Beira, Mozambique

Generated from Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Ports and Terminals Guide on 06 Apr 2009

Status Port Open UN Locode MZBEW

Latitude 19º 51.0' S Longitude 034º 50.0' E

Max Draft 8 Time Zone GMT +2

Worldscale No

PORT DESCRIPTION

Location: The port of Beira is situated at the mouths of the Pungue and Buzi Rivers.
General overview: The port which has 12 quays, is the second largest in Mozambique and is the natural gateway for Zimbabwe,
Zambia and S Malawi. The approach channel depths are liable to change, the port authorities should be contacted for up to date draught
limitations.
Traffic figures: Approx 4,000,000t of cargo handled annually.
Load Line zone: Tropical.
Max size: Max size for channel: LOA 200m, draught approx 4.8m to 8.0m (HW), 60,000SWDT (part loaded). Reduced length and
draught restrictions for night navigation.

PRE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

ETA's: Vessels should advise the Beira Port Control of their ETA, draught and LOA 72, 48 hours and 1 hour prior to arrival at "A"
Light-buoy at the seaward entrance channel. Vessels whose last port of call was in Mozambique or Durban, the vessel must fax this
message to Beira Traffic Control on departure of that port. It is compulsory for vessels to provide an arrival announcement on VHF Ch
12, on passing the approach Light-buoy "A". Entrance in the channel is only allowed after obtaining permission from Beira Control
Tower.
Documentation required:
Document
1. Crew List
2. Vaccination List
3. Stores List
4. Crew Personal Effects Declaration
5. List of Ports of Call
6. Passenger/Supernumeraries Lists
7. Stowaway List (if any)
8. Health Declaration
9. Ship Sanitation Control Certificate
10. Last Port Clearance
Immigration, Customs, Health and Maritime Administration require copies of relevant documents.
Pilot supplies an Arrival Report which is to be completed whilst proceeding to berth. A Crew List is to be attached to the report.
Communications: Beira Port Control is equipped with a HF transceiver working frequency 2162kHz also radio Cape Town and
Inmarsat are recommended for passing messages at long range.
VHF: Beira Port Control: Ch 12.
Pilot Station: Ch 16.
Berthing/unberthing operations: Ch 06, 11 or 14.
Health regulations: Pratique is granted once alongside as part of the port clearance formalities.
Ship Sanitation Control Certificates and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates can be renewed.
Customs and Immigration: Customs: An allowance of tobacco and spirits is allowed for each crew member. The bonded store is
sealed for the duration of the vessel's stay in port.
Immigration: Passengers require a visa (emergency visas can be issued on arrival).
Crew can obtain a shore pass against surrender of a passport or Seaman's Book at the Immigration office. Their documents are
returned when the shore pass is surrendered on return to the vessel within shore leave hours. There are heavy penalties for non
compliance.
The agency boarding clerk will advise current shore leave hours in force at time of arrival.
Flags: It is obligatory to display the Mozambican flag. It can be acquired locally. When pilot is on board it is also compulsory to display
the pilot flag.
Notices of readiness: NOR is tendered as per Charter Party, 2-3 hours notice is issued to the Beira Port Control prior to departure.
General notices & regulations: Vessels are to comply with the port, Beira Quays Exploitation, SOLAS and MARPOL regulations.

NAVIGATION

Sea buoys, fairways and channels:Caution: Within 50nm of Beira the seabed is very irregular and numerous shoals lie in the
approach from both S and E; within 30nm many shoals have depths less than 10m. Care is necessary when navigating in the whole of
this area.
The entrance passage to the port is 12nm from the open sea, marked by Lightbuoy "A" (19°56'S 35°03'E) , vessels proceed along the
Macuti Channel, marked by lightbuoys and dredged to a min depth of 4.0m below CD, min width 135m (Survey May 2007).
Deep draught vessels: Approaching from S: May consider making for the Macuti approach buoy (20°09'S 35°20'E), a position 3 5nm
ESE of Macuti Light then follow a track WNW to "A" Lightbuoy.
Approaching from NE: A vessel with a draught of less than 9.1m should make directly for "A" Lightbuoy.
The approach to River Pungue is obstructed by numerous banks and shoals which are constantly changing.
Approach channel: The Macuti Channel has not been dredged for sometime, current depth and max draught information should be
obtained from Port Authorities before fixing a call at Beira. A long term project for dredging is underway.
From the N end of Canal Rambler, the entrance channel is marked by lightbuoys, W of Cabadelo Light on the edge of a bank fronting
the shore between Ponta Gea and Ponta Chiveve.
The channel width from "P" Buoy to Buoy No 6 is 200m and from No 6 to 7 is approx 130m, the manoeuvring area alongside the quay is
less than 800m. The length of the channel is 17nm from Macuti Lighthouse.
Pilot: Compulsory and available 24 hours a day including Sundays. Pilots board vessels near "P" Buoy. Vessels preparing to embark a
pilot should lower a pilot ladder to 1.0m or 3.0m from the water line, the pilot boarding from a pilot boat or tug, respectively.
The port of Beira is serviced by a team of 5 pilots. Prior to the pilot boarding, the Port Control requires the vessel's name, callsign,
draught, beam, LOA, last port of call, dangerous cargo and agency details.
Pilots normally require a min of 1.0m UKC in the channel, vessels at anchor awaiting the tide are informed when sufficient rise has
occurred. In rough weather, whenever possible, the pilot will sound the bar ahead of a vessel entering and signal the depths
ascertained.
Anchorages: Waiting anchorage: Ships waiting to enter Porto da Beira should anchor, clear of the entrance channel, between "A" and
"P" Lightbuoys and as near to the latter as their draught permits, holding ground is reported to be firm.
For vessels with a draught in excess of 7.9m, at both sides of the prohibited anchorage area, a rectangle of 6.0nm long, (distance from
"P" Buoy to "A" Buoy), width 1.0nm.
For vessels with a draught up to 7.9m, E and W of Pilot Buoy at a distance of not less than 1.5nm from it.
Franquia (river anchorage): The narrow anchorage of the harbour abreast Beira, for up to 4 vessels.
The holding ground is poor, vessels can stay there at spring tides, with draughts up to 9.1m and at neap tides with draughts up to 7.9m.
Prohibited Anchorage: It is prohibited to anchor within the entrance channel between "A" Light-buoy and No 3 Light-buoy.
Tidal range and flow: Tidal heights at MHWS 6.4m, MHWN 4.3m, MLWN 2.7m and MLWS 0.8m. Mean spring range of 6.2 to 7.4m. In
the wet season with the high river the ebb stream can attain a rate of up to 6kts at springs and 2-3kts at neaps.
Dock density: 1004/1003.
Weather: Prevailing winds: SE'ly in the early morning, turning E or SE'ly in the afternoon throughout the year. The rainy season is from
Oct-Apr/May. There are strong winds between Sep and Apr including cyclones which occur once or twice during this time set up heavy
seas in the entrance channel.
Principal navigation aids: Macuti Approach Buoy: With Racon beacon and light, signals the entrance to the channel.
Macuti Light: Situated 17nm from "MA" Buoy, 19°51'S 034°54'E pa inted red and white.
Savane Light: A white framework tower, black band, 40m in height is exhibited on the coast 18.5nm NE of Macuti Lighthouse.
Charts: BA 2932, 1003, 642. Admiralty Pilot NP3, NP286(3).
Restrictions: The channel is the main restriction with the permissible draught being calculated as follows:
A. Channel depth at LOWST Chart Datum 4.4m
B. Official underkeel clearance 1.0m
C. Tidal range for the day
D. Safe draught
Vessels with a draught of 4.8m or less may enter the port at any state of the tide. Those drawing more than 4.8m are required to wait for
a suitable height of tide before entry.
Night navigation: Night navigation is only permitted for vessels with a max LOA of 140m and max draught of 7.0m. Night navigation is
restricted due to the bottleneck at Macuti Curva, and narrowing of the channel between Buoys No 6, 6A, 3, 3A, 5 and 5A.
Tugs: The port is serviced by 2 tugs of 2,200hp, "Buzi" and "Pungue".
All port vessels have a red and white superstructure.

BERTHS AND CARGO

Names/Nos:
Berth Length Depth Notes
(m) (m)
No 1 184 8.0 Fishing vessels only
No 2-5 (MCT): 646 5.0 - 11.0 Multipurpose, container
No 6-10 (GCT): 755 5.0 - 7.0 General cargo, coal
No 11 (Oil Terminal): 228 8.5 Refined products
No 12 (New Oil Terminal) 264 8.0-9.0 Petroleum products
Container berths: Containers are handled at the newly opened Multi Purpose and Container Terminal at Berths No 2-5, served by two
40t gantry cranes, one 40/50t transtainer and container handling equipment. Granite and other heavy lift items are operated at the
Container Terminal.
Berth No 6: Refrigerated cargo including citrus exports, vegetables other fresh products.
Berth No 8: Has facilities for discharging bulk molasses, edible oils and tallow to a nearby tank farm. The berth is also equipped with a
conveyor system for the loading of bulk products such as coal, however this is presently not operational.
Tanker berths: Berth No 11 can accommodate tankers up to 20,000DWT, and is fitted with pipelines for refined products. Berth No 11
was the official tanker berth, however berthing is not always possible at this berth due to strong tidal currents.
Berth No 12 (New Oil Terminal), with alongside depth of 8.0m CD up to 13m is the official tanker berth, located approx 1.0km upriver
from Quay No 11, the berth can accommodate vessels from 4,500-60,000DWT. Max draught 7.0m plus tide less 1.0m UKC. Mogas,
Gasoil, Jet A1, avgas and fuel handled via 3 x 10in arms and 6 x 6in hoses. Rates, 1,200tph arms and 750-550tph hoses.
Ro-Ro berths: Ro-Ro vessels are in principle to be berthed at the Multi Purpose and Container Terminal, but can also be accommodated
at Berths No 9 and 10.
Passenger/cruise berths: Berths No 6 and 10.
Facilities: Berths No 2-5 (MCT): There are 2 x 40 gantry cranes both available with a 50t hook lifting capacity and 1 rail mounted
transtainer with the same capacity.
Container handling equipment consists of 6 x 28t Kalmar forklifts, 2 x 16t Kalmar forklifts, 10 Tugmasters, 10 heavy duty trailers and 35
terminal chassis.
For bulk handling, 1 mobile bulk handling unit of 300tph, 2 mobile bulk handling units of 90tph each and 2 bagging units of 120tph are
permanently available. Further bulk handling and/or bagging units can be made available at short notice, there are also 7 bulk handling
grabs available.
Berths N0 6-10 (General cargo terminal): Berths are equipped with 25 x 3-20t electric cranes, 23 x 5t Caterpillar forklifts, 12 x 3t
Caterpillar forklifts, 7 x 1.5t forklifts and 2 x 15t mobile cranes.
Storage: There is 45,000m2 of covered warehouses plus 69,725m2 of transit sheds.
There are 15 cooled storage chambers for citrus fruit with a 1,100t capacity, (1.5-4.5 C) and a deep freeze with a capacity of 490t,
(-9°C-20°C) is available.
A newly constructed stripping/stuffing warehouse with a capacity of 8,000m2 has been opened at the new MCT, while at the MCT there
are special dedicated areas for general cargo and breakbulk, as well as for dangerous cargo.
There is a storage capacity for coal of 150,000m3 available.
Cargo: The coal terminal operates at a production speed of 700tph via one outgoing transport belt. The discharging rate at the railway
wagons is 400tph at the stacking area.
Ballast/slop reception: There are no ballast reception facilities available.

GENERAL

Repairs: Beiranave Shipyard, with Lisnave International Management and Technical Support available from Portugal, are specially
equipped for all kinds of repairs on ships up to 110m, including the building of new ships and barges, metal and mechanical
construction, maintenance of large industrial units, blasting and printing and the rehabilitation of industrial installations.
There are also mechanical, plate, pipe and electrical workshops available.
Drydocks: There is a small drydock 110m x 17m x 6.5m dry dock available.
Bunkers/water/stores: Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: Available.
Medical facilities: Medical facilities are available in an emergency.
Transport: Nearest airport: Manga Airport, 12km.
Airport facilities: Direct flights to Maputo and Harare (Zimbabwe), as well as domestic and international destinations by charter flights.
Nearest railway: Beira is connected to Mozambican railway, which in its turn is connected to the railways of Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia,
Zaire and Botswana.
Consuls: Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal and Zimbabwe.
Public holidays: New Year's Day is the only holiday upon which the port is closed. Work takes place as usual on all other holidays at
overtime rates. Other holidays are: May 1, Jun 25, Dec 25.
Working hours: Normally 0700-1500hrs, 1500-2300hrs and 2300-0700hrs. Overtime by arrangement.
Developments: A programme of major redevelopment is underway to restore the status of the port as the primary port of Zimbabwe,
Zambia and Malawi. A number of general cargo berths have been demolished and have recently been replaced by the new Multi
Purpose and Container Terminal of 150,000m2, with 144 reefer plug-in points.
It is reported (February 2007) that The Dutch government and the publicly owned Mozambican Ports and Railways company (CFM) are
investing US$18,000,000 in two emergency dredging projects for the access channel and the manoeuvring basins in the port of Beira.