Taicang Pt (CNTAC)

The land area of the port is approximately 80kmІ. The coastal line within the port area is 38.8km. The Taicang Port zone is wide with a 25km long coastal line. The port has a broad channel, straight coastline and deep water. In addition to being free of ice and silt, it is able to receive container vessels of the third and fourth generation. Taicang is considered to be one of the best ports on the mouth of the Changjiang River. Main cargoes handled are oil, chemical and gas products, roll paper, steel coil, steel billet, tapioca chips, logs, wood pulp and containers.

Summer.

Taicang Port is located at the interchange of China's Changjiang economic belt with the Changjiang (Yangtze) River to the E and Shanghai to the S, Wuxi and Changzhou to the W.

LOA 335m, beam 52m, draught 15.5m, 216,656DWT.

Approx 243,000,000t of cargo and 7,000,000TEU handled annually.

For sea going vessels: 30°34.4'N 121°19.1'E, depth 12.0m. Taicang anchorage for waiting is bound by the following points: 31°39.5'N 121° 13.6'E, 31°39.2'N 121°14.3'E, 31°37.4'N 121°15.5'E, 31°38.4'N 121°15.2'E, depth 15.0 to 20.0m, bottom sand, for vessels up to 150,000DWT. Quarantine anchorage: 31°33.0'N 128°18.0'E to 31°36.0'N 128°29.0'E.

The port fairway is 0.5-1nm wide has a maximum depth of 10.5m.

BA 1604, 8124. Admiralty Pilot NP30, NP286(6)

996-998.

Compulsory. Vessel should arrive at Changjiangkou (CJK) Pilot Station at least 2 hours before high tide (daylight only) to ensure that the shallow point in the channel is passed at high tide. Normally second high tide is not useable as inward pilotage is only available until 1100 hours. Vessels arriving after this time should wait until next morning. Vessels with a draught over 9.7m in FW and LOA over 205m should seek permission from Harbour Master. Sea pilot will be replaced by river pilot at Baoshan anchorage. Departure pilot should be booked one day prior to arrival or departure. Vessel should sail before 1600hrs to catch Baoshan Sea Pilot for CJK.

Daylight berthing and unberthing only.

Average range 2.17m, maximum range 4.18m.

Total 16 tugs available.

Wind: SE'ly. Taicang is an ice free port and has an average 12 days of fog which occurs mainly in the spring and winter.

Vessels calling at Chinese ports are recommended to use Shanghai Radio (callsign "XSG") and Tianjin Radio (callsign "XSV") for passing messages at long range. Both stations work throughout 24 hours. Inmarsat communication is possible through Shanghai. VHF: Zhuhai Radio monitors Ch 16 throughout 24 hours. CJK Sea Pilot and River Pilot: Ch 69. Port Control: Ch 06,10. Taicang Pilot Station: Tel: +86 512 8883 7601 and Tel: +86 512 8883 7615. Port Contact: VHF Frequency: Ch 11, +86 512 5318 6572, Email: tcport@gov.cn, Website: tcport.gov.cn

Allowances: The allowance for officers and crew are 2 cartons of cigarettes and 2 bottles of liquid which must be included in the Crew's Effects Declaration to the Customs House. There is a penalty for non compliance. The punishment for additional liquids varies according to the brand. Immigration: Shore Passes are issued to each crew member after the Master has submitted/shown all the necessary documentation required to the Immigration officer. This includes General Declaration, Crew's Effects Declaration, Crew List and passports. Crew are allowed to proceed ashore with a Shore Pass and their passport. All crew must be back onboard by 2359hrs. The crew are restricted to the city area and will be fined if they proceed outside this area. All foreign crew members should obey all the laws and practices of the PRC.

..... Distribution (copies) Document LA IM CH QI AP HM Total 1. General Declaration - 1 1 1 1 1 5 2. Cargo Declaration - - 1 1 1 1 4 3. Ship's Stores Declaration - - 1 1 1 - 3 4. Crew's Effects Declaration - 1 1 - - - 2 5. Crew List 1 2 1 1 1 1 7 6. Passenger List - 2 1 1 1 1 6 7. Maritime Declaration of Health - - - 1 - - 1 8. Last Port Clearance - - - - - 1 1 9. Ship's particulars 1 - - - - 1 2 10. Crew's passports - All - - - - All 11. Chinese Tonnage Dues Certificate - - 1 - - - 1 12. Cargo Manifest 1 - 2 - - - 3 13. Bills of Lading 1 - - - - - 1 14. Stowage Plan 1 - - - - - 1 Note: In the above table LA = local agent, IM = Immigration office, CH = Customs House, QI = Quarantine Inspection office, AP = Animal and Plant Inspection office, HM = Harbour Master.

The Master should advise the vessel's ETA to the state agent, or through the local agent to the state agency, 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to the vessel's arrival at the pilot station. The ETA message should include the time and date of the vessel's arrival and sea/fresh water draughts. If there is any dangerous cargo onboard, the Master should also report details of that cargo including description, packaging, IMO code and gross/net weight. Should the vessel's ETA or other circumstances change, prior to arrival, the Master should send further messages.

The national flag of the PRC, which is not old, damaged or colour faded, must be displayed in addition to normal Interco flags. Other flags are not to be displayed without permission from the Harbour Master.

The Master should be aware of the following regulations when the vessel is under normal commercial operations: ..... 1. Before adjusting ballast water, lowering lifeboats, inspecting the main engine, testing/using radio or painting the outer hull, the vessel should apply to the Harbour Master in writing. 2. When taking bunkers or welding, in addition to first obtaining permission of the Harbour Master, the work must be done under the Harbour Master's supervision. 3. There must be crew available at the top of the gangway to adjust it as required. A safety net must be securely rigged under the gangway. 4. The Master must arrange for a duty officer to be available to solve any potential problems during the vessel's loading and discharging and he should liaise closely with shore personnel. 5. Whilst at anchor, a duty officer must maintain a VHF watch on the nominated channel.

When a vessel departs its previous port, prior to calling at a Chinese port, it should apply for pratique by radio. Once the vessel arrives in port, the Quarantine officer boards to carry out an inspection. Before pratique is granted, the vessel must fly the Interco "Q" flag and no crew are allowed to proceed ashore. Ship Sanitation and Ship Sanitation Exemption Certificates can be renewed in all Chinese ports licensed for handling international vessels.

Normally NOR should be tendered according to the relevant clause in the Charter Party. If there is no special clause then it should be tendered according to the actual working hours of the port.

The vessel's agent will send instructions to inbound vessels through the coast radio station being used or via Inmarsat. The instructions usually include the time and position of the pilot boarding. The Master is required to confirm receipt of messages to avoid delays to the vessel.