Vlissingen

1. Steenbank Pilot Station Pilot boards51°33.1′N 003°15.8′E

Size limits

Harbour: LOA 295, draught 16.7m, beam 79.84m, 182,983DWT

Off Shore: LOA 293m, draught 13.9m, BCM 147.24m, 112,156DWT.

Water density

1022.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter seasonal Zone ll, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Range 4.5m. Heights above LLWS: MHWS 4.69m; MLWS 0.23m; MHWN 3.86m; MLWN 0.91m. Mean flood velocity 2kts, strongest approx 1 hour before HW.

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

Approach

Vlissingen Old Port: The approach to Vlissingen is direct from Rede van Vlissingen to the harbour entrance which faces SE. From a position SE of the harbour entrance (51°26.4'N 003°36.3'E) in Rede van Vlissingen, there is direct approach to Buitenhaven. Lights are exhibited from both moles, E mole (white mast, height 7m), W mole (black mast, height 7m). Buitenhaven gives access to the double tidal locks which lead to Binnerhaven and then Kannal door Walchern.

Vlissingen East (Sloehaven): The port is approached directly from Honte, which is part of the main fairway. The entrance faces SSW and the centreline is indicated by leading lights.

The entrance width of the harbour is 350m and the channel width 200m. The main channel in the port is dredged to 14.5m below LLWS. The main channel "van Cittersharbour" up to the Kalootharbour is dredged to 13.5m below LLWS.

A light is exhibited from a white concrete column, 5m in height, at the W molehead.

A light is exhibited from a white concrete column at the E molehead.

Leading lights, exhibited from 2 green metal posts, 4m and 9m in height, standing 1.25nm NNE of the entrance, in line bearing 023°, lead between the mole heads. These lights are synchronised.

Tidal Locks: The locks are operated day and night, provided the difference in the levels inside and outside the locks is less than 3.4m on the ingoing stream and 3.2m on the outgoing stream. The large lock is 138m long, 22.5m wide with a depth of 5.4m on the sill. The small lock is 65m long, 8.0m wide with a depth of 3.0m on the sill. There is also a sluice close S of the locks, which has a width of 34.4m and a depth at the sill of 8.5m. It is operated at slack water on request.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Vessels should report to port control, on VHF Ch 09, when entering, manoeuvring within or leaving harbour.

Anchorages

Vlissingen has 5 designated anchorage areas. Vlissingen Roads offers safe anchorage positions with sandy bottoms. Ships can anchor to the S of Koopmanshaven no less than 1.2km from the N coast. Depths vary from 10.0-26.0m.

Restrictions

Vessels over 220m in length and draught 12.5m are required to approach Vlissingen East at slack water (about 1 hour after HW Vlissingen) and maintain an UKC of 1.0m. During entry the visibility must be in excess of 2,500m, the wind less than 28kts and the vessel must not have any defects which affect its safe navigation or steering.

Towage: Tugs available up to 4,000hp (30t bollard pull).

Charts and publications

BA 116, 120; Netherlands 1444. Admiralty Pilot NP28. NP286(1).

Communications

Radio: Satellite communication (Satcom) No 37811 (Pilotage Netherlands).

VHF: Pilots: Ch 06. Pilots Tel: +31 118 489501.

Netherlands Loodswezen Vlissigen BV (via Steenbank): Tel: +31 118 489501 (Sea Pilotage), Tel: +31 118 489506 (River Pilotage).

Tugs: Ch 08.

Vlissingen (Flushing) Port Control: Ch 09.

Vlissingen Roads Traffic Centre: Ch 14.

Locks: Ch 18. Tel: +31 118 412372.

Bridge: Ch 22. Tel: +31 118 412372.

Notice of readiness

NOR to be tendered as per Charter Party, throughout the day or night.

Health

Application for free pratique is not necessary. Ship Sanitation Control Certificate (SSCC) can be renewed.

Customs and immigration

Allowed for free use on board per man are; 25 cigars or 50 cigarillos or 250gm of tobacco or 200 cigarettes (40 of cigarettes are allowed to be taken ashore);

Five litres of spirits for representation for the Master plus 1 bottle of spirits or liqueurs or 2 litres of wine per man.

All excess quantities should be placed in a storeroom which is to be sealed according to local Custom regulations.

Notices and regulations

Regulations concerning entry: vessels over LOA 220m and draught 12.5m are required to approach Vlissingen Oost at slack water and maintain an under keel clearance of at least 1m. During the entry the visibility must be in excess of 2,500m, the wind less than 28-33kts and the vessel must not have any defects which affect its safe navigation or steering.

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

Damen Shiprepair carries out all types of ship/rig repairs and conversions.

Dry docks

The shipyard can accommodate vessels up to 350,000DWT.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available by water barges or via shorelines throughout 24 hours in Vlissingen.

Bunkering: All grades of oil available. A number of major oil companies can supply bunkers at Vlissingen. Two independent firms also supply all grades of bunker fuel at the Schaar van Everingen anchorage, Vlissingen Roads and in the harbour area. Most bunker suppliers require either 24 or 48 hours notice.

LNG Bunkers: Available by truck.

Medical

Streekziekenhuis Walcheren.

Crew change

Possible through Schipol and Brussels airports.

Transport

Nearest airport: Midden-Zeeland, 10km; Rotterdam (international), 110km; Brussels (inter-continental), 140km; Amsterdam (inter-continental), 180km.

Airport facilities: All facilities at Rotterdam.

Nearest railway: Vlissingen, 10km. There is a direct train service every hour from Vlissingen to Amsterdam airport.

Working hours

Normally 0730-1630hrs. Overtime available.

Where it is

Vlissingen is located on the N bank of the Westerschelde.

The port

Vlissingen, also known as Flushing, is close to the town and has two port areas.

Vlissingen Town, the old port is partly situated behind locks which permits vessels with a LOA of less than 140m access to the inner docks.

Flushing-East or Vlissingen-Oost, the new port area located in the deep water area of the River Scheldt, is a tidal harbour and industrial area with direct access to the open sea. There is an LPG terminal, a coal transshipment terminal, a tanker terminal, Ro-Ro and container facilities. The new port entrance has a width of 350m and a depth of 13.8m LLWS. Shipbuilding and repair yards available.

Principal commodities handled; Containers, dry and liquid bulk, break bulk, food/fruit, storage, offshore (wind), commercial cargoes, industry, steel/,metals, scrap metal, paper and paper products, chemistry, transport and logistics, building materials and automative.

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.

Where does the pilot board at Vlissingen?

The pilot boards at Steenbank Pilot Station, 51°33.1′N 003°15.8′E.

What time zone is Vlissingen in?

Local time at Vlissingen 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 Vlissingen?

The deepest berth listed is at Zeeland Refinery Borsele: 18.10 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Vlissingen?

1022.

Which load line zone is Vlissingen in?

North Atlantic Winter seasonal Zone ll, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Vlissingen?

Port State Control at Vlissingen: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Vlissingen?

The UN/LOCODE of Vlissingen is NLVLI.

What crews who called at Vlissingen 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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