Kralendijk (BQKRA)

Kralendijk is the principle port for the island of Bonaire with piers for general cargo, containers and cruise vessels. Vessels should sail S of Klein Bonaire Island where there is ample depth close to the berths.

Tropical zone.

The port of Kralendijk is located in an open bay on the S part of the W coast of Bonaire, about 50nm N of Venezuela and 30nm E of Curacao.

Max LOA 330m, beam 38.4m, draught 8.8m, 18,148DWT.

Approx 23,000t, 3,000TEU and 17,000 cruise passengers are handled annually

No anchorage available. Anchoring within the Bonaire Marine Park is forbidden by law and violators may be prosecuted and fined. Vessels awaiting a berth should drift within VHF range for orders.

Kralendijk is best approached from the SW. The port may also be approached from the NW through a narrow channel separating Klein Bonaire from Bonaire, which has a least navigable width of approx 0.2nm off Palu Lechi (12°10'N 068°17'W), but it has not been closely examined. There are no specific directions for entering the port, the chart being a sufficient guide. The best times for berthing are between 0600 and 0800hrs, or after 1700hrs.

BA 780, 2193. Dutch 2212. Admiralty Pilot NP7A, NP286(7).

Search and rescue by Rescue Co-ordination Centre Curacao, Coastguard Radio VHF Ch 16; Tel: +599 9 637911, Fax: +599 9 637950.

1025.

Compulsory for vessels over 50GT, available throughout night and day, call on VHF Ch 16. The Pilot embarks 1nm SW of the light (12°08.9'N 068°16.6'W) exhibited from the fort at Kralendijk. Pilot boards from an orange pilot boat named "Bubi".

Willemstoren Light, (12°01.9'N 068°14.1'W), (white round stone tower, red stripes, 21m in height), standing 0.75nm ENE of Lacre Punt. Boca Spelonk Light, (12°13.0'N 068°11.7'W), (white round stone tower 21m in height), standing 0.5nm S of the NE extremity of Bonaire. Ceru Bentana Light, (12°18.2'N 068°22.8'W), (grey square stone tower 10m in height), standing 0.8nm ESE on the N extremity of Bonaire.

Range 0.6m.

Two tugs of 4,000hp and 50t bollard pull are available. Towage is at the pilot's discretion, with the exception of tankers and larger vessels. If tugs are required they should be ordered through the vessel's agent.

Prevailing winds: ENE'ly to ESE'ly with average velocity 11-17kts.

Curacao Radio, "PJC" is discontinued for public communication. VHF: ..... Bonaire Pilot Calling & safety Ch 16 Bonaire Pilot Working Ch 11 Bopec Terminal Working Ch 13 Bopec Terminal Listening Ch 16 BAS Shipping Working Ch 10 Maduro Shipping Working Ch 25 Rocargo Services NV Working Ch 09 Coast Guard Radio Calling & safety Ch 16 Tugs: "Indusbank" Watch keeping Ch 16/13 "Point Tupper" Working Ch 13

Customs allowances: Max 200 cigarettes and one bottle of alcohol for each crew member. Immigration: Board when vessel alongside and require one Crew List. Passengers and crew are not permitted to take bonded goods ashore.

For inward clearance, copies of the following documents are required: ..... Document Customs Immigration Agent 1. Passenger List 1 2 1 2. Crew List 1 2 1 3. Personal Effects List 1 - 1 4. Vaccination List 1 - 5. Stores List 1 - 1 Stores List is to include stewards, deck, engine and narcotics list. List may be made on vessel's forms and additional copies may be required for vessel's clearance to a subsequent port. No visa is required on documents. Agent, Customs, Immigration and Health officials will board immediately after berthing in order to extract vessel's particulars and collect the Last Port Clearance.

Initial ETA should be telexed or cabled to the agent, at least 72 hours prior to arrival. Additional ETA's should be sent 48 and 24 hours prior to arrival and provide the following information: ..... 1. The vessel's name 2. ETA 3. LOA/BOA 4. Draught at arrival 5. Gross tonnage 6. Type of vessel 7. Purpose of visit 8. ETD 9. Last port 10. Port of destination 11. ISPS Security Level

Bonaire, Dutch or Netherlands Antilles flags are all acceptable and can be supplied by agents.

The waters around the island of Bonaire have been declared a Marine Park. Masters of arriving vessels should sign, from the pilot, a form in which they declare to have clean oceanic ballast water taken onboard from at least 10nm offshore.

Free pratique on arrival by pilot. Health officials will board immediately after berthing. Current Ship Sanitation Control Certificate should be produced, otherwise the Hygiene Department will inspect and issue a new certificate, for vessel's account.

NOR to be tendered upon arrival at pilot station.