PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Tarragona
Pilot
updated Mar 2015- Tarragona boarding — position A (arriving from N) Pilot boards41°04.2′N 001°14.2′E
- Tarragona boarding — position B (arriving from S) Pilot boards41°03.7′N 001°12.5′E
Pilotage is compulsory, available 24 hours and provided by Corporation Pilots of Tarragona. Contact pilots on VHF Ch 16, then 12 or 14. Communication should be in English. The pilot station is situated at Port Control at Catalunya Quay.
Pilots board vessels from black launches, with the letter "P" in white on both sides.
Pilots board either at position 'A' (41°04.2'N 001°14.2'E) or at Position 'B' (41°03.7'N 001°12.5'E).
Key data
updated Jul 2024Size limits
Harbour: LOA 336.70m, beam 45.6m, draught 18m, 180,960DWT.
Offshore: LOA 333.08m, draught 42.8m, 321,300DWT
Water density
1027.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Range -0.3m LWL, +0.5m HWL.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repsol YPF Tarragona | 42.80 m | 333 m | 6 |
| Balears Terminal | 18.00 m | — | 2 |
| Dique de Llevant Cruise Terminal | 18.00 m | 290 m | 1 |
| DP World Tarragona (Muelle Andalucia) | 15.50 m | 337 m | 3 |
| Muelle de la Quimica | 15.10 m | 256 m | 8 |
| Puerto de Tarragona | 14.00 m | 292 m | 18 |
| ASESA Tarragona | 14.00 m | 277 m | 3 |
| Euroenergo Terminal | 11.00 m | 184 m | 1 |
| TAPP (Terminal Atraque Productos Petroliferos) | 10.97 m | 185 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Oct 2021Approach
From a position SE of CAbo de Salou (41°03'32N 1°10'31E) a course should be taken for about 2.5nm, passing clear of the tanker mooring buoy (SBM) located 1.0nm SSE of the lead of Pantalan REPSOL at least 0.5nm.
The entrance channel is approx 2,400m in length and 450m wide with a depth of 26.0m. Caution should be exercised as there may be strong eddies off the mole heads. Entry should not be attempted in heavy seas.
Port limits
The port limits are defined by a line drawn from the meridian of Punta Grosa (41°03.5'N 001°09.8'E) S to 41°00.0'N, then to 001°20.5'E, then N to punta de la Mora.
Anchorages
Anchorage can be found from 0.75nm to 4.5nm E to ENE of the head of the breakwater, taking care to avoid the charted foul ground area. An additional anchorage can be found 1.75nm to 3.25nm SE of the same point, outside the charted Anchoring Prohibited Area. Larger vessels are allowed to anchor approx 1.5nm ENE of the head of the breakwater, in depths of 31m to 32m. This berth should have good holding ground but there may be a heavy ground swell in winter.
Restrictions
A submarine pipeline extends 25 miles in a S direction from the harbour to an extensive offshore oil complex. There are a number of wrecks at and around position 41°06'02.4''N, 1°15'27.6''E and in position 41°05'28.2''N, 1°15'30.6''E.
The berthing of bulk vessels and movements within the harbour takes place during daylight hours only. Unberthing is possible 24 hours. A restricted area, with a radius of 0.3nm is centred upon the lightbuoy.
Tugs
Available, 2,030hp to 6,500hp.
Mooring
A vessel should experience no difficulty in making the port. However, when entering and berthing, caution is necessary, for at times a considerable current and strong eddies are experienced off the mole heads, and there is little room for manoeuvring.
Entry should not be attempted if a heavy sea is running.
REPSOL SBM: Details of meteorological conditions at the time of mooring, including wave height and period, tide and current speed and direction, wind speed, barometer and temperature data, can be found on the REPSOL website: https://www.repsol.com/es_en/productos-servicios/servicios-marinos/terminales-marinas/tarragona
Charts and publications
BA 1193, 1704. Admiralty Pilot NP45, NP286(3).
US 52117, 52118, 52119 and 52121. US Sailing Directions No 131 (Western Mediterranean).
Reporting before arrival
updated Mar 2017ETA and pre-arrival notices
Notify Chief of Operations of ETA and request for pilot 48 and 6 hours prior to arrival.
Documents
Cargo Manifest of all goods in ship, stating any foreign port from where the goods came. This procedure should always be completed in the first Spanish port of call.
At the first Spanish port of call the vessels should produce an Itinerary Manifest, and those vessels which carry goods for discharge should produce this manifest in those ports in which they will discharge the goods.
Supplies certificate for those vessels not having any goods to discharge in any Spanish port.
Health
Ship Sanitation Control Certificate (SSCC) can be issued.
Soivre, Tel: +34 977 232432. Estacion Fitosanitaria, Tel: +34 977 241651. Sanidad exterior, Tel: +34 977 240199.
Customs and immigration
Customs administration: Palca Carros, Tel: +34 977 241651.
Notices and regulations
Lifting Bridge Regulations:
A lifting bridge spans the entrance to Darsena Interior and the following should
be undertaken as follows:
Vessel with pilot: Pilot will contact Tarragona Port Control (TPC) on VHF and request that the bridge be lifted as soon as the vessel enters the harbour or when it is ready to leave Darsena Interior. Pilot will follow the instructions given by TPC.
Vessels without a pilot: Vessel's Master will contact TPC on VHF Ch 13 as soon as the vessel enters the harbour to gain access to the basin, or when it is ready to leave and will follow the instructions given by TPC.
Entry and exit of vessels and small craft when the bridge is closed:
Any vessel or small craft with a masthead height of less than 6.6m can freely pass under the bridge, but must always observe the bridge signals.
Any vessel or small craft not based at the harbour, not having confirmed it's masthead height with the harbour authority, and entering the harbour for the first time, should contact TPC and inform them of their masthead height in order to obtain permission to pass beneath the bridge. Continuous contact should be maintained on the working channel.
REPSOL Tarragona: Details of port facilities and Regulations concerning the use the REPSOL Terminal facilities can be found on their webite www.repsol.com/es_en/productos-servicios
Inspections
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: Puertos del Estado (Ministerio de Fomento)
Title: Coordinador de Proteccion Portuaria
Address: Av de la Marina, 3, 15001, A Coruna, Spain
Tel: +34 98 121 9618
Fax: +34 98 121 9607
Mob: +34 630 957875
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org
Port services
updated May 2013Repairs
Small engine and deck machinery repairs only.
Tanamar: Muelle de Reus ( 41° 6.449'N 1°14.381'E).
Phone: +34-977-241939, Fax: +34-977-252253
Operates small craft repair facility with 1 boat lift and 3 slips.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: Available from Muelle Reus and Muelle Rioja, barge and road tankers.
Medical
Medical facilities are available.
Crew change
Possible.
Transport
Nearest international airport: Barcelona Airport, 90km.
Nearest domestic airport: Reus Airport, 12km.
Nearest railway: Most berths have rail connections.
Working hours
Shift 1: 0800-1200hrs, 1400-1800hrs; Shift 2: 0800-1400hrs, 1400-2000hrs; Shift 3: 2000-0200hrs, 0200-0800hrs.
About Tarragona
updated Jul 2024Where it is
Tarragona is situated on the Costa Daurada approx 100km SW of Barcelona.
The port
The harbour, which is protected by breakwaters, has facilities for handling most types of cargo. An offshore SBM berth is provided for large tankers discharging crude oil.
Traffic
Approx 32,400,000t of cargo, 34,000TEU, 2,400 vessels and 115,000 passengers handled annually.
Questions about Tarragona
Where does the pilot board at Tarragona?
The pilot boards at Tarragona boarding — position A (arriving from N), 41°04.2′N 001°14.2′E. Tarragona has 2 pilot boarding places.
What time zone is Tarragona in?
Local time at Tarragona is UTC+1. Clocks go to UTC+2 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+1 on 31 Oct 2027.
What is the maximum draft at Tarragona?
The deepest berth listed is at Repsol YPF Tarragona: 42.80 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Tarragona?
1027.
Which load line zone is Tarragona in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Tarragona?
Port State Control at Tarragona: Paris MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Tarragona?
The UN/LOCODE of Tarragona is ESTAR.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Tarragona 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.