Waterford

1. Waterford boarding — normal Pilot boards52°09.0′N 006°58.5′W

Size limits

LOA 190.43m, draught 9.0m, beam 32.26m, 57,381DWT

Water density

1010.

Load line zone

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

Tides

MHWS 4.27m, MLWS 0.2m, MHWN 3.5m above CD.

Tower Race: Occurs off Hook Head extending 1nm S, when the main W going coastal stream is stronger than the outgoing stream from the harbour and when both are running strongly, if accompanied by strong W winds it can be violent.

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

Approach

The following are limiting conditions in the channel to Waterford:

Fairway Buoy (52°08.95'W 006°56.95'W) in depths of 10.5m.

Depth in fairway, dredged channel over Duncannon bar, 6.0m at MLWS.

Depth over Cheek Point Bars (10nm N of the harbour entrance), 6.0m.

Queen's Channel only 65m wide at its narrowest point is dredged to 5.2m.

The entrance to Waterford Harbour, 2.5nm in width, is deep and clear of dangers in the fairway as far as Creadan Head (52°11.0'N 006°57.0'W) 3nm within.

River Suir: Navigation is restricted, 4nm within the entrance, by the outer bar, where the fairway of the harbour follows the deep water channel of the River Suir for 6nm to Cheek Point (52°16.0'N 006°59.0'W).

At Cheek Point vessels bound for New Ross enter the River Barrow through a swing bridge (0.75nm NW of the point).

Caution: Particular care is needed by vessels approaching, rounding, or changing pilots at Cheek Point Corner.

Vessels for Waterford continue up the River Suir, through the Queen's Channel and then to the City Docks approx 5nm above Cheek Point.

Overhead cables, vertical clearance 38m, span the river 0.25nm above Rice Bridge.

All vessels should make for the pilot boarding position 0.5nm E of Dunmore East Harbour (52°09.0'N 006°59.0'W).

Caution: Small vessels approaching the harbour entrance from E, under conditions of strong W winds, are advised to keep outside a distance of 1nm S of Hook Head in order to avoid Tower Race, particularly between approx 2 hours before to 2 hours after HW Dover.

Port limits

The jurisdiction of the port extends from an outbound limit of an imaginary arc with radius 3.5nm drawn seaward from a point midway between Falskirt Rock (52°07.7'N 007°02.0'W) and Hook Head (52°07.4'N 006°55.8'W), to the inbound limit of an imaginary straight line extending from Kilotteran Pill to the townland of Licketstown on the Kilkenny side of the River Suir.

Anchorages

There is unrestricted anchorage at Dunmore East.

A temporary anchorage below the outer bar (4nm within the entrance) can be found, in offshore winds, in Dunmore Bay (immediately N of Dunmore East Harbour).

The recommended berth is 0.15nm NNE of the East Pierhead at the harbour, in depths of 7.0-9.0m, mud.

Quarantine anchorage: Vessels in quarantine should also anchor in Dunmore Bay.

River Suir, lower reach anchorages: The best anchorage N of the outer bar is approx 0.3nm NW of Passage East (52°14.3'N 006°58.4'W) in depths of 8.0-11.0m, good holding ground and well sheltered from all winds and sea.

Vessels over 90m in length are recommended to anchor 1.75nm further N, in a depth of 10.5m, with Sheagh Light (52°16.3'N 006°59.4'W) on Cheek Point bearing 268° distance 0.25nm and with Snowhill Point (52°16.4'N 007°00.9'W), on which is a light, bearing 273°, just open N of the N extremity of Cheek Point.

Restrictions

The channel is dredged to 6.0m MLWS overall depth at the river bars at Duncannon and Cheek Point, Belview private berth can normally accommodate vessels up to LOA 150m, draught 7.5m. Vessels up to 160m may be handled by special arrangement with Harbour Master. Larger vessels may be accommodated at Belview Container Terminal and Great Island.

Rice Bridge: At the NW end of Waterford harbour has opening span of 24m wide with a water depth of 6.1m. Vertical clearance when bridge closed is 2.7m.

Suir Railway Bridge: 1.5nm above Rice Bridge has an opening span with a width of 15m.

Tugs

There are 4 x 13-30t bollard pull tugs based at the port. The harbour master may stipulate requirement for tug to aid larger vessels or those wishing to turn in the reach below the city.

Fasnet Shipping, Tel: +353 51 832946.

South East Tug Service, Tel: +353 86 172 7502.

Mooring

Advised through agent.

Charts and publications

BA 2046. Admiralty Pilot NP40, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessels should send an ETA 24 hours in advance. ETA can be confirmed with the pilots on CHF channel 14 when within VHF range which is about 20 miles.

Vessels should inform the harbormaster before entering the harbour.

Communications

Water Pilots can be contacted as following:

Call Sign: Waterfod Pilots

VHF: VHF Ch 14

Telephone: +353 51 383 119

Email: [email protected]

Waterford Port can be contacted as following:

VHF: VHF Ch 10, 13 and 14

Telephone: +353 51 874907

Fax: +353 51 874908

Email: [email protected]

Documents

ISPS information and Waste declaration.

Health

Ship Sanitation Control Certificates and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates issued.

Vessels arriving with disease onboard should display the international quarantine signal and anchor in Dunmore Bay.

Customs and immigration

As per Irish National Regulations. Tel: +353 51 877011.

Flags

Pilot flag, quarantine flag as required.

Notices and regulations

Scrubbers: Discharge of scrubber wash water is prohibited in the port limits. This applies to all vessels berthed at any berth within the port’s jurisdiction and vessels on transit to and from any berth or anchorage. Vessels fitted with open loop scrubbers should carry out the switch to either closed-loop mode or to compliant fuel, well in advance of the ships’s arrival.

Hazardous cargo: Vessels carrying dangerous or polluting goods should inform the harbour master before proceeding to the port.

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

ISPS Designated Authority: Maritime Safety Directorate, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Address: Leeson Lane, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Tel: +353 1 678 2000.

Fax: +353 1 678 2349

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

Repairs

Marine Engine, electrical and electronic repair and installation available. Contact agent or Harbour Master.

Bunkers, water and stores

Stores: Available.

Fresh Water: Available.

Medical

Ardkeen Hospital, Waterford.

Crew change

Organised through agents.

Transport

Nearest airport: Waterford. Shannon 129km. Cork International Airport, 134km.

Nearest railway: Waterford Mainline Station.

Working hours

Container terminal works throughout 24 hours, 7 days a week. Others work Mon-Fri 0900-1300hrs, 1400-1700hrs.

Where it is

Waterford is located in the SE corner of Ireland.

The port

The port is a natural deep harbour, on the River Suir, approx 14nm from the open sea. The main berths at Waterford are on the N bank of the river with the container terminal at Belview, about 3.5nm downstream from the main port.

Exports include agricultural produce, manufactured goods and foodstuffs. Imports include grain, fertilisers, foodstuffs, chemicals, steel, timber and paper.

New traffic in the form of frozen meat, bananas, limestone and peat moss have recently been attracted to the port.

Traffic

Approx 1,700,000t of cargo, and 44,000TEUs handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Waterford?

The pilot boards at Waterford boarding — normal, 52°09.0′N 006°58.5′W.

What time zone is Waterford in?

Local time at Waterford is UTC+0. Clocks go to UTC+1 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+0 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Waterford?

The deepest berth listed is at Belview Bulk Terminal: 9.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Waterford?

1010.

Which load line zone is Waterford 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 Waterford?

Port State Control at Waterford: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Waterford?

The UN/LOCODE of Waterford is IEWAT.

What crews who called at Waterford 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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