Gangavaram

Overview

Gangavaram Port is located on the east coast of India, approximately 6 nautical miles southwest of Visakhapatnam.

The port is a deep-water commercial port handling various dry bulk cargoes.

Cargo: Limestone

Operation: Discharge

Cargo Operations

For limestone discharge, attainable productivity is based on operation with two shore mobile crane hooks.

Indicative attainable discharge productivity:

20,000–25,000 MT per weather working day, subject to vessel configuration, cargo characteristics, weather conditions, equipment availability and operational circumstances.

The nominated suitable berths are equipped with shore harbour mobile cranes and grabs.

Suitable Berths

GPL Berth No. 2

• Maximum permissible LOA: 230 m

• Maximum permissible beam: 40 m

• Maximum permissible draft: 14.50 m

• Maximum displacement: 98,000 MT

• Cargo-handling equipment: 2 × 100 MT SWL Gottwald harbour mobile cranes with 35 CBM grabs

• Berth position: 17.62597°N, 83.24700°E

GPL Berth No. 3

• Maximum permissible LOA: 230 m

• Maximum permissible beam: 40 m

• Maximum permissible draft: 15.00 m

• Maximum displacement: 98,000 MT

• Cargo-handling equipment: 2 × 100 MT SWL Gottwald harbour mobile cranes with 35 CBM grabs

• Berth position: 17.61511°N, 83.26841°E

GPL Berth No. 8

• Maximum permissible LOA: 230 m

• Maximum permissible beam: 38 m

• Maximum permissible draft: 14.50 m

• Maximum displacement: 98,000 MT

• Cargo-handling equipment: 2 × 100 MT SWL Gottwald harbour mobile cranes with 35 CBM grabs

• Berth position: 17.60038°N, 83.31617°E

Maximum permissible drafts are stated to be in accordance with the prevailing water density.

Port Approaches & Navigation

The entrance channel is approximately:

• Length: 1,750 m

• Width: 200 m

• Dredged depth: 20.2 m

The approach channel is marked by two pairs of buoys.

The turning basin is marked by two illuminated solar-powered channel marker buoys.

Day and night leading marks/lights are provided on approximately 265°T.

Port Limits

The port limits are defined by lines connecting the following positions:

1. 17°38.55'N, 083°15.62'E

2. 17°34.90'N, 083°21.90'E

3. 17°24.76'N, 083°13.52'E

4. 17°31.80'N, 083°05.47'E

Pilotage

Pilotage for inward and outward movements is controlled by the Port Authority.

Self-pilotage is not permitted.

The pilot normally boards at approximately:

17°37.05'N, 083°17.50'E

The pilot boarding position is approximately 2 nautical miles ESE of Buoys No. 1 and 2.

The pilot normally boards from the pilot launch, although boarding may occasionally be carried out from a harbour tug.

VHF Communications

Gangavaram Port Control is manned 24 hours a day.

Port Control maintains a listening watch on:

• VHF Channel 16

• VHF Channel 14

Working channels include:

• VHF Channel 10

• VHF Channel 11

• VHF Channel 14

Vessels should contact Gangavaram Port Control when within VHF range for berthing or anchoring instructions.

Notice of Readiness

The port information provides the following guidance for determining NOR time:

• If the pilot boards the vessel immediately on arrival, the pilot boarding time is considered the NOR tendering time.

• If the vessel does not receive a pilot on arrival, anchors within the port anchorage area and has already filed an inward pilot request, the anchor dropped time is considered the NOR time.

• If the vessel anchors within the port anchorage but has not filed an inward pilot request, the time the inward pilot request is filed is considered the NOR time.

• If the vessel arrives approximately 1 nautical mile from the Pilot Boarding Ground and waits for the pilot without anchoring, the vessel's arrival time at that position may be considered the NOR time.

The vessel's arrival and NOR time should be communicated to and confirmed with Port Control on VHF Channel 14.

Navigational Restrictions

For fully laden Capesize vessels, berthing is carried out in conjunction with high tide and is subject to suitable weather conditions at the time of berthing.

Air Draft

The distance from the vessel's waterline to the top of the hatch covers should not exceed approximately:

17.5 m, assuming a tide height of 1.5 m.

Actual acceptance remains subject to the prevailing tide and port requirements.

Mooring Requirements

Minimum recommended mooring arrangement:

4-2-2 forward and 4-2-2 aft.

Synthetic mooring ropes are required/preferred.

Where the vessel does not have an adequate number of synthetic lines, wire breast lines fitted with synthetic rope tails of at least 40 m length may be used.

Water Density

Water density alongside Gangavaram berths may vary.

Indicative density stated in the port information is approximately:

1.019–1.022

Permissible vessel drafts are therefore subject to the actual prevailing water density.

Tides

Gangavaram experiences semi-diurnal tides.

Indicative tidal levels:

• Highest High Water recorded: +1.80 m

• MHWS: +1.52 m

• MHWN: +1.08 m

• Mean Sea Level: +0.84 m

• MLWN: +0.54 m

• MLWS: +0.09 m

Draft and berthing limitations may consequently depend on the prevailing tidal condition.

Working Hours

Cargo operations are arranged on a continuous three-shift basis:

• A Shift: 0600–1400 hrs

• B Shift: 1400–2200 hrs

• C Shift: 2200–0600 hrs

The information provided states that no shift breaks are normally observed at Gangavaram Port.

Cargo Handling Equipment

The nominated limestone berths are equipped with 100 MT SWL Gottwald harbour mobile cranes with approximately 35 CBM grabs.

Additional hydraulic grabs may be available on rental basis.

At least approximately two days' advance notice may be required for suppliers to obtain the necessary customs and port permissions for bringing additional grabs into the port.

Availability and rental terms are subject to prevailing conditions.

Ballasting / Deballasting

Ballasting and deballasting may be carried out simultaneously with cargo operations while alongside, subject to applicable ballast-water management requirements and port regulations.

The port information indicates that berth occupancy exclusively for the purpose of ballasting or deballasting is not normally considered acceptable.

Fresh Water

Fresh water supply is available.

Supply is normally arranged by truck and remains subject to availability from the municipal water supply.

Fresh-water delivery is permitted during daylight hours only.

Bunkers

Bunker supply is available.

Delivery may be arranged:

• by truck, or

• by barge, subject to barge availability.

Approximately 48 hours' advance notice is required to allow the supplier to obtain the necessary statutory permissions.

Bunker supply is permitted during daylight hours only.

Garbage, Sludge & Slops

There is no compulsory requirement for disposal of garbage or sludge at Gangavaram Port.

Discharge of slops is not permitted.

Any garbage or sludge disposal, when required, should be arranged subject to current port requirements and availability.

Open-Loop Scrubbers

Use of open-loop scrubbers is permitted at Gangavaram Port according to the supplied port information.

Additional port charges may apply for the use of an open-loop scrubber.

Weather

Typical seasonal conditions are described as follows:

January–May: generally fair weather.

June–September: monsoon season. Cargo operations may be affected by rainfall and adverse weather. Historical information indicates that rain delays of approximately 7–8 hours have occurred during monsoon periods.

October–December: generally clear weather.

Operational restrictions, loading/discharging productivity and vessel movements remain subject to actual prevailing weather conditions.

ISPS

Gangavaram is an ISPS-compliant port.

Vessels are required to comply with applicable port security and ISPS requirements while within the port.

Charts & Nautical Publications

Relevant navigation references listed in the supplied port information include:

• Indian Chart No. 308

• Indian Chart No. 3035

• Bay of Bengal Pilot — Indian Hydrographic Office

• Admiralty Sailing Directions, Bay of Bengal Pilot, NP 21

Supervisor

Engagement of a port/cargo supervisor is mandatory according to the supplied Gangavaram port information.

Important Draft / Trim Note

A separate historical port confirmation dated 28 January 2022 states that there was no specific trim requirement for laden vessels and that vessels at the coal berths could be accepted at an even-keel draft of 18.00 m with approximately 1.0 m height of tide.

This confirmation specifically refers to coal berths and should not be treated as the permissible draft for the limestone berths listed above. For limestone operations, the berth-specific draft limits of 14.50–15.00 m shown above should be used unless more recent port confirmation states otherwise.

All maximum drafts, dimensions, tidal restrictions and operational limitations should be reconfirmed with the port for the vessel's actual call.