Vardo

1. Vardo boarding position a Pilot boards70°25.0′N 031°06.0′E
2. Vardo boarding position b Pilot boards70°21.0′N 031°09.0′E

Size limits

Max LOA 154m, 23m beam and draught 9.0m.

Largest vessel handled: "OCEAN FREEDOM" (dry cargo), 14,360DWT and draught 9.0m.

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

Max range 4.3m. MHWS 3.2m, MLWS 0.4m.

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

Approach

There are 4 harbours, included in Vardo port, as follows:

Nordvagen (70°22.6'N 031°07'E), the main harbour, may be approached either from the N, off the E side of the W part of Vardoya, or from SE through Reinoysundet.

Approach from N: From the initial position 70°25'N 031°07'E, with the white sector of Vardo Molo Light (white lantern on metal tower, 70°22.7'N 031°0.3'E) bearing between 175°-188°, the light leads towards Nordvagen, passing (positions given from the light):

W of Reinoyskjeret (1.6nm N), then:

E of foul ground off Svinoya (1.3nm NNW), marked by an iron perch, then:

Close E of Toftskitan (0.5nm NNW), marked by 2 iron perches and a buoy (spar, starboard hand), then:

E of Sandvikflua (0.5m, dangerous rock, 0.2nm NNW), marked by an iron perch.

Care is necessary to avoid the foul ground extending E from Reinoyskjeret.

The entrance to Nordvagen is between Vardo Molo Light and Vardo Ostre Molo light (metal perch, 90m E) in a depth of 19m and is approached by keeping in mid channel.

Approach from SE: From the initial position 70°21'N 031°11'E, the approach leads NW through Reinoysundet, by rounding Hasselneset, the N part of Vardoya, then the final stage of the approach from N can then be joined.

From SE the white sectors of Reinoysund Light (white lantern, 70°23.2'N 031°08.5'E) lead into Reinoysundet as follows (positions given from the light):

Bearing between 307°-314°, S of the coastal reef off Avlosingen (0.6nm ESE), then:

Bearing between 329°-352°, E of the coastal reef (1nm S) off Vardoya, then:

SW of Hornoyflua.

The white sector 319°-322° of Skagodden Light (white lantern, 70°24.2'N 031°04.9'E) leads NW from the vicinity of Hornoyflua, passing (positions from the light):

NE of the spar buoy (1.6nm SE) off Hasselneset, then:

SW of Reinoya (1.3nm SE).

When rounding Hasselneset, the white sector 052°-088°, of Reinoysund Light, astern, leads into the approach channel to Nordvagen from N, passing NW of the spar buoy (0.3nm SW) off Hasselneset.

Care is necessary to avoid the coastal reef off Reinoya and the spar buoy off Hasselneset.

Approach to Sorvagen: The white sector 298°-011.5° of Guldringnes Light (white lantern on piles, 70°21.8'N 031°06.9'E) leads towards the entrance to Sorvagen, but shoal water extends 0.15nm from the light, within this sector.

Approach to Bussesundet: From the initial position 70°25'N 031°03'E, the white sector 177°-182° of Svartnes Light (white lantern on piles, 70°21.7'N 031°03.2'E) leads through the N part of bussesundet, passing (positions from the light):

W of Skagen (2.6nm N), then:

Close E of Tjuvholmen (1.6nm N), then:

Between 2 pairs of special buoys (1.2nm and 0.8nm N), which mark the N cable area (prohibited anchorage).

The S entrance leads in the white sector 279°-302° of Svartnes Light, astern, ESE to Bussesundet, passing (positions from the light):

NE of a 3.0m patch (0.2nm SE), unmarked, then:

S of a 3.0m patch at the S extremity of shoal water extending from Steilneset.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Contact Vardo Harbour Authority on VHF Ch 16, 12 before entering.

Anchorages

Vessels arriving with no anchoring or mooring berth allocated are required to anchor well clear of the fairway until the harbour authority allocates a berth.

Anchorage in Nordvagen can be found close N of the moles, depth 20.0-26.0m, sand and also in the harbour where there is good holding ground.

Good anchorage for small vessels is available, approx 0.15nm S of the S point of Tjuvholmen (70°23.2'N 031°03.2'E) and approx 0.1nm N of the N cable area (prohibited anchorage) depths 7.0-10.0m, sand and clay.

Anchorage off Vardohus, approx 0.2nm S of the berth on which stands Engelsvik Molo Light, depths 11.0-13.0m, sand.

Anchoring in the entrance channel or close to it or near the quays so traffic is obstructed is strictly prohibited.

It is prohibited to anchor in an area of water pipelines and submarine cables between approx 70°22.4'N and 70°23.0'N.

It is also prohibited within 0.1nm area off the SE entrance to Bussesundet.

Tugs

One small tug available. Contact Vardo Harbour Office, Tel: +47 78 98 72 76.

Mooring

Vardo Harbour Office/watch advises vessels where to berth and assists with berthing.

Charts and publications

BA 2317, 2332. Admiralty Pilot NP58B and NP286(2)

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Arrival Notification, in the prescribed format, to the Navy should be made 24 hours before entering Norwegian territorial waters (baseline). See country information.

Additional ETAs should be sent 12 and 6 hours prior to arrival to the vessel's agent.

ETA is to be sent to Vardo Harbour Master, 24 hours prior to arrival.

Communications

Radio: Vardo Radio can be used for passing messages by WT or RT.

VHF: Vardo Port: Ch 16, 12 and 14.

Vardo VTS can be contacted as follows:

VHF: Ch 16 and 71

Tel: +47 78989898

Fax: +47 78989899

Email: [email protected]

Harbour Pilot can be contacted as follows:

VHF: Ch 16, 12 and 14

Tel : +47 78987276/ +47 78987275

Fax: +47 78954310

Email: [email protected]

Standard messages

See country information.

Notice of readiness

NOR to be tendered in accordance with Charter Party when vessel is ready to start loading/discharging. When berth is not available for loading/discharging NOR to be tendered when anchoring or according to Charter Party.

Documents

Note: (1) At first port of call in Norway, only.-

The above are required by Customs. Additional Crew and Passenger Lists are required by Immigration officials.

There are no special forms to be completed. Agent can supply Customs forms if not available onboard.

Health

Vessels displaying the International quarantine flag "Q", or who are ordered to lie in quarantine are required to anchor in Bussesundet until the health authority gives permission to shift berth.

Customs and immigration

Customs: Allowance for crew and officers is that stated on the Personal Effects Declaration. Goods on the declaration are not to be taken ashore. Penalties for non compliance are severe fines.

Customs are contacted on, Tel: +47 789 88400.

A message is to be sent to the Customs authority 24 hours prior to arrival.

Immigration: Board at first port of call (cruise ships only). They require a Crew List and a Passenger List and will make random passport inspections. All passports should be available for a quick clearance which normally takes 15-20 minutes.

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.

Inspection of ships in Norway

Norwegian Maritime Authority

Address: Smedasundet 50 A, Haugesund

Tel: +47 52 74 51 30

Fax: +47 52 74 50 01

Email: [email protected]

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Norwegian Maritime Authority

Address: Smedasundet 50 A, Haugesund

Tel: +47 52 74 51 30

Fax: +47 52 74 50 01

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.sjofartsdir.no

Recognised Security Organisations:

RSO - ISSC Issue: DNV

RSO - Security Consultant Services: Norwegian Maritime Authority

Port Security Information: Norwegian Costal Administration

Telephone: +47 22 65 58 20

Website: www.kystverket.no

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

Repairs

Available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Medical

Kirkenes Hospital, 250km.

There is a health centre available in Vardo, Tel: +47 78 98 84 00.

Crew change

Possible. Contact agents or harbour authority.

Transport

Nearest airport: Kirkenes, 241km and Vardo Airport, 3km.

Airport facilities: Domestic connections available.

Working hours

Normally Mon-Fri, 0700-1530hrs.

Where it is

Vardo (Svartnes) is situated on the N cape of Norway in the Barents Sea, 1,938km N of Trondheim.

The port

Vardo is a small and shallow harbour which is ice free in winter. The new Svartnes Harbour is located some 2km W of Vardo on the mainland.

Main exports include fish and fish products.

Main imports include salt, oil, coal and cement.

Kiberg Harbor is well sheltered, and it has its own fishing reception.

Traffic

Approx 8,400t of cargo handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Vardo?

The pilot boards at Vardo boarding position a, 70°25.0′N 031°06.0′E. Vardo has 2 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Vardo in?

Local time at Vardo is UTC+1. Clocks go to UTC+2 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+1 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the water density at Vardo?

1025.

Which load line zone is Vardo 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 Vardo?

Port State Control at Vardo: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Vardo?

The UN/LOCODE of Vardo is NOVAO.

What crews who called at Vardo 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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