PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Sanya
Pilot
updated May 2010- 南山港 Pilot boards18°16.5′N 109°04.4′E
- Sanya pilot boarding place Pilot boards18°11.0′N 109°26.0′E
- 三亚港1号 Pilot boards18°12.5′N 109°26.0′E
- 三亚港2号 Pilot boards18°14.0′N 109°27.8′E
Compulsory. Pilot service is available throughout 24 hours. Pilot boards vessel at the pilot anchorage.
Key data
updated Sep 2025Size limits
LOA 261.31m, beam 32.25m, draught 6.8m, 10,000DWT.
Load line zone
China Sea Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Jan 21 to Apr 30, Summer May 1 to Jan 20.
Tides
MHWS 2.26m, MLWS 0.64m, average 0.79m.
The tidal stream should be taken into account when rounding Luhuitou Jiao (18°11'N 109°29'E) as the E going stream runs strongly.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanya Phoenix Island International Cruise Terminal | — | 261 m | 5 |
| Sanya Nanshan Port | 6.80 m | 100 m | 2 |
| Hainan Petroleum Pacific Terminal | — | — | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Mar 2021Approach
The entrance channel is dredged to 7.0m length 1,250m, width 45m, the SE channel to East river then reduces to width 35m, depth 4.0m.
The pilot boarding station should be approached from the S.
Port limits
A line connecting Bai Pai Light (18°14.3'N 109°28.9'E) and Xiaoqing Zhou (Xiao Zhou), 0.55nm SSE, defines the limit of the inner and outer port area.
Tugs
There are 2 x 428hp and 1 x 400hp tugs available.
Charts and publications
BA 103, 3989. Admiralty Pilot NP30, NP286(6).
Reporting before arrival
updated Aug 2010ETA 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
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: Sanya Radio monitors Ch 16 throughout 24 hours.
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 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.
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 May 2010Repairs
A repair service is available.
Bunkers, water and stores
Water/Provision: Available at berths and anchorage.
Bunkering: Only MDO in small quantities available at berth and anchorage.
Crew change
Possible.
Working hours
The port works throughout 24 hour, on a 3 shift basis regardless of holidays and festivals. Shift 1; 0800-1600hrs, shift 2; 1600-2359hrs, shift 3; 0001-0800hrs.
About Sanya
updated Jul 2021Where it is
Sanya is situated on the S shore of Hainan Island.
The port
The port handles mainly Ro-Ro, passenger, bulk and break cargo (including cement, steel, chemical fertiliser, grain, salt, sugar, rubber and coal).
Traffic
Approx 2,000,000t of cargo and 146,000 passengers handled annually.
Questions about Sanya
Where does the pilot board at Sanya?
The pilot boards at 南山港, 18°16.5′N 109°04.4′E. Sanya has 4 pilot boarding places.
What time zone is Sanya in?
Local time at Sanya is UTC+8. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Sanya?
The deepest berth listed is at Sanya Nanshan Port: 6.80 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
Which load line zone is Sanya in?
China Sea Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Jan 21 to Apr 30, Summer May 1 to Jan 20.
Who carries out Port State Control at Sanya?
Port State Control at Sanya: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Sanya?
The UN/LOCODE of Sanya is CNSYA.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Sanya 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.