Visakhapatnam

1. Vishakhapatnam pilot boarding Pilot boards17°40.3′N 083°19.8′E

Size limits

Harbour: LOA 390m, beam 51.2m, draught 18.1m, 209,325DWT.

Off Shore: LOA 339.4m, draught 22m, BCM 174.59m, 323,183DWT.

Water density

1015-1025 (1012-1020).

Load line zone

Bay of Bengal Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Dec 1 to April 30, Summer May 1 to Nov 30.

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 from the E and entered through the dredged channel leading between the S and E Breakwaters. The entrance channel has a depth of 19.0m, Outer Harbour 12.0m and Inner Harbour, except North-Western Arm 10.7m.

Port limits

The seaware limit of the port is a line joining the following approximate positions:

17°38.6'N 083°15.6'E

17°34.9'N 083°21.9'E

17°45.0'N 083°30.3'E

17°45.0'N 083°21.1'E.

Anchorages

Designation: Visakhapatnam Port Trust; depth 25.0m; good holding, no shelter. Holding ground, fairly good.

Vessels carrying petroleum, gas or explosives will be allocated one of the designated anchorages, in depths from 34m to 42m, soft mud and fine sand, 3nm SSE of Dolphin's Nose Light (17°40.5'N 088°17.6'E).

Lightering cargo is handled in a designated area with depths from 28.5-42m, hard mud and broken shell, 5.5nm ENE of Dolphin's Nose Light.

Note: It is reported that during the NE monsoon, vessels lie to the current, bow NE, regardless of wind and swell.

Prohibited Anchorage: Anchoring is prohibited within an area of the port approaches bounded by the following coordinates:

17°40.2'N 083°17.5'E

17°40.2'N 083°21.5'E

17°41.5'N 083°21.5'E

17°41.5'N 083°18.5'E.

Restrictions

Submarine pipelines: An oil pipeline is laid between the SPM (17°39.14'N 83°18.92'E) and the shore (17°40.87'N 83°17.82'E). There is another oil pipeline laid between the SW end of Oil Berth (17°40.93'N 83°18.34'E) and a trestle bridge carrying it ashore.

Dredging: Usually continuous to maintain depths. Dredgers, when working, may secure with wires to both sides of a channel. The wires are lowered to permit other vessels to pass. The usual daytime signals are exhibited.

Tugs

Total eight tugs available.

Mooring

Four mooring launches available with Visakhapatnam Port Trust.

Charts and publications

BA 319. IN3002, IN3012, IN308. Admiralty Pilot NP21, NP286(4).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessels should send their ETA details 48 and 24 hours in advance.

Notice of readiness

Details will be advised by agent.

Documents

The pilot, on boarding a vessel and before bringing it into harbour, gives a copy of the Maritime Declaration Form to the Master for completion.

Health

Local port health officer will advise details. Ship Sanitation Control Certificate issued and Exemption Certificate extended.

Customs and immigration

Details will be advised by agent.

Notices and regulations

Boarding pilot brings a copy of regulations.

Port State Control here: Indian Ocean MOU.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Director-General of Shipping.

Position: Nautical Adviser to the Government of India.

Address: Jahaz Bhavan, Walchand Hirachand Marg, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001, India.

Tel: +91 22 2261 0606

Fax: +91 22 2269 4352

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.dgshipping.com

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

Repairs

All types of repairs available at the commercial ship yard and naval dockyard. Divers are available.

Dry docks

Three drydocks available in the naval dockyard the largest has a capacity of 40,000t. The largest drydock in the commercial ship yard is 210m in length with a capacity of 70,000DWT. A covered building block of 80,000DWT capacity.

Two smaller drydocks owner by the Port Authority, the largest is 137m in length.

Hindustan Shipyard Limited (17.689230 N 83.277050 E)

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkers: MDO and HFO available by barge at anchorage. LNG bunkering is not available.

Medical

Golden Jubilee Hospital, King George Hospital and several private hospitals available.

Crew change

Possible.

Transport

Nearest airport: Visakhapatnam Indira Gandhi International Airport, 8km NW of the port.

Airport facilities: Regular flights to Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai.

Nearest railway: Visakhapatnam, 3km from port.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Visakhapatnam is situated on the E coast of India almost midway between Kolkata and Chennai.

The port

Visakhapatnam is one of the major ports of India with area comprise of Inner and Outer Harbours. The Inner Harbour consist of 22 berths and the Outer Harbour consist of 7 berths. The port is equipped to handle multiple cargoes, dry bulks, liquid bulk, break bulk and containerised cargoes.

The Outer Harbour has berths for larger vessels handling bulk liquid and iron ore, LPG, coals containers and general cargo.

The Inner Harbour has a turning basin, shipyard and has berths servicing the fertiliser plant and oil refinery and berths for bulk cargoes including coal, petcoke, alumina, iron ore and molasses.

The principal exports are iron ore, other ores, alumina, iron and steel, pig iron, petroleum products, thermal coal, cement clinker, general cargo and container cargo. The main imports are petroleum and LPG/petroleum products, coking coal, limestone, fertilisers such as urea, di-ammonium phosphate, muriate of potash, fertiliser raw materials such as rock phosphate and sulphur, magnesite, liquid ammonia, phosphoric acid, general cargo and container cargo.

Visakhapatnam port is under the administrative control of the Board of Trustees and is governed by the Ministry of Surface Transport of the Government of India.

Traffic

Approx 82,600,000t of cargo, 618,000TEU and 2,130 vessels are handled annually.

Approx of 32,600,000t of cargo (of which 18,200,000t of coal and 14,400,000t of iron ore) were handled in 2023.

Where does the pilot board at Visakhapatnam?

The pilot boards at Vishakhapatnam pilot boarding, 17°40.3′N 083°19.8′E.

What time zone is Visakhapatnam in?

Local time at Visakhapatnam is UTC+5:30. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Visakhapatnam?

The deepest berth listed is at Visakhapatnam - Outer Harbour: 21.40 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Visakhapatnam?

1015-1025 (1012-1020).

Which load line zone is Visakhapatnam in?

Bay of Bengal Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Dec 1 to April 30, Summer May 1 to Nov 30.

Who carries out Port State Control at Visakhapatnam?

Port State Control at Visakhapatnam: Indian Ocean MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Visakhapatnam?

The UN/LOCODE of Visakhapatnam is INVTZ.

What crews who called at Visakhapatnam 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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