PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Quanzhou
Pilot
updated Jun 2012Compulsory. Pilot service is available during daylight hours only.
Key data
updated Feb 2021Size limits
LOA 294.14, beam 43m, draught 15.1m, 104,945DWT.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Max rise 6.9m; average rise 4.5m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quanzhou Pacific Container Terminal | — | 294 m | 7 |
| Weitou Container Terminal | — | 294 m | 2 |
| Shenhu Terminal | — | 159 m | 2 |
| Quanzhou Harbour Houzhu Container | — | 135 m | 2 |
| Donggshi Yongsheng Terminal | — | 106 m | 3 |
| Shijing Terminal | — | 135 m | 1 |
| Sinochem Quanzhou Petrochecmical | 7.00 m | 114 m | 14 |
| Baolong Petrochemical | 6.00 m | 105 m | 1 |
| Hualong Petroleum | 6.00 m | 104 m | 2 |
| Shishi Huajin Port | — | 190 m | 4 |
| Shijing Longxiang | — | 102 m | 3 |
| Dongshi Liangxing Terminal | — | 106 m | 2 |
| Haianping | — | — | 1 |
| Meilin Terminal | — | 93 m | 2 |
| Nanhui Terminal | — | 135 m | 1 |
All 24 terminals
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quanzhou Harbour Houzhu Terminal | — | 135 m | 2 |
| Shijing Cargo Terminal | — | 75 m | 2 |
| Shijing Ferry Terminal | — | 36 m | 2 |
| Shishi Hongshan Thermal Power Station | — | 250 m | 1 |
| Yongsheng | — | 106 m | 1 |
| Changcheng Petrochemical | — | 104 m | 1 |
| Chengpan Terminal | — | 105 m | 2 |
| Shihu Port Tanker Terminal | — | 137 m | 3 |
| Xinjinjiang Terminal | — | 130 m | 2 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Jul 2024Approach
The Houzhou Channel has a minimum depth of 9.5m.
Quanzhou Gang is approached from SE through via Quanzhou Wan and entered between Xiangzhi Jiao (24°46.35'N 118°46.67'E) and the extremity of Chongwu Bandao (24°53.00'N 118°59.00'E), the penninsula form the N side of the bay.
Dazhui Men is the main entrance but, although wider with less dangers, has less water than Xiaozhui Men, the S passage, which must be used by deeper-draught vessels.
Port limits
Within Quanzhou Wan, E limit is the meridian (118°46.6'E) passing through Xiangzhi Jiao Light; N limit is Luoyand Bridge spanning Luoyang Jiang, and W limit is the Shunji Bridge spanning Jin Jiang.
Traffic schemes and VTS
All vessel movement reports for Meizhou Wan and Quanzhou Port should be made on VHF Ch10.
Restrictions
Entry or departure after sunset is not possible for all types of vessel.
Controlling Depths: Xiaozhui Men, the S passage to the Qixing Jiao and Shihu anchorages, has a least depth of 4.9m. Vessels with a draught of more than 5.0m should await the tide before entering through this passage.
Dazhui Men has a least depth across its bank in the N passage of 4.2m. Reports confirm that this bank becomes shallower each year. Vessels with a draught of more than 3.0m should await the tide before entering via this passage.
Tugs
There are 2 x 600hp tugs available.
Charts and publications
BA 1737, 1716, 1760, 1761. Admiralty Pilot NP32, NP286(6).
Reporting before arrival
updated Jul 2012ETA and pre-arrival notices
The Master should advise of 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.
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
Quanzhou Traffic Safety Shore Station:
Call: "Quan Zhou Tai", VHF: Ch 16, 70 (DSC), 10, 65 and 69 (24hrs). MMSI: 004122601.
All vessel movement reports for Meizhou Wan and Quanzhou Port should be made on VHF Ch 10.
Pilots and Port: Call VHF: Ch 16, 14 monitored throughout 8 hours. Tel: +86 595 2258 2725, Fax: +86 595 2258 2725. Website: http://www.gzgw.com
Harbour Master and Tugs: VHF Ch 08 and 12.
VTS: VHF Ch 08.
Quanzhou Pacific Container Terminal Co., Ltd (Shishu Central Port): Tel: +86 595 88687085, Fax: +86 595 8868 7090.
Website: http://www.gzpacific.gogostone.com
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.
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 passport. All crew must be back onboard by 2359 hours. 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.
Inspections
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
Port services
updated Aug 2013Repairs
A small shipyard is located 700m offshore to the West of Shihu Port.
Bunkers, water and stores
All available at berths and anchorage. Shipmaster may experience difficulty with obtaining bunkers.
Bunkers: MGO, MDO, HFO grades available.
Stores: Available.
Medical
Hospital and clinic available.
Crew change
Possible but with difficulty.
Transport
International and regional airports.
About Quanzhou
updated Jul 2024Where it is
The port of Quanzhou is located in Quanzhou bay, Fujian Province, on the Jiujiang and Lupyang Rivers where they enter the Taiwan Straits.
The port
Quanzhou is a major commercial port and the third most important in Fujian Province with four main port areas. It is a gateway for transhipment along the Taiwan Straits and surrounding areas. The port area of Houzhu is the old port near the city, the port area of Shihu, 20km S of Quanzhou, includes an oil terminal, stone and container facilities. There is also a general cargo port area 35km S of Quanzhou called Shenhu with Meilin Quay to the NE across Shenhu Bay.
Weitou, approx 40km SW of Quanzhou, consists of a new container terminal and LPG berth.
The port area of Dongwu, also known as Xiaocuo, is included under a separate port entry of Xiuyu (alternative name Meizhou).
Imports: Salt, grain, coal, oil and construction materials.
Exports: Ore, stone and general cargo.
Traffic
Approx 124,000,000t of cargo and 1,900,000TEUs handled annually.
Questions about Quanzhou
What are the pilot arrangements at Quanzhou?
Compulsory. Pilot service is available during daylight hours only.
What time zone is Quanzhou in?
Local time at Quanzhou is UTC+8. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Quanzhou?
The deepest berth listed is at Sinochem Quanzhou Petrochecmical: 7.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
Which load line zone is Quanzhou in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Quanzhou?
Port State Control at Quanzhou: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Quanzhou?
The UN/LOCODE of Quanzhou is CNQZL.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Quanzhou 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.