Tianjin

1. Tianjin main channel Boarding Area No. 1 Pilot boards38°55.9′N 118°06.5′E
2. Tianjin main channel Boarding Area No. 2 Pilot boards38°56.4′N 118°02.5′E
3. Tianjin main channel Boarding Area No. 3 Pilot boards38°57.1′N 117°57.3′E
4. Tianjin main channel boarding position a Pilot boards38°50.8′N 118°01.2′E
5. Tianjin main channel disembark position Pilot boards38°54.7′N 118°06.3′E
6. 中心渔港登离轮区 Pilot boards39°04.2′N 117°56.1′E

Size limits

LOA 400m, beam 62.005m, draught 24.8m, 362,929DWT.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

The average max and min tidal ranges are about 3.0 and 1.0m.

A tidal signal station, on the shore S of Tianjin Ship Lock, displays signals day and night indicating the height of tide in the harbour.

Current: 0.6-1.9kts in direction SE-NW.

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

Approach

The port of Tianjin is approched from ESE and is entered through one of two fairways, Tianjin Gang Main Channel and Dagusha Hangdao, marked by light beacons, light buoys and leading lights.

Tianjin Lingang Industrial Area, 1.5nm S of Tianjin port area, is under development and approach through a channel marked by lightbuoys, and entered in the vicinity of Dagusha Hangdao No 232 Lightbuoy (Racon) (38°55.0'N 117°53.1'E).

The channels were artificially formed through dredging. The main channel is 36km long, min width 765m and min depth of 19.5m. The approach from the Dagu Lighthouse, outside the harbour, to the W end of the No 1 Dock in the Xingang Harbour is 12nm in length. It has a muddy bottom with lightbuoys on both sides and is navigable throughout 24 hours. It has 2 lanes and allows the passage of vessels over 150,000DWT to enter the port, its bottom width is 260m, depth 14.8m. The fairway E of the lock is approx 0.8nm in length and the fairway W of the lock, is 0.27nm, both of them are passages to Tanggu from Xingang, permitting ships with draughts less than 5.6m to pass. The draught limitation in the main channel is 15.5m.

Five parallel pairs of leading lights (38°59'N 117°44'E) in line bearing 281.5° mark the channel. The N middle leading lights (triangular topmarks, point upwards) lead vessels inbound and the S middle leading lights (triangular topmarks, point downwards) lead vessels outbound when two way traffic is in force. The middle leading lights (diamond topmarks) mark the centre line of the channel and are used when one way traffic is in force.

Light Beacons B1 (port hand) and B2 (starboard hand) positioned 2nm ESE of Dagu Light Tower mark the entrance to Xingang Channel Thereafter, it is marked by light beacons and lightbuoys at regular intervals throughout its length. Lightbuoys (E cardinal) are also moored at the extremities of the two breakwaters.

The beacons and buoys marking the channel are in accordance with IALA Region A.

Anchorages

All the above anchorages, except for No 6, include a pilot boarding position for relevant vessels and some of the charted embarkation and disembarkation positions are located just inside anchorage areas.

Caution: Holding ground is very poor and vessels should allow at least 0.5nm clearance from other anchored vessels. In winter anchorage areas are iced over and vessels may drag their anchors 5nm to 10nm during a day because of the movement of ice with tidal streams. Winds area also liable to be strong all year round and dragging anchors is common. When strong offshore winds occur, depths at the inshore end of the anchorages may be considerably less than charted.

Prohibited Area: Anchoring and fishing are not permitted within 1.0nm radius of Dagu Light, and to E of this area in a 5nm section of Tianjin Gang main Channel extending to the anchorages N and S. Also, in the area of an oil and gas pipeline corridor running SE from a position close S of Tianjin Lingang Industrial Zone to platforms in the W part of Bohai Wan.

Restrictions

Dry bulk vessels should not have an airdraught (waterline to hatch coaming) of more than 17m.

Vessels entering the Haite Port have to enter a lock 180m long by 21m wide, which can accommodate 1 vessel of LOA 160m, approx 5,000DWT, beam should not be more than 18.0m during the day and not more than 17.5m during the night, max draught 5.6m.

Speed in the Xingang Main Channel is restricted to 10kts. Vessels passing on reciprocal headings must do so at slow speed and retain an UKC of at least 0.8m.Traffic is restricted to one direction at a time, the direction being reversed every 2 hours.

Tianjin Gang Main Channel is open for two way traffic for vessels less than 10,000GT. Limitations may be imposed for larger vessels and, in certain circumstances, including bad weather. The max speed for 80,000DWT and over is 10kts and 12kts for other vessels. Min speed is 4kts.

Tugs

36 tugs are available, max 6,500hp.

Charts and publications

BA 1250, 2653, 2662, 2665, 8144. Admiralty Pilot NP32, NP286(6).

Communications

VHF: Tianjin Radio: Ch 16, 09, 14, callsign "Tianjin Radio". All vessels must maintain a continuous listening watch on Ch 09.

Standard messages

The vessel's agent will send instructions to in bound vessels through the coast radio station being used or via Inmarsat. The instructions usually include the time and position of the pilot boarding. The Master is required to confirm receipt of messages to avoid delays to the vessel.

Notice of readiness

Normally NOR should be tendered according to the relevant clause in the Charter Party. If there is no special clause then it should be tendered according to the actual working hours of the port.

Documents

Note: In the above table LA = Local Agent, IM = Immigration Office, CH = Customs House, QI = Quarantine Inspection office, AP = Animal and Plant Inspection office, HM = Harbour Master.

Cargo documentation: When cargo handling is completed the Servicing Satisfaction form is required to be completed.

Health

When a vessel departs its previous port, prior to calling at a Chinese port, it should apply for pratique by radio.

Once the vessel arrives in port, the Quarantine officer boards to carry out an inspection.

Before pratique is granted, the vessel must fly the Interco "Q" flag and no crew are allowed to proceed ashore.

Ship Sanitation and Ship Sanitation Exemption Certificates can be renewed in all Chinese ports licensed for handling international vessels.

The crew of a vessel calling at Tianjin should have a Chinese Quarantine certificate.

Customs and immigration

Allowances: The allowance for officers and crew are 2 cartons of cigarettes and 2 bottles of liquid which must be included in the Crew's Effects Declaration to the Customs House. There is a penalty for non compliance. The punishment for additional liquids varies according to the brand.

Immigration: Shore Passes are issued to each crew member after the Master has submitted/shown all the necessary documentation required to the Immigration officer. This includes General Declaration, Crew's Effects Declaration, Crew List and passports.

Crew are allowed to proceed ashore with a Shore Pass and their passport. All crew must be back onboard by 2359hrs. The crew are restricted to the city area and will be fined if they proceed outside this area. All foreign crew members should obey all the laws and practices of the PRC.

Flags

The national flag of the PRC, which is not old, damaged or colour faded, must be displayed in addition to normal Interco flags. Other flags are not to be displayed without permission from the Harbour Master.

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 Transportation and Communications, Department of Water Transportation.

Contact: Senior Marine Officer.

Address: 11 Jian Guo Men Nei Av, Beijing, 100736, China.

Tel: +86 01 652 92626.

Fax: +86 01 652 92642.

Email: [email protected]

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

Repairs

Available. Divers available.

Dry docks

There are 3 drydocks available, 1 of 30,000t (212 x 28 x 10.6m) and 2 of 3,000t each (100 x 15 x 8.5m).

Note: For docking at Xinhe Shipyard vessel airdraught should be max 28.5m, for passage Haimen Gate and for ship dock, trim less than 1.5m.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available alongside and by barge.

Bunkers: MGO, MDO, HFO available.

Stores: Available.

Medical

The Tianjin Harbour Hospital is located in the port.

Crew change

Crew change is possible, usually through Beijing airport.

Transport

Nearest airport: Tianjin Binhai International Airport, 25km.

The port is served by the Beijing-Shenyang railway as well as numerous highway connections to neighbouring provinces.

Working hours

The port works throughout 24 hours, on a 3 shift basis regardless of holidays and festivals. Shift 1: 0800-1600hrs, shift 2: 1600-2359hrs, shift 3: 0001-0800hrs.

Where it is

Tianjin harbour is located on the W coast of the Bohai Gulf at the Haihe river estuary, approx 170km from Beijing.

The port

Tianjin, China (mainland) largest man made port, acts as the capital's sea port and is one of a few ports in China (mainland) to handle fourth generation container vessels.

Tianjin main harbour consists of 4 main areas: North Port handling containers and general cargo, East Port handling containers, South Port mainly liquid and dry bulk cargoes and Haihe Port of Tanggu used by coastal vessels.

The second harbour area is the Tianjin Lingang Industrial area, located 1.5 miles S of the main harbour area and mostly are under construction with on going land reclamation.

Imports: General cargo, steel, grain, iron ore, fertilisers, containers and petroleum products.

Exports: Coal, coke, ore, pig iron, maize, minerals and agri products.

Traffic

Approx 580,000,000t of cargo including (104,630,000t of ore, 62,180,000t of coal) and 23,000,000TEU handled annually,

Where does the pilot board at Tianjin?

The pilot boards at Tianjin main channel Boarding Area No. 1, 38°55.9′N 118°06.5′E. Tianjin has 6 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Tianjin in?

Local time at Tianjin is UTC+8. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Tianjin?

The deepest berth listed is at Tianjin Bohua Nangang Terminal: 23.60 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

Which load line zone is Tianjin in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Tianjin?

Port State Control at Tianjin: Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Tianjin?

The UN/LOCODE of Tianjin is CNTNJ.

What crews who called at Tianjin 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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