Road Harbour

1. Road Harbour boarding — Salt Island Passage Pilot boards18°22.4′N 064°32.7′W
2. Road Harbour boarding — Sir Francis Drake Channel (eastbound) Pilot boards18°24.7′N 064°35.5′W
3. Road Harbour boarding — Sir Francis Drake Channel (westbound) Pilot boards18°25.5′N 064°33.5′W
4. Road Harbour boarding — vessels over 6m draft Pilot boards18°24.2′N 064°33.0′W

Size limits

Cargo Dock: Approx 6,000t. Max LOA 240m, max draught 6.7m. CBM: Max draught 8.8m.

Largest vessel handled: "Crystal Harmony", passenger ship, LOA 241m, beam 29.6m, 49,400GT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Nov 1 to Jul 15, Summer Jul 16 to Oct 31.

Tides

Range 0.6m.

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

Approach

Approach from E: From the vicinity of 18°24.5'N 064°34.0'W, the alignment (278°) of the left hand edge of Fort Burt Hotel (0.75nm SW of Shirley Point), which is not easy to distinguish beyond 3nm unless the sun is high, with the summit of Fort Hill (0.5nm W), which may be identified first, leads towards the harbour, passing (with positions from Shirley Point):

S of an isolated coral patch with a least depth of 8.5m over it (2.25nm E), then:

N of an isolated coral patch with a least depth of 8.5m over it (1.75nm SE), then:

Over a depth of 11.2m (1.25nm SE) on an isolated shoal which has a least depth of 10.6m over it, very close N of the track, then:

N of a buoy (port hand) which is situated 0.05nm NW

S of a lightbuoy (starboard hand) (0.85nm SE) situated 0.1nm S of Hog's Valley Point. This buoy is larger than the buoys inside the harbour. Then:

N of an isolated shoal patch, with a least depth of 7.6m over it (0.8nm SSE).

Entrance channel: From a position 0.45nm S of Shirley Point, the line bearing 320°, of white notice board on the extremity of the breakwater extending SW from Wickham's Cay II (0.8nm NW) leads into Road Harbour, passing with positions from Shirley Point):

NE of Denmark Banks, (0.65nm SW), on which there are 2 rocky patches, then:

SW of Scotch Bank, (0.3nm SSE) marked on its W side by a lightbuoy (starboard hand), then:

NE of Lark Bank (0.5nm W), marked on its E side by a lightbuoy (port hand), then:

NE of Burt Point (0.55nm SW) which is fronted by a mangrove covered reef, then:

SW of an isolated patch, with a least depth of 5.5m (0.2nm WNW), which extends 0.25nm NW towards Port Purcell, then:

NE of Harbour Rock (0.5nm W), marked by a lightbuoy (port hand), lying near the SE end of Harbour Spit, which extends 0.5nm SE from Wickham's Cay I.

Approach to Port Purcell: From a position 0.5nm WNW of Shirley Point, the line of bearing 003°, of the right hand edge of a long low turquoise coloured building on Port Purcell Wharf, passing (with positions from Shirley Point):

W of a coral patch, with a least depth of 6.0m (0.35nm NW). Then:

W of a coastal bank, with a least depth of 1.2m (0.5nm NW), which extends 0.2nm SSE from the wharf and is marked by a buoy (starboard hand), then:

E of a buoy (port hand) (0.6nm NW), situated 0.05nm SE of the coastal bank. This buoy marks the SW limit of the swinging basin.

Port limits

The harbour consists of all the area of water N of the line from Burt Point (0.6nm SW of Shirley Point) to Hog's Valley Point (1nm E).

Anchorages

A recommended anchorage is positioned 0.6nm SSE of Shirley Point in position 18°25'N 064°36.4'W, in a depth of approx 22m in the vicinity of the pilot embarkation point. Anchoring is prohibited within port limits.

Tugs

Not available. Pilot boat can assist with berthing lines if required.

Mooring

At Port Purcell it is usual to berth bows SE, using the starboard anchor.

Charts and publications

BA 2020. Admiralty Pilot NP71, NP286(7).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Notify ETA 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to arrival, with confirmation 1 hour before ETA.

Communications

There is a coast radio station at Tortola and port radio at Port Purcell.

VHF: Pilots: Ch 16, 14. Hours 0600-1800.

Port: Ch 16, 14. Listening 24 hours.

Shell Company Baughers Bay and Fish Bay: Ch 09, 11.

Health

Pratique is granted by Customs officials or by the Port Medical Officer upon arrival alongside or at anchor.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Government Office.

Contact person: Governor's Duty Officer.

Address: Duty Officer, PO Box 702, Government House, Road Town, Tortola, Virgin Islands (British).

Tel: +1 284 494 2345.

Fax: +1 284 494 5790.

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

Repairs

Minor repairs can be undertaken.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Quality drinking water delivered via a metered pipeline can be arranged for vessels at the cruise pier at the rate of 150gals/per min. Standing orders or 24 hours notice required.

Bunkering: MGO or lighter bunkering services available to vessels with adequate notice. Heavier fuels are negotiated.

Stores: Rigging, sail and general boat supplies available.

Medical

Peebles Hospital, 3.0km and The Bougainvillea Clinic Ltd (private hospital) 2.6km .

Transport

Nearest airport: Terrrance B Lettsome Inetrnational Airport located at Beef Island, 9.9km.

Working hours

Normally Mon-Sat 0800-1200hrs, 1300-1700hrs, overtime available on request.

Where it is

Road Harbour is situated on the S coast of the island of Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands, which are located 96km E of Puerto Rico.

The port

Road Harbour located in Road Town is a commercial Seaport of British Virgin Islands. The port is located centrally on the southern coast and is a busy harbour used by ferry companies, cruise, cargo, container, liquid and gas ships. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy, with the yacht chartering industry and visiting cruise vessels being the major contributors.

Traffic

Approx 278,000t of cargo, 11,000 TEU, 1,900 vessels and 516,000 passengers are handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Road Harbour?

The pilot boards at Road Harbour boarding — Salt Island Passage, 18°22.4′N 064°32.7′W. Road Harbour has 4 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Road Harbour in?

Local time at Road Harbour is UTC−4. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Road Harbour?

The deepest berth listed is at Baughers Bay Oil Terminal: 8.80 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Road Harbour?

1025.

Which load line zone is Road Harbour in?

North Atlantic Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Nov 1 to Jul 15, Summer Jul 16 to Oct 31.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Road Harbour?

The UN/LOCODE of Road Harbour is VGRAD.

What crews who called at Road Harbour 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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