Seria

Size limits

Max draught 16.8m, LOA 253m, BCM 130m, 320,000DWT.

Water density

1020-1025 depending on season and rainfall.

Load line zone

Tropical.

Tides

Range 2.0m.

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

Approach

Approaches to the berth and anchorages: There are many oil field production structures off the coasts of Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah coupled with a large amount of exploration and drilling activity. These field structures, both surface and subsurface, pose a hazard to navigation and Masters are advised that they should give all these activities and fields a wide berth by navigating with care outside the cautionary areas.

The safest approach and departure track to and from SBM's is on a heading 184°/004° true from position 05°02.0'N 114°15.0'E to 04°51.0'N 114°14.0'E.

A newly established platform (Egret) has been installed at position 04°59.3'N 114°12.2'E.

A 500m safety zone exists around all offshore installations and vessels are prohibited from entering these zones unless authorised to do so.

The Marine Department, Brunei Darusallam has declared safety zones up to 1.6nm from charted offshore platforms.

Passage between Ampa and Fairley oilfields is not advised.

Vessels approaching from SW are to keep N of Gannet field and not pass between Gannet and Fairley.

Traffic schemes and VTS

No traffic scheme at this present time.

Anchorages

Extreme caution should be exercised when navigating in this area. Anchorage area is located N of SBM's in the area contained within the following limits:

04°45.0'N 114°17.0'E to 04°47.0'N 114°19.0'E.

Tanker vessels should not anchor at any other locations due to the presence of many subsea pipelines throughout the oil field and adjoining areas.

Restrictions

Berthing and unberthing is carried out throughout 24 hours. The operation, however, is governed by the mooring boats performance in the sea, conditions prevailing.

Berthing operations are, as a rule, suspended when wind speeds exceed 20kts and sea/swell state is more than 2.0m. Again, this is governed by the mooring boat performance and the ship's handling characteristics.

During cargo loading operations, should the sustained wind speed reach 20kts, the pilot is to be notified. Should it reach 30kts, then cargo operations will be suspended and the shore valves closed.

CBT vessels are not acceptable at Seria Terminal. OBO's are acceptable provided the terminal criteria are met.

Tugs

SBM No 1: One tug is available to provide static pull and connected on stern side once mooring is completed.

SBM No 2: Tug is not available on a routine basis. In an emergency one or more of the tugs/anchor handling vessels working in the oil field would be made available.

Mooring

Berthing and unberthing is carried out night and day.

Mooring procedures: Vessels must be fitted with OCIMF approved bow stoppers. Where two bow stoppers are fitted, both will be used, the starboard hawser normally being made fast first.

Use of an open drum end to work the mooring pick-up rope is not acceptable, a fixed drum shall be made available for working the pick-up rope via suitable leads on the forecastle. The warping drum shall be cleared off and a suitable length of messenger rope (50mm) long enough to reach from the drum around the intended leads to the waterline via the bow fairlead placed on the drum for attaching to the 80mm dia polypropylene rope when the mooring vessel comes alongside.

The mooring assembly consists of a single 100m length of 80mm diameter polypropylene messenger rope which is in turn connected to a 42t D shackle at the end of the moving chain assembly. There should, therefore, be sufficient space on the winch reel to accommodate the 200m messenger.

Once the standard chain is made fast, the port chain can be picked up, by using a (50mm) messenger on the port mooring winch.

Where two bow stoppers are fitted, both will be used, the starboard hawser normally being made fast first. Where a single bow stopper is fitted, it is standard practice to lift the other mooring hawser clear of the water using a ship's winch with the chafe chain hung off at the outboard side of the fairlead.

Standby vessel: The mooring launch will remain on station throughout the vessel's loading and maintains a listening watch on VHF Ch 13 & 15.

Charts and publications

BA 2109, 3838. Admiralty Pilot NP31, NP286(4).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessels should confirm ETA at least 72, 48, 24 and 12 hours prior to arrival. The message should declare Bill of Health, Master's name, number of crew, destination, advice of CLC certificate and quantity of cargo required at the initial ETA message.

Communications

VSL-1 maintains a listening watch on 4028kHz SSB.

Telex messages may be passed directly to Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Berhad on BU 3313, attention SMR/2, OPD/32, FTR/2.

VHF: Seria Terminal: Ch 13, 16, callsign "Seria Terminal". Vessels should contact Seria Terminal as early as possible when within VHF range and advise latest ETA at Seria Pilot.

Terminal Operations: Ch 13.

Brunei Shell Radio (VSL-1): Ch 16 or 19, callsign "Brunei Shell Radio". VSL-1 can connect vessels with their agents via the government telephone system on Ch 19.

Mooring Launch: Ch 13, 15.

Standard messages

A standard port information message is passed to the tanker by the agent who will pass on ETA's to the BSP Marine Department and to Seria Oil Terminal. Vessels making their first call at Seria will receive a comprehensive message from the agent describing the location of the anchorage and information on pilotage, radio stations and papers required on arrival.

Notice of readiness

NOR to be tendered to Brunei Shell Petroleum Company. The terminal representative (Pilot/Loading Master) will accept it.

Documents

No advance outward Port Clearance for vessels at the SBM or anchorage will be issued prior to the receipt of Inward Port Clearance and copies of ships certificates by the Marine/Customs Departments. This requirement may be waived depending upon vessel's arrival time, etc.

Departure: All documentation will be carried out onboard before departure, including the completion of the Bills of Lading and cargo manifests. Vessels generally sail from the SBM some 2-3 hours after completion of loading, provided the hoses are disconnected and documents completed.

Stamping of Bills of Lading with vessel's stamps or marking with charter party dates is not permitted.

Health

A detailed shipping report has to be completed for the government marine department. The agent will provide the forms for completion. If the vessel comes from an infected port or its state of health is suspect, the medical officer may board in order to inspect the crew and relevant International Medical certificates.

Customs and immigration

Customs officers do not normally board incoming vessels but may do so with the agent.

Flags

The Brunei national flag should be flown during hours of daylight and can be obtained through the vessel's agent.

Notices and regulations

In emergencies the anchor must never be dropped anywhere within a distance of 300m radius from the SBM's, as each SMB1 and SMB2 is moored with 8 tensioned chain cables connected to piles driven into the seabed approximately 300m from the centre of the buoy location. Average chain angle to the horizontal being between 48° and 52° approximately. The composition of the seabed consists of a layer of 12.1m of soft clay followed by a layer of hard sand.

Master must seek pilot advice to ensure it is safe to drop the anchor. Where possible the anchor must never be dropped anywhere within a distance of 200m on either side of the SBM's pipelines.

Inert Gas: The Berthing Master will check the oxygen content of the vessels cargo tanks. Vessels are to arrive with all cargo and slop tanks fully inerted under positive pressure with an oxygen content of not more than 8%. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the vessel not being berthed until this requirement is met. The inert gas plant must be fully operational.

Lifting Gear: Checks to be made on vessel's lifting equipment condition, certification, and inspection record, prior to use. The lifting documentation should be available to the Berthing Master, on the bridge, prior to commencement of berthing.

Repairs

Not available.

Dry docks

Not available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Emergency provision of fresh water may be arranged through the agent.

Bunkering: Not available.

Medical

Suri Seri Bagawan Hospital in Kuala Belait, 40km.

In cases where medical attention is required, then the agent will arrange for the patient to be taken by launch and car to the hospital. The patient must be taken to Kuala Belait (70 minutes by launch). In cases of emergency involving serious injury or illness, the Berthing Master or VSL-1 can initiate Brunei Shell Petroleum Company's Medevac Procedure. Representation of the patient remains with the agent, who should be informed immediately to contact Customs and Immigration authorities, etc.

Crew change

None of the ship's officers or crew shall be allowed shore leave except in emergencies.

Transport

Nearest airport: Bandar Seri Begawan, 109km.

Airport facilities: International and domestic flights including regular daily flights to Singapore and less frequently to Bangkok, Darwin, Dubai, Frankfurt, Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, London, Manila and Taipei.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Seria is located 8nm ENE of Kuala Belait.

The port

An open sea berth port used specifically for crude oil and condensate loading. Two single buoy moorings (SBM's) are located approx 5nm from the shore.

SBM No 1 and No 2 can be used to transfer crude, however, condensate is only transferred using SBM No. 2.

What are the pilot arrangements at Seria?

Pilotage is compulsory.

What time zone is Seria in?

Local time at Seria is UTC+8. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Seria?

The deepest berth listed is at Seria Crude Oil Terminal (SCOT): 16.80 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Seria?

1020-1025 depending on season and rainfall.

Which load line zone is Seria in?

Tropical.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Seria?

The UN/LOCODE of Seria is BNSER.

What crews who called at Seria 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.

Read and add tips for Seria →