Rota

Size limits

LOA 300m, DWT 50000, Draught 11.6m.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range 2.4m.

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

Approach

Approach and entry: The harbour is approached from SSE on the alignment of leading lights and entered between breakwaters. The navigable width of the entrance is about 250m due to shoaling around the breakwater heads.

Controlling depths: Depths reduce to 10.5m on the leading line 0.2nm NNW of the entrance. Charted depths in the harbour vary from about 8.0m in the SE side to over 11m on the W side.

Directions for entry to Rota Naval Base: Leading lights: From a position E of Las Cabezuelas Lightbuoy the alignment (345.5°) of leading lights, exhibited from the head of the harbour, leads through the anchorage and between the breakwater heads into the harbour. A light (aluminium column, platform and ladder) is exhibited from the head of each breakwater:

Front Light (black diamond on orange metal framework tower, 9m in height).

Rear Light (black sphere on similar tower, 15m in height) (272m NNW of front light).

Anchorages

Vessels bound for the Naval base may obtain anchorage off the port in a restricted area extending 1.5nm S of the port entrance which is reserved for warships and merchant vessels.

Tugs

Available.

Charts and publications

BA 86, 90. Admiralty Pilot NP67, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Merchant vessels bound for the Naval base must inform the base of their ETA 72 hours in advance stating the nature and quantity of cargo carried. The ETA must be either confirmed or amended by a priority message sent 24 hours before the time originally quoted.

Should the ETA need further amendment by more than 4 hours a further message giving the revised ETA must be sent.

Radio telephone contact should be made with Rota Control 6 hours before arrival.

Communications

VHF: Ch 13 & 16.

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: Puertos del Estado (Ministerio de Fomento)

Title: Coordinador de Proteccion Portuaria

Address: Av de la Marina, 3, 15001, A Coruna, Spain

Tel: +34 98 121 9618

Fax: +34 98 121 9607

Mob: +34 630 957875

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

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available.

Medical

Hospital University Puerta del Mar, 47.3km

Transport

Nearest airport: Jerez Airport located at Cadiz, 53.5km.

Working hours

Normally 0800-1200hrs, 1400-1800hrs.

Where it is

Rota is situated on the N side of Bahia de Cadiz. Rota Naval Base is situated 1.5nm E of the town.

The port

Principally a Naval base. The port is located near the Straits of Gibraltar and at the halfway point between United States and SW Asia. The harbour is well protected from wave action but provides little protection from winds, especially those from the S or W.

What are the pilot arrangements at Rota?

Compulsory. Naval pilots board 1nm S of the port entrance.

What time zone is Rota in?

Local time at Rota is UTC+1. Clocks go to UTC+2 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+1 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the water density at Rota?

1025.

Which load line zone is Rota in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Rota?

Port State Control at Rota: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Rota?

The UN/LOCODE of Rota is ESROT.

What crews who called at Rota 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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