Navigate Up
Sign In
Home
TNPA > Our Ports > Saldanha

Port of Saldanha

Private Bag X1, Saldanha, 8395
Transnet National Ports Authority, Bayvue Centre, Marine Drive, Port of Saldanha, South Africa
 
 
Customer care: 0860 109 330 / +27 11 351-9400 (International)
       
 
 
LOCATION Latitude 33” 2”S, Longitude 17”5”E
 
Situated on the West Coast of South Africa some 60 nautical miles north-west of Cape Town, the Port of Saldanha, since its “discovery in the year 1601, remains the largest and deepest natural port in the Southern Hemisphere able to accommodate vessels with a draft of up to 21.5 meters. The port covers a land and sea surface of just over 19,300 hectares within a circumference of 91kilometer with maximum water depths of 23.7meters. Saldanha is unique in thatit has a purpose-built rail link directly connected to a jetty bulk loading facility for the shipment of iron ore.
 
 
 
Port Information & Services
 
 
 ADVISING ETA
To VTS/Port Control, on channel 16 at 148,24,12 and four hours prior to arrival.
 
AIRPORT
The nearest major airport is Cape Town International, some 140km from Saldanha which has scheduled flights to world destinations. There are local airports at the towns of Saldanha and Langebaan, both approximately 15km from the port.
 
ANCHORAGES
Saldanha and Langebaan anchorages
 
APPROACHES
The depth of the main navigation channel of the jetties is 23m and 23.7m at its start. It has a minimum width of 400m.
 
BALLAST
Vessels should be sufficiently ballasted to allow safe navigation within the harbor. The actual ballast requirements are:
DRAUGHT (m)      LOA        FORWARD AFT.
183                       6.0          7.5
213                       7.5          8.5
244                       8.0          9.0
274                       8.5          10.0
+274                    8.5           10.5
     
BANKING
Leading South African banks are represented in the towns of Vredenburg and Saldanha.
 
BERTHS
There are 3 X MPT berths, 2 X Iron Ore berths and 1 X Crude oil berth ranging up to 318.5m length.
 
BUNKERS
No pipelines delivered bunkers are available. Gas, oil and diesel, supplied from Cape Town, is available at the ore berths but must be ordered in advance through the ship’s agent. The Government and Sea Harvest quays have private bunker lines
 
CARGO HANDLING
The oil terminal is equipped with three 16” connection Chicksan hydraulic arms, the Iron Ore jetty operates a semi-automated bulk handling facility fed by conveyor and the three multi-purpose berths have no wharf cranes, backed by a range of trucks and ships..
 
CONSULAR
All leading maritime nations are represented.
 
RADAR SURVEILLANCE
Saldanha Bay operates a sophisticated VTS System perfected by Marine Data Systems and AIS System (Automated Vessel Identification System).
 
SALVAGE AND RESCUE
Port Control is the rescue co-ordination centre (RCC) from Dassen Island to the Orange River Mouth.
 
SEAMANS ASSOCIATIONS
The Biblia International Mission and the Anglican mission to Seaman both have facilities in the town of Saldanha offering leisure facilities.
 
SHIP REPAIR
Local facilities, including a slipway, are geared to the requirements of fishing vessels. The closest facilities for large vessels are situated in the Port of Cape Town.
 
SHIP’S AGENTS
Leading South African and world ship’s agents are represented at Port of Saldanha (SAASOOA – South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents Association)
 
STEVEDORING
South African Stevedores handles the storage and handling of Black Mountain commodities. All other cargoes are handled by Transnet Port Terminals and other terminals
 
STORAGE
Dry bulk and general cargo storage facilities are available at the port.
 
 
DEPTH
The quay channels on each side of the ore and oil jetties are dredged to a depth of 23.0m and there is a 580m diameter turning basin to the west of the jetties which is dredged to a depth of 23.2m
 
DIVERS
There is a full service available through private diving companies, employing experienced operatives who are able to undertake work on commercial vessels in the port. No underwater cleaning is allowed.
 
DOCKING
Vessels of more than 14m draught are handled in daylight only. Vessels of MPTV/L may be docked port-side, larger vessels are docked bow-to-sea. A telephone is compulsory for tankers and is placed on board after docking.
 
EMERGENCIES
In case of emergency call Port Control Channel 12 and phone +27 22 703 5310. 
 
FISHING INDUSTRY
Fishing operates at Saldanha are based at the Sea Harvest Quay and Government Jetty. The Sea Harvest Company receives catches for freezing, storage and export.  
 
FRESH WATER
Supplies available by pipeline at all principle quays and berths.
 
HAZARDOUS CARGO
A certified chemist boards all tankers on arrival to check its insert gas system, and confirm that arrivi9ng cargo is fully inserted. Lead concentrates must be covered at all times.
 
FIRE FIGHTING
Port tugs are fitted with firefighting and salvage equipment. A fire protection service is provided for firefighting and related services and a tanker watch is provided by the port authority.
 
HOURS OF BUSINESS
The Port of Cape Town is open 24 hours, 365 days of the year for handling of ore vessels and tankers.
·          Tankers and vessels of more than 14m draught are only berth during daylight
·          Ore vessels are worked 24-hour and
·          Tankers discharge and backload during daylight, until finished
·          Vessels over 300m in length are handled during daylight hours only.
TIDE
The tide fall at Saldanha Bay ranges as per tide tables, average 1.8meters at 6 hourly intervals.
 
TIME
Local time is GMT plus two hours.
 
TRANSPORTATION
Road and rail transport links connect Saldanha with Cape Town.
 
TUGS
Tugs attendance is compulsory for all vessels or leaving the port. The port operates a fleet of four modern tugs. Each with a bollard pull of 42 tonnes. All are fitted with firefighting and salvage equipment. Vessels of more than 19m draught require four tugs
 
WASTE FACILITIES
Provided by Harbour Authority.
 
WASTE DENSITY
The average sea water density in the harbor is 1.025g/cm³.
 
WEATHER
The Port of Saldanha operates under open sea conditions, with wind and swells as factors always to be considered. In the winter the prevailing winds are from the north west, in the summer months morning southeaster swing to south west.
 
 
 
 
 
INFORMATION
Weather reports call Port control on Channel 12.
 
LARGEST VESSEL
Vessels with a maximum draught of 20.5m can be accommodated, with the Harbour Master’s permission for draughts up to 21.5m for sailing (tidal) in ideal conditions.
 
LEISURE CRAFT
There are Small Craft Harbour at Saldanha and Mykonos Yacht Harbour and Yachtports SA.
 
PILOTAGE
Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels arriving at the port. Boarding is via pilot launch (equipped with radar and VHF radio) or, in certain adverse conditions by helicopter. I the latter case, authorization from the ship’s master and the pilot via the ship’s agent is required.
 
PILOT BOARDING POSITION
North Head light bearing 058” at five miles. Tankers must stay six miles off and south of the 080” line prior to boarding.
 
POLLUTION CONTROL
Saldanha Bay is an environmental sensitive area, with strict ballasting regulations. When docking is completed, the pollution control officer will check that the vessel is in a suitable state for de-ballasting. The port of Saldanha can deploy a comprehensive range of anti-pollution equipment. Pollution control booms are positioned around all vessels loading or discharging at the Oil Terminal.
·          Clean and permanent ballast may be discharge once inspected
·          There are no facilities at the port for dirty ballast or slop collection only on arrangement through Agent.
·          No de-ballasting will be allowed from tanks with lines running through cargo tanks containing oil.
 
PORT CRAFT
Saldanha Port display a range of port craft including harbor tugs, pilot cutters, workboats and pollution control craft.
 
RADIO
Port communications are handled on channels 12 and 16 also on 29Mhz and r/t Channel A. at Saldanha.
 
 
 
USEFULL PHONE NUMBERS
When telephoning from outside South Africa replace the “0” in the national area code with +27.
 
Port Control                  022 703 5310
Harbour Master             022 703 5314
Port Engineer                022 703 5464
Port Manager                022 703 5472
Customer Service         022 703 5401
 
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Flying Squad              10111     
Fire                           022 703 4338
Police                        022 714 8333/4     
Port of Entry               022 714 4244
Ambulance                 022 713 4590
Sea Rescue                022 714 1726
Environment              022 703 5449
PORT OF SALDANHA (Designed Specifications) Length and Depths in meters
 PortOfSaldanha-Terminals.png