Stornoway

Size limits

Max draught 6.5m, LOA 156m.

Inner anchorage: Max depth: 6.1m, LOA 165m, 18,000GT.

Outer anchorage: No limit to size of vessels.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Range 5.0m springs, 2.0m neaps.

Caution: Seiches of 20-25min period and range up to 0.5m occur at Stornoway, generally when a depression is passing S, or even exceptionally during fine settled weather.

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

Approach

Approach to the outer limits of Stornoway Harbour should be made within the white sector of Arnish Point Light (58°11.5'N 006°22.2'W).

Vessels should approach the Harbour from the south, keeping within the white sector of Battery Point Light (58°12.2'N 006°22.1'W), and maintaining a distance of 0.2nm E of Arnish Point, thereafter heading across the Harbour, keeping within the white sector of Creed Point Light (58°12.03'N 006°23.48'W). When Goat Island is abeam to starboard, and the white sector of No 1 Pier Light is open, vessels should adopt a N'ly heading (actual course dependent on which berth has been allocated).

One channel entrance to Harbour 0.4nm width, least depth 12.0m. Further in channel least depth 6.5 metres, 0.4nm width all the way.

Vessels planning to use the facilities at Arnish Pier should make use of the Glumaig sector light (58°11.3'N 006°22.7'W) for best line of approach to the berth.

NATO Fuel Berth (58°12'N 006°19'W): Situated on the W side of Branahuie Bay.

Port limits

The seaward limit of the port extends from Rubh 'a' Bhaigh Uaine, 1nm SSW of Arnish Point Light, to the S end of Holm Island, 1.5nm ENE.

Anchorages

Main outer anchorage: Lies midway between Eilean na Gobhail and the salient point 0.37nm SSW, depth of 17.0m, with anchor bearing as follows:

Head of No 1 Pier, 344°. Central chimney of the power station group, 062°.

Another area, often used, lies to the N of Glumaig Harbour, with anchor bearing as follows:

The Light on the SW corner of No 1 Pier bearing 335° (on the change from white to green sectors). Stoney Field Light bearing 095°.

Quarantine anchorage: Is positioned in the middle of Glumaig Harbour, situated on the SW side of Stornoway Harbour, which has a depth of over 10.0m but with swinging room that is severely restricted between the coast and the following dangers (with positions from Arnish Point Light):

Sgeir na Pacaid (0.45nm WNW), lying at the NE end of a foul area and marked by a perch (green with a barrel shaped cage topmark).

A wreck, with a depth of 5.0m over it (0.3nm WNW).

A wreck, with a depth of 5.0m over it 0.32nm WSW).

Tugs

There are no tugs available.

Charts and publications

BA 1794, 2529. Admiralty Pilot NP66B, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Commercial vessels more than 300GT should notify their ETA 24 hours prior to arrival if intending to work cargo or if a pilot is required. ETA and draught should be confirmed 2 hours prior to arrival.

Communications

VHF: Pilots & Port: Ch 16, 12. Callsign "Stornoway Harbour".

Email: [email protected].

Harbour Master: Tel: +44 1851 702688, Fax: +44 1851 705714.

Notices and regulations

Regulations concerning entry: Bye-laws made under the Stornoway Harbour Order, 1979, are in force, and a copy should be obtained on arrival. The following extract from these bye-laws gives only those regulations which effect vessels prior to securing.

3. The master of a vessel entering the harbour shall, if required by Harbour Master furnish to him a declaration in the form to be obtained from him containing a correct statement of the tonnage and draught of the vessel, its port of origin, ownership and destination, and particulars of its cargo.

The owner or Master of a vessel having dangerous goods on board shall, at least 48 hours before bringing the vessel within the harbour, inform the Harbour Master in writing of the nature of the goods, their classification and quantity; in the case of a voyage of less than 48 hours the Master shall provide the information by writing or otherwise as early as is practicable before entering the harbour.

4. No Master shall navigate his vessel to a berth other than that assigned to it in the berthing record. Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this byelaw shall affect the discretion of the Harbour Master, subject to any directions given to him by Commission, to assign berths in such order as he thinks fit, and to require the Master of any vessel to remove it from any berth.

6. The Master of a vessel shall forthwith obey the orders of the Harbour Master as to the berthing, anchoring, mooring or unmooring or removal of his vessel, and shall so long as the vessel is afloat ensure that there is a sufficient crew onboard to receive and execute such orders.

7. Every vessel navigating within the harbour shall be equipped with good and sufficient topes or warps ready for use and capable of securing the vessel safely.

11. Without prejudice to the provisions of byelaw 28 of these byelaws, every vessel shall be navigating with such manner, as not to endanger the lives of or cause injury to persons or damage to property, nor to interfere with the loading or discharging of vessels or with moorings or other property, and in particular shall proceed slowly when passing a vessel engaged in dredging or other underwater work or in work at a boy or mooring.

28. No vessel shall, except if required to do so for the purpose of manoeuvring, exceed a speed of 5kts over the ground within that part of the harbour N of an imaginary line drawn from Arnish Point to Holm Point. When a vessel is required to exceed a speed of 5kts for the purpose of manoeuvring, its speed shall be restricted to the lowest speed consistent with that purpose, and shall not in any event exceed 8kts over the ground. No vessel shall exceed a speed of 3kts over the ground within the inner harbour.

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: Transport and Security Directorate (TRANSEC) of the Department for Transport.

Position: Head of Maritime Security Operations.

Address: TRANSEC Department for Transport, 5th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DT, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 207 944 2844 (24 hrs)

Fax: +44 207 944 2175

Email: [email protected]

Recognised Security Organisations:

RSO - ISSC Issue: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels

RSO - Security Consultant Services: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels.

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) is proposing, in line with EU regulations associated with the ISPS Code, to extend maritime security requirements to ships operating in domestic service and to port facilities serving them. The requirements would be based on those applicable to sea going vessels and generally would apply to domestic ships operating in 'sea areas', and which carry over 12 passengers or are over 500GT. Sea going ships which are certified to carry more than 250 passengers and tankers, especially those carrying oil and gas products, are considered as having the potential to be a target for attack.

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

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available on all berths.

Bunkering: A fuelling berth is available for fishing vessels in the Inner Harbour. Larger vessels are bunkered by road tankers.

Medical

There is a hospital, clinic, optician and dentist available in Stornoway (2km).

Crew change

Possible.

Transport

Nearest airport: Glasgow (international). Stornoway (domestic) (5km).

Airport facilities: Connections to the mainland: Inverness; Benbecula (domestic); Glasgow (international).

Working hours

Working cargo: Normally 0800-1700hrs, overtime 1700-0800hrs.

Where it is

Stornoway is located on the Isle of Lewis, 30 miles off the NW coast of Scotland.

The port

Pier 1 mainly used for Ro-Ro carrying freight and general cargo, Pier 2 handled tanker vessels and Pier 3 handled ferry and cruises.

Traffic

Approx 189,000t of cargo and 284,000 passengers handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Stornoway?

Not compulsory except for vessels carrying dangerous cargo, a vessel towing another vessel, vessels with restricted manoeuvering ability, and passenger ships more than 5000GT.

What time zone is Stornoway in?

Local time at Stornoway 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 Stornoway?

The deepest berth listed is at Stornoway: 6.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Stornoway?

1025.

Which load line zone is Stornoway in?

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Stornoway?

Port State Control at Stornoway: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Stornoway?

The UN/LOCODE of Stornoway is GBSTO.

What crews who called at Stornoway 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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