PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Tema
Pilot
updated Jan 2017- Tema pilot boarding place (SBM and ABB) Pilot boards05°37.3′N 000°05.9′E
- Tema pilot boarding place (Terminal 3) Pilot boards05°36.9′N 000°02.9′E
Compulsory for all vessels. It is recommended that at least 24 hours notice should be given of the vessel's ETA. Pilotage is available throughout 24 hours a day except for the Valco and oil berths, where vessel movements are restricted to between 0600-1800hrs. The pilot boards the vessel approx 1nm E from the head of Main Breakwater, (05°37.47'N 000°02.12'E). Contact pilots on VHF Ch 14, through Port Control. In bad weather, the pilot will board 1nm SE of the normal pilot station.
Key data
updated Aug 2024Size limits
Harbour: LOA 366.47m, draught 16.0m, beam 51.2m, 204,748DWT.
Offshore: LOA 275m, 159,149DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Tropical.
Tides
Range 1.6m. The Guinea Current sets NE along the coast at a rate of approx 0.5kt, approx 3nm SE of Tema.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tema New Port (MPS Terminal 3) | 16.00 m | 366 m | 4 |
| Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) | 9.70 m | 275 m | 3 |
| VALCO Terminal | 9.60 m | 180 m | 1 |
| Multipurpose Terminal | 9.20 m | 279 m | 4 |
| Tema Port Terminal | 8.20 m | 211 m | 7 |
| Tema Finger Pier | — | 236 m | 2 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Jul 2024Approach
The main port can be approached from E through S to SW and entered between the heads of two breakwaters, which are 244m apart. The entrance to Main Harbour is approx 240m in width with a least depth of 12.5m.
New Main Harbour Breakwater Lights (15m high).
Outer Breakwater Red: Mo(U) R 10s 7m 15M (Racon).
Inner Breakwater Green: Iso G 10s 7m 15M.
Tema New Port: A 250m wide, dredged, 19m deep access channel leads into the new port area.
Anchorages
Mooring Buoys: Two sets of mooring buoys with depths of 10.3m to 10.9m and with lengths of 137 and 198 metres
between them.
Restrictions
Vessels can enter Tema throughout 24 hours, with the exception of Valco and Oil Berths which are restricted to 0600-1800hrs.
Any vessel planning to call at Tema with a draught of more than 8.0m is recommended to contact their agents concerning berthing options.
Deep draught vessels enter only at high tide to ensure sufficient under keel clearance.
Tugs
Compulsory with 1 hours notice required. Four tugs available, 2 x 2,500hp, 1 x 2,492hp, 1 x 2,202hp. All tugs are fitted with pumps and monitors for fire-fighting. Two tugs are fitted with oil booms and skimmers for oil pollution incidents. A minimum of two tugs join arriving vessels at the harbour entrance and departing vessels alongside berth.
Mooring
Usually vessels berth starboard side alongside at Berths Nos 2, 6 and 9 and port side alongside at Nos 3, 4, 5, 10-12. at Valco and oil wharf, always starboard side alongside.
Charts and publications
BA 1383, 1384, 3432. Admiralty Pilot NP1, NP286(8).
Reporting before arrival
updated Jan 2017Communications
VHF: Port Control Ch 16; 14. Tel: +233 30 320 2212.
Health
All crew require valid certificates of vaccination against Yellow Fever, which are inspected by Port Health Authorities. In case of any suspected disease or fever onboard, agent should be notified in advance by radio.
Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Exemption Certificates renewed.
Customs and immigration
Immigration officials inspect the vessel upon berthing in the port.
Flags
Vessels are required to fly relevant flags.
Notices and regulations
Permission must be obtained before taking photographs.
Crew members are free to go ashore at anytime of the day or night after the immigration office has issued shore passes.
No person shall load or discharge explosives without the consent of the Port Operations Manager.
It is strictly forbidden to undertake main engine work without prior permission of the Port Operations Manager.
MARPOL Regulations:
No refuse or waste material of any description is allowed to be pumped or thrown overboard from vessels into the sea.
Inspections
Inspection of ships in Ghana
Hydrography and state inspection of ships:
Ghana Maritime Authority
Technical Services Division
No. E354/3, 3rd Avenue, East Ridge, Ministries Post Office,
PMB 34, Accra, Ghana
Tel: +233 21 684392 and 3
Fax: +233 21 677702
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ghanamaritime.org.
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
Position: Port Facility Security Officer and Harbour Master.
Address: PO Box 139, Tema, Ghana.
Tel: +233 22 202815.
Mob: +233 90 244 329589
Recognised Security Organisations (RSO):
International Maritime Security
Address: The Garden House,
Little Chilmington, Kent TN23 3DN, England
Tel: +44 1233 613412
Fax: +44 1233 635290
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.intmarsec.co.uk
Persons responsible for Port Security:
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org.
Port services
updated Jul 2024Repairs
Available.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available at all berths, rate 50tph.
Bunkering: Fuel oil and diesel oil are available by road tanker only. Heavy fuel oil bunkers available from the oil jetty.
Stores: Available.
Medical
Nearest hospital: Tema General Hospital, 8.9km.
Crew change
Crew changes through the shipping Master's office and the Ghana Maritime Authority.
Transport
Nearest airport: Kotoka International Airport - Accra, 27.8km.
Nearest railway: Batsonaa Train Station, 19.0km.
Working hours
Normally weekdays 0730-1930hrs. Sat 0730-1230hrs (on request). Two or three shifts can be worked at the request of the vessel.
About Tema
updated Sep 2024Where it is
Tema serves as the port area for Ghana's capital, Accra, and is situated approx 25km along the coast to the E of that city, in the Gulf of Guinea.
The port
The port area is formed by two breakwaters, the main one being 2,000m in length and the smaller, the lee breakwater, 1,500m. Outside the lee breakwater to the NE are two fishing harbours, inner and outer, with separate entrances. Tema mainly handles container traffic, which includes transit containers to the landlocked countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The port has one of the largest drydocks in Africa.
A new port area to the SW, and Container Terminal currently start operating.
Imports: Alumina clinker, caustic soda, cement, clinker, crude oil, consumer goods, fish, machinery and tallow.
Exports: Cocoa beans, cotton, fruit/vegetables, nuts, liquid bulk and petroleum products.
Traffic
Approx 19,000,000t of cargo, 2,000,000TEU, 2,000 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Tema
Where does the pilot board at Tema?
The pilot boards at Tema pilot boarding place (SBM and ABB), 05°37.3′N 000°05.9′E. Tema has 2 pilot boarding places.
What time zone is Tema in?
Local time at Tema is UTC+0. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Tema?
The deepest berth listed is at Tema New Port (MPS Terminal 3): 16.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Tema?
1025.
Which load line zone is Tema in?
Tropical.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Tema?
The UN/LOCODE of Tema is GHTEM.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Tema 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.