Weihai Pt (CNWEG)

It is a natural bay harbour, sheltered by Liugong Island in the E and protected by mountains to the N, W and S. The port is divided into North port and South port, 8nm SE of North port in Yang Jiang Bay. Vessels can be lightened at anchor.

Summer.

Wei Hai harbour lies on the NE coast of Shandong peninsula in the NW of Wei Hai Bay.

LOA 263.23m, beam 43m, draught 14.8m,100,309DWT.

Approx 45,000,000t of cargo, 1,400,000TEU and 1,400,000 passenger handled annually.

The anchorages range from No 1 to No 11, of which No 2 to No 8 are used by the Navy, No 10 and No 11 for kelp cultivation, No 1 for civil purposes and No 9 is the quarantine anchorage. The location of the latter 2 are as follows: ..... Latitude Longitude No 1 Anchorage 37°30.42'N 122°07.40'E 37°30.13'N 122°08.30'E 37°30.00'N 122°08.30'E 37°30.00'N 122°07.43'E No 9 Anchorage 37°31.93'N 122°11.77'E 37°31.93'N 122°10.98'E 37°31.33'N 122°11.77'E 37°31.33'N 122°10.98'E

Approach and entry: Weihai can be approached through N entrance and entered between Beiqi Zui (37°31'N 122°11'N), and Huang Dao, 0.9nm NW, then on the alignment of leading lights. S entrance is not available as it lies in a prohibited area. The harbour entrance is separated into the S entrance and N entrance by Liugong Island. The N entrance is open to commercial traffic and has depths of 7.0-28m with a depth at the entrance of 9.5m. The N entrance begins 350m E of No 2 Wharf, stretches E to the 6.5m depth contour. It is 2,250m in length with a width of 60m at the bottom. Within the bay there is a fairway marked by buoys, in accordance with IALA Maritime Buoyage System (Region A), leading to the wharf. There is a channel to the South Port, dredged to 9.0m.

BA 1254, 1255, 1289, 1316. Admiralty Pilot NP32, NP286(6).

Pilotage is available throughout 24 hours: ..... 1. Pilotage is compulsory for foreign vessels entering, leaving or shifting berth within the port. 2. Vessels should send ETA 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to arrival. 3. Foreign commercial vessels should establish communications with Yantai, Qingdao or Shangahi Coast Radio Stations. Wei Hai CRS is only available for Chinese vessels. 4. Pilot boards in the Pilotage/Quarantine Anchorage (37°31.6'N 122°11.3'N)

The harbour is divided into the inner harbour and the outer harbour. The former is within a line running from Dongshan promontory in the N, the Jinxianding Lighthouse in the S and turning W up to the quay wall. The latter starts from Jianggu promontory on the N shore to Zhaofu promontory on the S shore. The whole water area is 14km wide with a depth of 5.0-10.0m.

Leading lights, exhibited from steel framework towers with red and white bands 10m in height, are positioned with the front lead close to the W end of No 2 Wharf and the rear lead 460m to the W of it. In line 270° they lead into the harbour basin. The Zhaobei promontory lighthouse is in position 37°27.63'N 122°14.5'E, to the SE of the harbour. It is a white round tower, the light being exhibited 28m above sea level. It is a vital identification mark for ships approaching from the E to make the harbour.The Yashi Light Beacon is at 37°31.73'N 122°10.45'E on Yashi Island. It is an important mark for reefs between the SW end of the island and the Beishan promontory. There are also other navigational aids on the outer side of the promontories and reefs. The Qigan promontory Light Beacon, 37°29.52'N 122°08.39'E; the Dahong Light Beacon, 37°29.65'N 122°12.89'E; plus lightbuoys.

Entry into the port and sailing after sunset is possible. Anchoring and fishing are prohibited in an area 6 cables wide extending from Liugang Dao to the mainland 1.5miles.

The tide is of a non regular semi diurnal type. The springs rise is 2.9m, neaps 2.1m and the mean sea level is 1.2m. The inshore tidal current is NW'ly during flood tide, its rate being highest 4 hours before HW, approx 0.75-1.25kts; during ebb tide the current is SE'ly, the highest rate occurring 2 hours after HW, the average rate being about 1kt, max rate being 1.7kts.The outer current (W current) of the harbour divides into the N current and S current at the eastern end of Liugong Island, passing the island and, becoming one again near Qingdao Island and Waidao Island, runs past Heishan promontory, Maotou and Jingzishan and Cudao Island at a rate of 2-3kts and gradually disappears 5nm from the shore. The ebb current (E current) branches out into the S current and N current near Waidao Island, which run past Liugong Island and join together at its E end, its spring rate near iron wharf being 3kts. At the anchorages the S current is stronger during spring tides, while the N current is stronger during neap tides, both rates being under 0.5kts.

6 tugs available, hp, 2 x 5,200HP, 3 x 4,000HP and 1 x 3,200HP.

Winds: Prevailing winds are from the NW quadrant. Strongest winds, with a velocity of 42kts, blow from the SW quadrant. Fog: Approx 16 days annually, which occur in July.

Radio: Foreign commercial vessels approaching Wei Hai harbour should establish communications through Yantai, Qingdao or Shanghai coast radio stations. Wei Hai CRS is only available to Chinese ships at present. Contact details: VHF: Ch 16, Tel: +86 631 5233256, Fax: +86 631 5232512, Website: http://www.whport.com.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 Effect 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 of 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 in bound 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.