instructions to in bound vessels through the coast radio station being used or via Inmarsat. The instructions usually include the time and position of the pilot boarding. The Master is required to confirm receipt of messages to avoid delays to the vessel.

Notice of readiness

Normally NOR should be tendered according to the relevant clause in the Charter Party. If there is no special clause then it should be tendered according to the actual working hours of the port.

Documents

Note: In the above table LA = local agent, IM = Immigration office, CH = Customs House, QI = Quarantine Inspection office, AP = Animal and Plant Inspection office, HM = Harbour Master.

Health

When a vessel departs its previous port, prior to calling at a Chinese port, it should apply for pratique by radio.

Once the vessel arrives in port, the Quarantine officer boards to carry out an inspection. Before pratique is granted, the vessel must fly the Interco "Q" flag and no crew are allowed to proceed ashore.

Ship Sanitation Control and Exemption Certificates can be renewed in all Chinese ports licensed for handling international vessels.

Customs and immigration

Allowances: The allowance for officers and crew are 2 cartons of cigarettes and 2 bottles of liquid which must be included in the Crew's Effects Declaration to the Customs House. There is a penalty for non compliance. The punishment for additional liquids varies according to the brand.

Immigration: Shore Passes are issued to each crew member after the Master has submitted/shown all the necessary documentation required to the Immigration Officer. This includes General Declaration, Crew's Effects Declaration, Crew List and passports.

Crew are allowed to proceed ashore with a Shore Pass and their passports. All crew must be back onboard by 2359hrs. The crew are restricted to the city area and will be fined if they proceed outside this area. All foreign crew members should obey all the laws and practices of the PRC.

Flags

The national flag of the PRC, which is not old, damaged or colour faded, must be displayed in addition to normal Interco flags. Other flags are not to be displayed without permission from the Harbour Master.

Port State Control here: Tokyo 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: Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Department of Water Transportation.

Contact: Senior Marine Officer.

Address: 11 Jian Guo Men Nei Av, Beijing, 100736, China.

Tel: +86 01 652 92626.

Fax: +86 01 652 92642.

Email: [email protected]

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

Repairs

Available.

Dry docks

Qindao has several ship building yards with drydocks and slipways. Qingdao Behai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co is currently building 3 repair drydocks for 100,000t, 200,000t and 300,000t vessels and ship building drydocks for 300,000t and 500,000t vessels.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available at berth and anchorage.

Bunkering: Available at berth and anchorage.

Stores: Available.

Transport

Nearest airport: Qingdao.

Nearest railway: Qingdao.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours. Shift 1: 0800-1600hrs, shift 2: 1600-2359hrs, shift 3: 0001-0800hrs.

Where it is

Qingdao is situated on the E shore of Jiaozhou Bay on the northern Yellow Sea coast of Shandung.

The port

Qingdao Shi and Qingdao Gang, together form the city and port of Qingdao, also known as Tsingtao.

This is a large port for foreign, domestic and passenger trades. Cargoes include large scale container, crude oil and iron ore facilities, coal terminal and grain handling terminal and the development of new container berths across the bay at Qianwan will increase the general cargo throughput and transhipment capacity.

The port is divided into three port districts:

Dagang Port (also known as Laogang, with Beigang to the N of the area): Primarily handling bulk cargo, general goods and domestic containers.

Qianwan Port District (N and S side of Huangdao Bay): Mainly dealing in international container transportation, also iron ore, coal, dry bulk and general cargo.

Huangdao Oil Port District: Handling crude oil, oil products and liquid chemicals.

Construction continues in the Dongjiakou Port area (see separate entry) and to the S in Xuejiadao, Haixi and Xiaocha Bays where there are new shipyard facilities, catering for the offshore industry.

Traffic

Approx 700,000,000t of cargo (including 27,000,000t of coal and 151,000,000t of iron ore), 30,000,000TEU, 32,000 of vessels and 187,000 passengers handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Qingdao?

Pilotage is compulsory and available 24 hrs.

What time zone is Qingdao in?

Local time at Qingdao is UTC+8. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Qingdao?

The deepest berth listed is at Huangdao Terminal: 21.90 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Qingdao?

1025.

Which load line zone is Qingdao in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Qingdao?

Port State Control at Qingdao: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Qingdao?

The UN/LOCODE of Qingdao is CNQIN.

What crews who called at Qingdao 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 Qingdao →