Guide line for vessel anchoring at Chittagong anchorage & Entering port Harbor

GENERAL INFORMATION :

  • The maximum permissible draft for entering and leaving Chittagong Port is 9.50 Meters.
  • The maximum permissible length for entering Chittagong Port is 190.00* Meters.
  • The maximum permissible entry length for night navigation is 170.00 Meters.
  • The maximum permissible draft for Main Jetty areas i.e. Jetty no.2 to 4 is up to 7.5Metre &  Jetty No. 5 to Jetty no. 13 is 8.55 Meters &
  • The entry permissible draft would however depend on the day’s maximum permissible draft.

Instruction for Ship’s  Master anchoring at Chittagong anchorage & entering harbour : -

  1.  Anchor at a safe distance from other vessels at anchor.
  2. If the under keel clearance is less than two metres there is a possibility that you will drag your anchor. This is more prominent during spring tides and during monsoons. The tide can be as strong as 6 to 7 knots per hour.
  3. If you are lightening with other vessels alongside the chances of dragging anchor is even more.
  4. As a precaution use more chains, keep your engine standby all the times and keep the nos. of lighter vessel alongside to minimum.
  5. Keep a good anti theft lookout and employ watchmen on-board.
  6. when maneuvering for anchoring or picking pilot never attempt to cross other vessel Bow at close range. Please remember the current here is very very strong. You may ride on others cable.
  7. Deep draught vessels lightering at Alpha anchorage shall shift to Bravo or Charlie when they attain required draughts to make room for safe anchoring of newly arrived deep draft vessels.
  8. Complete reliance on ECDIS is discouraged. Cross check against upto date paper chart is advised.
  9. Vessel must have at least 12 rope for safe berthing. Tanker vessel having wire rope must have at least 4 polypropylene rope.
  10. To facilitate smooth operation, At berth master of mother vessel must allow lighter tanker/fresh water barge to stay along side as required by Harbor Master office.
  11. Vessel should have at least 0.20M by stern trim for channel navigation to get good steering effect.
  12. While at anchor never keep any loose mooring Rope/gear on deck.

The details of berth wise permissible length and draft and details of Night Navigation's and other navigational information’s are given below: -

  1. Vessels up to 170.00M LOA with minimum speed 10 knots, vessels LOA exceeding 170.00M and upto 190.00M with speed 12 knots may be berthed at jetties 2 to 13 draught not exceeding 8.55 Meters.
  2. Vessels having maximum LOA up to 190.00M can be berthed at CCT, GSJ, NCT-1-4, DOJ-5-7 & KAFCO (A &U). Vessel having LOA 186.00M to 190.00M will be berthed at CCT, GSJ,NCT-1-4, DOJ-5-7 & K(A &U) with draught 0.50M less than the days permissible draught and LOA up to 170.00M with draught 0.50M less than the days permissible draught will be allowed to take berth at NCT-5. LOA up to 160.00M draught 9.50M at DOJ/4. LOA upto 186.00M draught 8.0M at RM/8. LOA up to 186.00M draught 6.0M at RM/9 & LOA up to 145.00M draught 7.5M at RM/10. Vessels having LOA up to 143.40M draught 8.25M and vessels having LOA more than 143.40M and up to 175.25M draught 7.90M can be berthed at TSP. Vessels having LOA up to 190.00M can be berthed at CUFLJ jetty and Vessel having LOA 186.0M to 190.00M will be allowed to take berth with draught 0.50M less than the days permissible draught not exceeding 8.50m.
    * LOA up to 190.00m can be berthed at NCT-5 for interim period due to repair work at NCT-4
       * Condition apply.
  3. Vessels having LOA up to 161.00M with maximum draught 9.14M and LOA upto 170.00M with maximum draught 8.60M will be allowed to take berth at CCJ respectively subject to day’s permissible draught.
  4. LOA up to 190.0M and having draught not more than 7.5M may be berthed at DRY DOCK JETTY.
  5. The master of all vessels should declare correct fresh water draught to the pilot before entering the Harbour. This must be done in writing if the vessels is drawing the day’s maximum permissible draught or a draught within 0.15M of permissible draught. In such cases, on taking berth the draught may be checked by the Harbour Master and if the vessels draught is found more than the permissible draught, the Master will be held responsible for misdeclaration. However vessels draft in excess upto 15cm should not be denied entry.
  6. INWARD ship must present themselves at Pilot ground at least 3 hours before the day light high water at outer anchorage to enter on a particular day, the entry, however, will be subject to availability of berth, permissible drought, day light, rise of tide etc. However, priority vessels such as 24/48 hrs., RORO/CONTAINER, EXPORT LOADER etc. involving another vessels to be moved out from inside the Harbor for accommodating a Quota vessel should report to Pilot-age ground at least 6(six) hours before the day’s predicted high water time.
  7. OUTWARD ship of light drought will leave with first day light flood & ship with maximum drought for a particular day will leave about 2 hours before the high water.
  8. SHIP MOVEMENT generally commences about 4/5 hrs. before the day’s High water Time.
  9. MOVEMENT OF VESSELS on the day’s marked AM & PM depend upon draught, rise of tide, availability of berth & available day light. All concerned are to consult the Harbour Master 24hrs. before the movement. In such cases Ship’s with day’s maximum draught will be handled during AM or PM depending on the availability of day light hours.
  10. DURING the spring tide/freshets/foul weather vessels under 7 knots will not be normally handled and all such vessels will be classed as GRADE-II for operational purposes and shall be handled conveniently. Agents of such vessels are required to consult the undersigned well in advance.
  11. The port will not be responsible if the declared draughts are reduced due to conditions arising out of freshet effect or other causes which cannot be forecast. Owners & Owners agent are advised to consult the undersigned regarding deep draught vessels in advance.
  12. Vessels entering or leaving port must have full power on main engine & deck machinery’s, both anchors with full length of chain must be available for use at all time.
  13. All vessels entering/leaving port shall display their signal letters.
  14.  (a)  Arrived/Departed Ship : Line drawing 22006.0/ N from land towards sea, Vessel Crossing line will be treated arrived ship (North Bound) at Chittagong Port & allocation of berth will be on first come first serve basis.
    (b)  VTMIS has been installed by CPA, system is running and operational round the clock.
    (c)  Ship Masters are required to anchor clear of the “PROHIBITED ANCHOREAGE”.
    (d) Ship Masters must not anchor their vessels near the River entrance.
    (e) Ship Masters must maneuver with great care while embarking/disembarking pilots.
    (f) Pilot ladder as per regulation must be provided.
    (g) Ship Masters must note that the strong tidal conditions prevail at outer anchorage and utmost. care must be taken while maneuvering anchoring or heaving up anchors.
    (h) Crossing of bow at close range shall never be attempted.
    (i) Vessels proceeding to anchor at Chittagong Roadsteads with more than 8.0m draft and specially vessels to be engaged in lightering operation must use at least 9 shackles of chain in water.
    (j) Keep the second anchor and engines standby for immediate use. This is particularly important in monsoon season.
    (k) While anchoring master should keep minimum 5 shackle distance from other vessel, and avoid Fore and Aft line of another vessel.
    (l) Vessel should anchor in designated anchor berth with the approval of VTMS control room. Scrap vessel should anchor in the designated area for them. 

  15. Ship master are advised in their own interest to maintain watch on the Fo’castle and poop deck while the vessels are at outer anchorage.

  16. Ship master must sent their ETA, DRAUGHT and other particulars to the undersigned well in advance.
  17. All ships in port to provide requisite “RAT GUARDS” in the mooring ropes.
  18. Ship master on arrival and prior to departure, are required to ensure that the vessels draught marks are clearly visible for pilots to read the draught correctly.
  19. Ship master are required to ensure that no major chipping of ships side is carried out while their vessels are in port.
  20. UNDUE “SMOKING” from the vessels funnel within the port area is strictly prohibited.
  21. DICHARGING of water on the jetty and listing of vessels while alongside is strictly prohibited.
  22. Karnafulli being tidal river, it is essential for vessels entering port to have six good ropes (HAWSER & WIRE) forward and similar six ropes aft. for mooring purpose.
  23. IN AN EMERGENCY, signal for Tug in port consist of 4 prolonged blasts on the whistle.
  24. VHF(R/T) watch is maintained in the Port Administrative building, round the clock and the same can be contacted any time during day or night channel-12(Frequency 156.6MHZ or Channel-16, Frequency 156.8 MHZ) watch on 2182 KHZ is also maintained simultaneously.

  25. All vessels within port limit shall strictly comply with existing port rules.

  26. Ship masters approaching Chittagong road are advised not to attempt to cross bow of vessels at anchor/underway to avoid drifting on them resulting probable collision in view of the prevailing strong current at outer anchorage. However, if it is inevitable to cross, ship master may do so with caution by giving wide berth to the vessels at anchor/underway considering the minimum velocity of the current being 6 knots and other marine factors.

  27. When a vessels is given standby from Radio Control for entering Port & Pilot is on his way, it is advisable that ship master should heave up anchor and wait for the Pilot steaming the tide near about position, Patenga Lighthouse bearing 0450 (T) distance 2 miles if deemed safe to do so.

  28. Vessels having container on deck obstructing clear view of forward and or obstructing clear view of starboard side when viewed from port bridge wing and vice versa will not be allowed to navigate in the channel of Karnafulli River. When considering clear view, small craft crossing the vessels bow should be taken into account.

  29. Vessels arriving for demolishing purpose are advised to drop anchor at Designated scrap anchorage(North of Alpha Anchor).
  30. Under all circumstances international regulation for preventing collision at sea, 1972 and as amended in 2002 to be followed as closely as possible while navigating within the Port limit of CPA.

  31. NIGHT NAVIGATION :

    Vessels having LOA upto 170.00M with draught 0.50M less than the day’s permissible draught will be allowed to take berth and sail out from Jetty No.2 to 13, CCT, NCT, GSJ, DDJ, CUFLJ & KAFCO for 02(two) months on trail basis w.e.f.: 02/06/2016. 

    Vessels with bridge on the Bow & vessels having containers on deck obstructing clear view forward will not be handled during night.

  32. The permissible length over all(LOA) for the entry to the port for vessels having navigation bridge at the bow is limited to 165.00 metres.

    To reduce the lateral windage area of CAR CARRIERS, RORO vessels and Passenger vessels, the height from the water line to the upper must cargo/passenger deck is limited to 15 meters for handling in the Karnafulli channel.

    However, CAR CARRIER, RORO vessels, Passenger vessel and vessels having Bridge at the Bow exceeding above limit with length over all upto 170.00M may be handled conveniently subject to fair weather (Wind force below 10 knots) and with special arrangements (using extra tugs and extra pilot etc.).

  33.  Permissible Height of mast above water level is limited upto 52 Metre due to over head cable for berthing at jetties from 2 to 13.

    Intending shipping agents may contact the Harbour Master/CPA and offer such ships for handling at least 24hrs. in advance.

Hydro graphical Data

There are three bars, one at mouth of the Karnaphuli River called the Outer bar and the second the Inner bar at 2.26 km from the Outer bar and the third is the Gupta bar at 8.58 Km from the outer bar. The least depth at outer bar is 5.2 meters (approx) from the chart datum (CD) i.e. from Indian Spring Low Water Level (ISLWL).The Least depth at the inner bar and Gupta bar are 7.2 meters and 6.9 meters respectively from Indian Spring Low Water Level (ISLWL).

Depth at Jetty Berth ranges from 8.0 meters to 9.10 meters and depth at Mooring ranges from 8.8 meters to 10.5 meters and above

Max. Velocity of Current Opposite Khal No: 10 is as Under:

Spring tides (S.W.Monsoon) 4.5 to 5.5 Knots.
Neap tides (S.W.Monsoon) 2.5 to 3.5 Knots.
Spring tide (Winter months) upto 3 Knots.
Neap tide (Winter Months) upto 2 Knots
Freshet Ebbs upto 8 Knots.

Salinity

Salinity at Sadarghat varies from 0.1 gms/ 1000c.c at low water to 0.2gms/ 1000c.c at high water during monsoons and from 2.5gms/1000c.c at low water to 16.5gms/1000c.c at high water during dry season.

Salinity at Patenga varies from 0.15gms/1000c.c at low water to 3.3gms/1000c.c at high water during monsoon and from 10gms/1000cc at low water to 27 gms/1000c.c at high water during dry season.

Width

The width of the navigational channel(5.49m. contour) varies from place to place. A minimum of 250m. channel width is maintained.

Wind Velocity

The weather in Bangladesh is largely governed by the monsoon. The prevailing wind directions are from South to South East during the months of April through September. After taking easterly direction for a while the wind turns to the northerly and north easterly directions, the later prevail from November to January. During the months of February and March winds turn via westerly direction back to the Southerly to south Easterly. In excess of 20 Knots/ Beaufort wind scale 5.prevails for 6 percent to time while those in access of 30 Knots/Beaufort wind scale 7 persists for about 0.1 percent of time during cyclones i.e. During the transition between monsoon and dry seasons in May, October and November.

The port of Chittagong experienced four severe Cyclonic water surge during the last 44 years. In 1960 & 1963 speeds recorded were 125 Knots Max. In 1970 and 1991 speeds were recorded 138 Knots max. and 180 Knots max. respectively.

Tidal Ranges

The tides are important for navigations as determine the possibility of crossing the shallow area between Kutubdia points and the Karnafuli entrance and the Bars within Port Limit.

The tides are semi diurnal with prominent diurnal effect.

Pilotage: Pilotage is compulsory as per CPA ordinance

The approx. Tidal Ranges at Patenga, Khal No. 10 and Sadarghat from Chart Datum (ISLWL – Indian Spring Low Water Level which is 1.673m below mean sea level) are as follows:

At Petenga: 1.5m.-5.5m. (above ISLWL) At Khal No. 10: 1.5m-4.8m. (above ISLWL) At Sadarghat: 1.2m-4.2m. (above ISLWL)

Waves

The waves are generally low shown distinct relation with the wind. Maximum wave heights over 2m were recorded only on a few days during the small parts of days. The wave periods vary between 3-4 seconds of waves of about 0.5m and about six seconds for waves of 2m. These are from on observation made by NEI (Netherlands Economic Institute) 1972–1977.

During the months May to October freshets are expected, Freshets are caused by the normal velocity of flow of ebb tide augmented by flow of additional volume of water that drains into the river from the catchment area. Freshets are expected when rainfall intensity reaches 200mm in 24 hours.

Density of water varies at each turn of the tide. Masters are advised to obtain the Circular from the local agents and follow the instructions closely.

N.B. Karnafuli being a tidal river, it is essential for a vessel entering the Port to have six ropes aft for Mooring purposes. For manoeuvering in the Karnafuli River the length carry dry cargo and tankers with Oil is restricted to 190 metres.