PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Sovetskaya Gavan
Pilot
updated Feb 2018- Sovetskaya Gavan’ pilot boarding place Pilot boards49°02.0′N 140°20.0′E
Compulsory for vessels greater than 10,000GT. Available between 1100 and 2200hrs. Vessels requiring pilotage outside these hours must request pilots from Vanino. Vessels should request pilot via agent 48 hours prior to arrival and confirm at least 4 hours before arrival at the pilot boarding position. Vessels in the roadstead and at port quays should request pilot at least 2 hours before moving. Pilot boards in an area bound by a circle of radius 0.2nm centred on 49° 02.000'N 140° 19.950'E. In bad weather, when the pilot cannot board, for ingoing vessels the pilot boat will lead into harbour. For outgoing vessels the pilot will board in the inner roadstead.
Key data
updated Feb 2018Size limits
LOA 300m, Draught 9.5m.
Load line zone
Summer Zone for vessels over 100m LOA, Winter Seasonal Area for vessels 100m LOA or less. Winter, 1 Dec to 28/29 Feb. Summer, 1 Mar to 30 Nov.
Tides
Tidal streams are weak, but near river mouths sometimes attain a rate of 1kt on the ingoing tide. The average direction of the current off Sovetskaya Gavan is SSE at a rate of 0.5kt.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunker-Port Terminal | 10.00 m | — | 1 |
| Gavanbunker Terminal | 9.50 m | — | 1 |
| Sovgavan Terminal | 9.00 m | — | 3 |
| Nord Plus Terminal | — | — | 2 |
| Transit Terminal | 8.00 m | — | 1 |
| Far Eastern Shiprepair Terminal | — | — | 4 |
| Lososina Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Bulker-Port Terminal | 6.50 m | — | 1 |
| SPK RK Prostor | — | — | 2 |
| Pollux Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Yugo-Vostok Terminal | 2.50 m | — | 1 |
| Mayskaya State District Power Plant | — | — | 1 |
| STS Transhipment Area | — | — | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Feb 2018Approach
Sovetskaya Gavan is entered between Mys Putyatina (49°01'N 140°21'E) and Mys Milyutina (49°02.6'N 140°20'E), the SE point of Poluostrov Menshikova 1.3nm NW.
Port limits
Line joining 49° 01.500'N 140° 18.180'E to 49° 00.910'N 140° 19.130'E.
Traffic schemes and VTS
The port approaches are subject to coverage by Vanino Seaport ship traffic management system (Vanino STMS). The area covered by Vanino STMS includes Vanin Bay and a traffic separation scheme at Vanin Bay entry, Muchke Bay, Sovetskaya Gavan Bay and a portion of the Tatar Strait. Vanino STMS maintains radio watch on VHF Ch14 and Ch16, call sign: Vanino-Traffic. Permission from Vanino STMS to enter Vanino STMS area of coverage shall be obtained by vessels heading for the port no later than 30mins prior to entering Vanino STMS area and by vessels leaving the port no later than 30mins prior to crossing port limits.
The port operates a vessel traffic management scheme covering the port water areas. Vessel traffic organisation and control within the port waters is carried out using AIS and radar systems. Communication with the Harbour Master shall be established on VHF Ch12 and Ch16, call sign: Sovgavan-Radio-5. Vessels arriving from the N, while abreast of Cape Burny, shall request permission of the Harbour Master on VHF Ch12 to enter the port, call sign: Sovgavan-Radio-5. If permission is unavailable, vessels shall await for entry permission outside port limits.
Anchorages
Vessels shall be anchored in anchoring grounds in such a way that no portion of the hull extends outside of anchoring grounds.
Restrictions
Anchoring, fishing and underwater operations are prohibited within 0.8nm of a submarine cable that crosses the Gulf of Tartary and comes ashore 0.8nm W of Mys Menshikova (49°03'N 140°20'E).
Russian Regulated Areas: Russian Regulated areas No 80, 322, 75A, 77, 78, 79, 76, 115, 116 and 117 lie within the harbour.
The following sunken wreck and obstructions exist in the port area:
- In Okocha Bay: sunken ship with parts above water surface at 48° 57.640'N 140° 16.506'E and 48° 57.601'N 140° 16.563'E.
- SW of Kurishka Bay: underwater obstruction of a 'pipe' type with water depth 2.0m above the obstruction at 48° 58.880'N 140° 16.470'E.
- S of Olga Bay: underwater obstruction of a 'pontoon' type with water depth of 1.0m above the obstruction at 48° 58.870'N 140° 16.470'E.
- in Kurishka Bay: underwater obstruction of a 'tank' type at 48° 59.100'N 140° 16.900'E.
- nearby Sovgavansky flash light: sunken ship with parts above water surface at 48° 58.210'N 140° 16.230'E.
Tugs
The number of tugboats in respect of LOA shall only be determined for those vessels not carrying cargo.
Mooring operations at berths in the STS Transhipment Area shall be compulsorily tugboat-assisted.
Charts and publications
Russian Chart 68052. BA 3340, 8238. NP43, NP286(6).
Reporting before arrival
updated Feb 2018ETA and pre-arrival notices
Vessels should send ETA via agent to the Port Captain 48, 24 and 4 hours prior to arrival. Vessels must send a request to enter the port on VHF Ch 12 at least 30 minutes in advance.
Communications
Harbour Master: VHF Ch 12 & 16.
Vanino Seaport Ship Traffic Management System: VHF Ch 14 & 16.
Terminals: VHF Ch 12 & 16.
Bunker-Port: VHF Ch 09 & 16.
Far Eastern Ship Repair Corp, LLC: VHF Ch 12 & 16.
Vessels lying in roadstead of port shall maintain radio watch on VHF Ch 12 & 16. Vessels at berth shall maintain continuous radio watch on VHF Ch 12.
Customs and immigration
There is a Customs office in the port.
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 Transport of the Russian Federation.
Position: Head of Maritime Security Service.
Address: 3/6, Petrovka Str, Moscow 125993, Russia.
Tel: +7 495 221 7130.
Fax: +7 495 200 1003.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.msecurity.ru
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated Feb 2018Repairs
Repairs can be undertaken at Bukhta Kuriksha shipyard.
Dry docks
Floating drydocks available at Kuriksha Shipyard.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh Water: Available.
Bunkers: Available.
Medical
Hospital available.
Transport
Airport: Sovetskaya Airport for internal flights only.
Railway: Trans Siberian Railway
About Sovetskaya Gavan
updated Jan 2021Where it is
Sovetskaya Gavan, also known as Sovgavan, is situated on the Pacific coastline 8km S of Vanino and 70nm W of Sakhalin Island.
The port
The port of Sovetskaya Gavan specialises in the transhipment of bulk, general, timber and oil cargoes.
Traffic
Approx. 1,000,000t of cargo and 700 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Sovetskaya Gavan
Where does the pilot board at Sovetskaya Gavan?
The pilot boards at Sovetskaya Gavan’ pilot boarding place, 49°02.0′N 140°20.0′E.
What time zone is Sovetskaya Gavan in?
Local time at Sovetskaya Gavan is UTC+10. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Sovetskaya Gavan?
The deepest berth listed is at Bunker-Port Terminal: 10.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
Which load line zone is Sovetskaya Gavan in?
Summer Zone for vessels over 100m LOA, Winter Seasonal Area for vessels 100m LOA or less.
Who carries out Port State Control at Sovetskaya Gavan?
Port State Control at Sovetskaya Gavan: Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Sovetskaya Gavan?
The UN/LOCODE of Sovetskaya Gavan is RUSOG.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Sovetskaya Gavan 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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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.