Setubal

Size limits

Max draught permitted for entry 12.0m, Vessels up to LOA 250m can be accommodated and around 60,000DWT base on the latest Max draught Audit.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Mean Spring Range 2.9m, mean Neap range 1.2m.

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

Approach

Access to the port is through a 5km, 200m wide and 12.0m CD dredged channel. Upstream the river divides into two fairways, the North fairway with depth of 11.0m CD leading to most terminals and the South fairway with depth of 10.0m CD leading to Terminal Termitrena, Terminal Teporset and the shipyard.

The port is approached from SW on the alignment of leading lights (Doca Light and Azeda Light) exhibited from the head of the harbour and is entered over a bar which is further marked by light beacons and lightbuoys.

Caution: It is reported that at night Doca Light is often difficult to identify against the background lights, in particular a group of orange lights, in the port area.

Care must be taken not to confuse the lights of No 2 Light Beacon and No 1 Lightbuoy with Forte do Outao Light and No 5 Light Beacon; the latter lights normally being visible at a longer range.

Port limits

The port limits are defined by the lines joining the following co-ordinates:

To seaward; from Forte do Outao (38°29'N 008°56'W) SW to:

38°26.7'N 008°59.1'W, then E to;

38°26.7'N 008°54.2'W, then N to;

The W extremity of Peninsula de Troia, then:

Inward; all the waters enclosed N by the parallel of 38°31.65'N, in Esteiro da Marateca and E by the meridian of 008°41.58'W in Canal Alcacer do Sal.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Reporting points;

When required, vessel should report to Setubal Port Control, on passing the following points;

Anchorages

Inner anchorage: North Bank: Positioned from Doca Pesca Light (38°31.09'N 008°54.01'W): Military and commercial anchorage (centred 4nm SE).

South Bank: Positioned from Troia Naval Quay (38°28.50'N 008°52.22'W): Lay-up anchorage with 6 numbered berths (centred 2nm SE). Quarantine and dangerous cargo anchorage (centred 6nm E). Anchorage outside these areas is possible with prior permission from the Port Authority.

Prohibited anchorages: Anchoring is prohibited, due to the presence of submarine cables, in an area 0.3nm wide lying between Forte de Albarquel (38°30.6'N 008°54.7'W) and Ponta do Adoxe (1nm SSE).

Anchoring is also prohibited in the approach to the docks, berths and landing stages on the N bank of the river, and within 300m of Troia Naval Quay, in Canal Sul.

Restrictions

The max permitted speed allowed when crossing the bar, or navigating inside the harbour, is 10kts.

Charts and publications

BA 3635, 3259, 3260. Admiralty Pilot NP67, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Notification of arrival and max draught should be sent 72, 48 and 24 hours before arrival to the vessel's agent. Pilot station requires ETA and draught at least 6 hours and confirmed 2 hours prior to arrival.

Vessel departing or manoeuvring within the port should send ETD at least 2 hours prior to movement stating name of vessel and nature of operation the vessel is to perform.

Communications

Inmarsat communication is possible.

VHF: Port: Ch 16, 11. Tel: +351 26 554 2000. Available 24 hours.

VTS: Ch 73, 16, 12, 18, call 'Setubal Port Control', Tel: +351 26 553 1704. Email: [email protected].

Pilots: Ch 16, 14. Tel: +351 26 553 1706. Email: [email protected]. .

Standard messages

Navigational warnings are transmitted on VHF Ch 16 by the Maritime Police in Portuguese and English.

Official announcements, such as port closed or restricted navigation, are also passed to the vessel's agent through the Shipping Association.

Notice of readiness

NOR is normally tendered at the pilot station.

Health

Free pratique can be obtained by the agent on arrival at the health department. The clearance depends upon a "negative" International Health Declaration.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificates and Exemption Certificates can be issued/renewed by the official health department (inspection and issuance on same day).

Customs and immigration

Customs allowances: No special limit on spirits and cigarettes. However, the Personal Effects List and Stores List must include all quantities. Penalties are severe in cases where wrong information is supplied or in non compliance.

Immigration: Immigration Officers visit the vessel on arrival and check the Crew List against Seaman's Books or passports. They also satisfy themselves as to the absence of stowaways. After this, they will issue a shore pass for all crew members, except for citizens of Indonesia who are only allowed ashore in an emergency.

Flags

Vessels entering territorial waters from abroad should hoist the appropriate International Code Signal flags.

Notices and regulations

Hazardous cargo: IMO cargo must be authorised by the port administration and Harbour Master 24 hours before arrival, as per EU regulations.

Effective from 01st September 2016, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) will require sea carriers calling at EU ports to file Container Status Messages (CSMs). Vessels experiencing technical communication problems should report the issue via e-mail to the Commission's help-service email: [email protected].

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: Instituto Portuario e dos Transportes Maritimos.

Position: Chairman.

Address: Edificio Vasco da Gama, Rua General Gomes Araujo, P-1399-005, Lisbon, Portugal.

Tel: +351 21 391 4712

Mob: +351 91 971 3089

Website: http://www.imarport.pt

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

Repairs

All major repairs are available. Tank cleaning and gas freeing are also undertaken.

Dry docks

There are numerous cranes with a lifting capacity of up to 500t.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Medical

Setubal.

Transport

Airport facilities: International Airport with world-wide connections.

Nearest airport: Lisbon, 50km.

Nearest railway: Setubal.

Working hours

The port of Setubal works 365 days a year and throughout 24 hours a day. Office hours, Mon-Fri 0800-1300hrs.

Where it is

The port of Setubal is situated in the large estuary of the River Sado, on the Portuguese Atlantic coast, 40km S of Lisbon.

The port

A large industrial centre equipped to handle all types of cargoes. Portugal's main Ro-Ro port, handling containerised, break bulk and bulk cargoes, also extensive shipbuilding and repair facilities. There is an important fishing industry based in the port. A large, deep and safe anchorage is available, sheltered from the prevailing N winds by the Arrabida mountains.

Traffic

Approx 6,300,000t of cargo, 158,400TEU and 1,600 vessels handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Setubal?

Compulsory within the navigable waters of Rio Sado and within an area of radius 5nm centred on Outao Light (38°29.31'N 008°56.05'W), available 24 hours a day.

What time zone is Setubal in?

Local time at Setubal is UTC+0. Clocks go to UTC+1 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+0 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Setubal?

The deepest berth listed is at Sadoport Terminal: 12.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Setubal?

1025.

Which load line zone is Setubal in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Setubal?

Port State Control at Setubal: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Setubal?

The UN/LOCODE of Setubal is PTSET.

What crews who called at Setubal 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 Setubal →