Terneuzen

Size limits

LOA 256.39m, beam 45.0m, draught 15.0m and 114,270DWT

Water density

1000.

Load line zone

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

Tides

Mean spring range 4.8m; mean neap range 3.4m.

Tidal streams are strong off Terneuzen. The River Scheldt generally has two tides (high or low water) a day with a variation of 5m between high and low water marks.

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

Approach

The port is approached directly from Westerschelde. Access to the inner harbour and the Terneuzen-Gent Canal is through locks. West Buitenhaven can be approached safely on both the ingoing and outgoing streams. However, in extreme conditions such as a strong wind, a deep draught or a large light vessel, the advice is to wait for slack water, which occurs from 1 hour before to 30 minutes after local HW and LW. When leaving on the ingoing stream bound for Vlissingen it is advisable to start the swing before leaving West Buitenhaven. This advice also applies to vessels bound up-river on the outgoing stream, but it is not so critical in this case. West Buitenhaven is 0.8nm long between 0.3 and 0.35nm wide. There are mooring dolphins on both sides of the inner part of the basin.

Locks: Except in extreme conditions the locks, giving access to the Inner Harbour and the Terneuzen-Gent Canal, can be approached at all states of the tide.

The Ghent-Terneuzen Canal: A class VI classified fairway, allows ocean going vessels up to approx 80,000DWT and with a LOA of 265m, max draught of 12.25m FW and Max beam of 37m.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Vessels should also report on Ch 11 to Havendienst Terneuzen after mooring/before departing a harbour (including destination) in the Netherlands or Havendienst Gent after mooring/before departing a harbour (include destination) in Belgium. Vessels transiting the canal should maintain a listening watch on Ch 11.

Anchorages

Safe anchorage with a sandy bottom just outside the channel, max draught 14.6m depending on HW at Vlissengen. This anchorage can be used for lightering of bulk carriers.

Outer anchorages: Put van Terneuzen (57°20.7'N 003°51.3'E) provides good anchorage for vessels when W winds make anchorage in Rede van Vlissengen unsuitable. The anchorage may be used by vessels up to 290m in length. There are two lettered berths, A and B. The two narrow white sectors (146.5°-149.5°) and (194.5°-197.5°) of Othenepolder Light (51°20.2'N 003°51.6'E), crossed by the narrow white sector of 075.5°-079°) of Margarethapolder Light (51°21.0'N 003°53.2'E) indicate the berth position.

Restrictions

Vessels are prohibited from navigating in the port, with exception of the canal docks, when visibility is less than 250m.

Tugs

Towage is not compulsory within the port area except for vessels requiring special permission to transit the West Lock. Multraship and Union de Remorquage et de Sauvetage (URS), provide tug services in Terneuzen and on the canal.

For seagoing vessels calling at the DOW jetties, the following tugs are required for entering and manoeuvring in the harbour:

- Ships up to LOA 100m: one tug

- Ships smaller than 20,000GT and over LOA 100m: two tugs.

For seagoing vessels manoeuvring in the harbour or when leaving a jetty:

- Ships up to LOA 100m: one tug

- Ships over LOA 100m: two tugs

- Ships over 20,000GT when leaving Ocean Dock South: three tugs.

Some vessels are partially exempt from these rules. They include vessels with powerful bow thrusters and vessels leaving Braakman Jetty B West or East and vessels moored with their bows to the North.

Charts and publications

BA 114, 120. Admiralty Pilot NP28, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

All vessels arriving at or leaving the ports of Vlissingen, Terneuzen and Ghent must report electronically to ENIGMA+. Electric reports can be made via the website www.enigmaplus.eu.

Pilots require at least 6 hours notice of arrival.

Vessels in Terneuzen Harbour should send ETD 3 hours in advance when leaving or shifting berth.

Communications

Inmarsat communication is possible.

VHF: Terneuzen Port Control: Ch 11.

Pilots: Nederlands Loodswezen Vlissingen BV (vis Steenbank): Ch 79. Tel: +31 118 489501 (Sea Pilotage), +31 118 489506 (River Pilotage), +31 118 489502 (Gent-Terneuzen Canal Pilotage), Fax: +31 118 412321. Email: [email protected] (Masters only). Available 24 hours.

Locks Organisation: Ch 69. Tel: +31 115 612279.

Vessel Traffic Service: Centrale Terneuzen: Ch 03. Tel: +31 115 682400. Fax: +31 115 630699. Email: [email protected]. Available 24 hours

Traffic Area Gent/Terneuzen Canal: Zelzate Observation Post (Uitkijk Zeizate): Callsign: Uitkijk Zeizate, Ch 11.

Havendienst Gent: Callsign: Havendienst Gent, Ch 05, 11, 78.

Havendienst Terneuzen: Callsing: Havendienst Terneuzen, Ch 11.

The report should start by stating 'Port of Gent - Inland Waterways Obligation to Report' - VHF Ch 20.

ETD should be forwarded 3 hours in advance of leaving of shifting berth.

Notice of readiness

NOR to be tendered as per charter party, throughout the day or night.

Documents

Copies of the above documents should be sent to the agent, Customs, Immigration and Police authorities.

Health

Application for free pratique is not necessary. Ship Sanitation Control Certificates can be renewed.

Customs and immigration

The customs allowances are 5 litres of spirits for the total crew and 200 cigarettes for each person.

Immigration procedures are carried out by the agent.

Notices and regulations

Braakmanhaven: Movements are prohibited in Braakmanhaven when the visibility is less than 500m. Vessels should keep an under keel clearance of at least 10% of their draught and those drawing more than 10.5m may only enter at HW, when the tidal stream is slack.

Vessels berth bows NW at Ocean Dock but must carry out any swinging manoeuvring clear of Ocean Dock.

Anchors may be used for manoeuvring, but are not allowed to lie thereafter.

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

The Netherlands has a separate National Authority for all of the following areas:

Rotterdam, Curacao, Netherland Antilles, Amsterdam, Zeeland Seaports, Groningen Seaports, Moerdijk, Dordrecht, The Hague, Harlingen and Den Helder.

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

Repairs

There is a floating dock for repairing stern gear or bow thrusters. It has a lifting capacity of 420t. Repairs to hull and engines in the shipyard, branching E off the Canal.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available by barge throughout 24 hours in Terneuzen or in the River Scheldt at Everingen. The pumping rate is 115tph and is supplied by the privately owned Terneuzen Water Supply Service.

Bunkering: Fuel and lubricating oil available, generally supplied by tank barge via the ships agents.

There are no dedicated bunkering facilities at Dow Benelux, fuel supplied by barge. Most vessels bunker in Terneuzen Roads. Certain LPG carriers are not permitted to bunker in the roads.

Medical

Streekziekenhuis de Honte, Terneuzen (1km).

Transport

Nearest airport: Zavetem, Brussels, 65km.

Nearest railway: Freight: Terneuzen. Passengers: Ghent (Belgium), 30km, Flushing (The Netherlands), 50km.

Working hours

From 0730-1700hrs, overtime available on request.

Where it is

Terneuzen is situated on the S bank of the River Scheldt 30km from the North Sea at the entrance to the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal.

The port

Terneuzen port is part of the North Sea Port. North Sea port is a merger between the Duch Zeeland Seaports (Vlissingen and Terneuzen) and Port of Ghent.

The port area includes the outer Braakman Harbour, in Terneuzen Roads and the inner harbour of Axel Plain, Sluiskil and Sas van Gent. It is served by good road/rail networks and inland waterways.

Various goods are handled in the port including chemical and oil products, ores, coal, fertilisers, paper, timber, gravel, sand, general cargo and agricultural products.

Traffic

Approx 66,000,000t cargo and 175,000TEU are handled annually.

Please note that the traffic figures are combined for the Terneuzen, Ghent and Vlissingen ports.

What are the pilot arrangements at Terneuzen?

Pilot Ordering: Vessels outbound or shifting.

What time zone is Terneuzen in?

Local time at Terneuzen 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 Terneuzen?

The deepest berth listed is at EVOS Terneuzen: 15.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Terneuzen?

1000.

Which load line zone is Terneuzen 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 Terneuzen?

Port State Control at Terneuzen: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Terneuzen?

The UN/LOCODE of Terneuzen is NLTNZ.

What crews who called at Terneuzen 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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