Rahja

1. Kalajoki Pilot boards64°15.5′N 023°30.0′E

Size limits

LOA 180m, draught 8.5m, beam 30m, 39,851DWT.

Water density

1002.

Load line zone

Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Zone for ships of 100m or less in length. Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

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

Approach

Approaches to Rahja: From a position 6nm WSW of Ulkokalla Lighthouse the route leads ESE for a distance of about 7nm to the Lepanen leading line. The Leading lights indicate the fairway, which is also partly marked by lightbuoys and buoys. The depth in the fairway and port basin is 8.5m.

Leppanen Front (64°14.2'N 023°38.9'E) and Rear Leading Lights are in line bearing 114.5°. They lead from seaward to a position 1.25nm WNW of Leppanen, where the fairway diverges. The SE branch continues SE to the loading place and anchorages NW of Rahja. The main fairway to Rahja in Satama leads E as follows.

Vihaspauha Front (64°15.9'N 023°49.8'E) and Vihasniemi Rear Leading Lights are in line bearing 081.5° and lead 1.25nm E, passing N of the shoals N of Leppanen.

Keskuskari Front (64°14.2'N 023°47.4'E) and Rear Leading Lights are in line bearing 104°. They lead approx 2.25nm ESE to the alignment of Vesipauha Leading Lights.

Vesipauha Front (64°13.4'N 023°43.8'E) and Rear Leading Lights (elevations 7m and 14m, red rectangles, yellow stripe) are in line bearing 163°. They lead approx 0.75nm SSE to a position close E of the anchorage (below).

Rahja Leading Lights (64°13.3'N 023°42.9'E) in line bearing 203.5°, lead from the anchorage 0.5nm SSW.

The buoyed fairway then continues a short distance SSW of the harbour.

Anchorages

A dredged channel, authorised for a draught of 4.0-6.0m, marked by leading lights, beacons and buoys, leads SE from the Leppanen Leading Line, as follows:

Aijankallio Beacon (64°14'N 023°37'E) (grey metal post, Racon, radar reflector) stands SW of the fairway, 0.85nm W of Leppanen front light.

Pirttikarvo Leading Lights (white rectangles, red stripe) approx 0.25nm E of the middle of Ryopas, close together in line approx 155.5°, lead W of Leppanen, to the anchorage N of Ryopas.

The fairway then continues approx 1nm further SE to the anchorage E of Ryopas, marked by Kuusimalla Leading Lights (white rectangle, red stripe), 0.5nm apart and in line 144.5°, the rear on Kuusimalla, approx 1nm SE of Pirttikarvo Front Light.

From the inner anchorage, a branch channel, authorised for a draught of 3.0m, leads a short distance NE, then ENE, then E, to a jetty on the NW side of Kalliokari (64°13'N 023°41'E), an islet connected by causeway to the mainland, approx 1.25nm NW of Rahja. Laurihkari Leading Beacons (red rectangles, yellow stripe) in line bearing 078° mark the approach channel to Laurinkari Fishing Harbour.

Konikarvo Leading Beacons (white rectangles, black stripe) close SW of Laurinkari Leading Beacons and in line bearing 090°, mark the approach to Rahja timber jetty.

Restrictions

Ice occurs between December and April. During this time icebreakers will assist only ships with an ice class. Ice charts and restrictions to navigation are published during the winter.

Tugs

Available.

Mooring

Mooring men are available on telephone number +358 (0)400-798 698 or on VHF 12. Vessels calling the port are obliged to use mooring men.

Charts and publications

BA 2616, 2252, 3062. Finnish 957, 3. Admiralty Pilot NP20, NP286(2).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

An ETA should be sent to advise vessel's size and all usual details.

Communications

VHF: Port: Ch 16, 12.

Pilotage arranged through Raahe and Tankar: Ch 13.

Health

Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Exemption Certificates can be renewed.

Customs and immigration

Customs is located in Kokkola.

Notices and regulations

Advance notification is to be given to the Port Company 24 hours before goods classified as dangerous referred to in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and its supplements, the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) is brought into the port.

Such an information must include at least the:

a) Correct technical name of the goods

b) IMDG-Class

c) UN-number

d) Amount of cargo

e) Type of packages

Unit packing must be marked with stickers in accordance with the IMDG-code. In addition, advance enquiry 7 days before is required for IMDG goods of class 1,4 6.2 and 7 and when large quantities of any dangerous goods has to be transported.

Fishing is prohibited in the sea channels, from bridges, in the port basin, from a quay or other similar location, as these may disturb traffic and operations. Swimming is prohibited in the port basin and the fairways.

The captain, operator or agent of a vessel that is bound for the port must provide an advance notification to the PortNet-information system, as required by vessel traffic service legislation. Other notifications should be made in a manner determine by the Port Company.

The arrival of a vessel that is intended for recreational use, as well as its mooring to the port, is only permitted exceptional permission by the Port Company. The regular schedules, as well as changes to these, of passenger and freight vessels need to be negotiated with the port authority in good time. Notification of any tug, water-bus, fishing trawler or other similar vessels (LNG barge filling etc.) engaged in a commercial activity should be given to the Port Company before initiation of such activities.

For goods classified as dangerous, advance notification should be given to the port authority 24 hours before such a consignment is brought into the port area, unless otherwise agreed upon. Goods that are classified as dangerous refer to substance intended in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, the European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and the regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID). When transporting particularly dangerous substance or large quantities of dangerous substance, one should ensure in advance that the consignment may be brought into the port area (pre-survey). If a vessel arrives form a location that is contaminated with a generally dangerous disease, or if during their voyage, a person onboard the vessel has become sick with a generally dangerous, suspected to be contagious or unknown disease, notification should be made to the Port Company in good time and the vessel must wait for further instructions before arriving at the port. If during the voyage, an animal had died or become seriously ill, the Port Company should be notified to await veterinary authority instructions.

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: Finnish Maritime Administration, Maritime Safety Department.

Position: Senior Maritime Inspector.

Address: PO Box 171, Porkkalankatu 5, FIN-00181 Helsinki, Finland.

Tel: +358 2 0448 4437.

Fax: +358 2 0448 4500.

Mob: +358 4 0515 5408.

Website: http://www.fma.fi

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

Repairs

Available.

Dry docks

None.

Bunkers, water and stores

Bunkers: Available. Bunkers delivered by truck.

Fresh water: Available.

Stores: Ordering possible through the agent.

Medical

Kalajoki Health Center in Kalajoki, 15km.

Crew change

Available.

Transport

Nearest airport: Tampere-Pirkkala Airport, 380km.

Working hours

Cargo is handled in 2 shifts. Mon-Fri 0700-1530hrs, 1530-2359hrs, Sat 0700-1530hrs.

Where it is

Rahja (also known as Kalajoki) is situated on the W coast of Finland, approx 25nm NE of Kokkola.

The port

The port, which lies approx 6nm SW of Kalajoki, specialises in the handling of timber products, sawn timber, steel components, scrap iron, milled white peat, grain and wood pellets.

Where does the pilot board at Rahja?

The pilot boards at Kalajoki, 64°15.5′N 023°30.0′E.

What time zone is Rahja in?

Local time at Rahja is UTC+2. Clocks go to UTC+3 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+2 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Rahja?

The deepest berth listed is at Kalajoki Terminal: 8.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Rahja?

1002.

Which load line zone is Rahja in?

Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Zone for ships of 100m or less in length.

Who carries out Port State Control at Rahja?

Port State Control at Rahja: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Rahja?

The UN/LOCODE of Rahja is FIKJO.

What crews who called at Rahja 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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