Esmeraldas (ECESM)

Esmeraldas, in Esmeraldas Province, is a small general and bulk cargo port. There is also an oil refinery at Balao with three offshore berths. Harbour: Principal imports - Steel products, vehicles, project cargoes, steel pipes, cement, clinker, gypsum. Principal exports - Wood chips, wood, palm oil, vehicles.

Tropical.

The port of Esmeraldas is situated on the north western most part of the Ecuador coastline.

Harbour: Draught 10.5m, LOA 230.0m, beam 38m, 68,439DWT. Offshore: LOA 250m, draught 15.85m, 116,038DWT.

Approx. 24,400,000t of cargo, 400 vessels and 35,000TEU handled annually.

The following anchorages are available and centred on the below positions: ..... Anchorage Name/No. Latitude Longitude Use Bunkering Anchorage 01° 00.570'N 79° 40.100'W Bunkering Hot Work Anchorage 01° 02.000'N 79° 46.000'W Hot work Anchorage "A" 01° 01.500'N 79° 40.000'W Handysize tankers Anchorage "B" 01° 01.380'N 79° 40.250'W Handysize tankers Anchorage "C" 01° 01.300'N 79° 41.140'W Panamax size vessels Anchorage "D" 01° 02.000'N 79° 41.190'W Aframax size vessels Anchorage "E" 01° 02.300'N 79° 41.300'W Aframax size vessels Anchorage "F" 01° 02.300'N 79° 42.000'W Aframax size vessels Anchorage "G" 01° 02.300'N 79° 42.300'W Aframax size vessels Prohibited Anchorage: Anchorage is prohibited in 2 areas as follows: An area in the approaches and entrance channel to the harbour. Between the head of the breakwater and a position NE of the lightbuoy (safe water), moored in the anchorage and pilot area. An area WSW, ENE and N, of the submarine oil pipeline extending NW from the vicinity of 00°58.9'N 079°40.7'W.

The port is approached from NW or N, and entered on the alignment of leading lights through the entrance of Rio Esmeraldas (00°59.5'N 079°38.5'W). Balao Terminal is approached directly from seaward. The alignment (168°) of E1 and E2 Lights (orange and white square wood and concrete structures) (front light 2.25nm SSE of the breakwater head), near Tachina, leads through the entrance channel into the river mouth. Both sides of the channel are marked by lightbuoys.

BA 2257, 2799. Balao Terminal, National IOA 1002, Admiralty 1814 and 2257, USA 21033 and HC-1176. Admiralty Pilot NP7, NP286(7).

1025.

The mooring area is situated between Lat 01°03'N and Lat 01°00'N and Long 079° 40'W and Long 079°44'W. Mooring operation will be undertaken by day under normal weather conditions from 0600-1700hrs. Unmooring operation will be undertaken by day and night. In this area small craft such as fishing vessels and coasting vessels engaged in cabotage are prohibited. Mooring turn (arrival): Arrival time is considered the time the vessel reaches the anchorage vicinity or the time the pilot boards the vessel, whichever occurs first. In any case, the terminal will give priority to the vessel that arrives first. Mooring: When a vessel is in close proximity to the SBM, two ship's lines will be carried by the mooring tug to the two floating buoy lines and secured to same, these lines will then be heaved aboard. As the buoy ropes come clear of the water, it will be noted that chains are attached to them. These chains are to be secured to the bitts in such a manner that the chains absorb any chafing if the buoy lines cross the bow. Power must be available at all times on all deck winches and windlass while the vessel is at the berth. A mooring line must be available aft, secured to the bitts and of sufficient length to enable a tug boat to pick up the eye and tow off if necessary. Unmooring: The Mooring Master will advise to Balao Terminal the estimated time for completion of loading and will request a pilot. When hose disconnecting is completed unmooring takes place, the tug comes alongside the ship to transfer all material and personnel that have been used during the operation. The vessel will be ready to leave the terminal after receiving the respective documents and clearance. Average Operation Time: Subject to different characteristics of each ship, the following can be used for reference: ..... 1. Approaching the SBM from anchor area 50 minutes 2. Approaching the SBM from pilot boarding area 30 minutes 3. Putting mooring and connection equipment aboard ship 30 minutes 4. Mooring 30 minutes 5. Hose lifting and hose connection 80 minutes 6. Hose disconnecting 40 minutes 7. Unmooring 10 minutes 8. Removal of personnel and equipment 25 minutes Buoys "X" and "Y". Lifting, connecting, disconnecting, lowering and other operations will be performed by a special team from the terminal. The port derrick must be rigged and ready for use on arrival. Vessels should be advised that the weight of each hose is at least 5t under favourable conditions. Members of the ship's crew will be required to operate the winch or winches. Particular care should be taken during hose handling operations in order to avoid serious damage to the hoses, plastic floats and buoys on the plate edges, rails, etc. Loading is through SBM's which are approximately 12.1m in diameter and held in position by fixed chains secured to piles sunk into the sea bed. Buoy "X" is equipped with 246.8m length x 24in floating hose which is connected to 2 x 32m length x 12in tail hoses. Buoy "Y" is equipped with a 20in floating hose connected to 2 x 12in tail hoses. Each buoy is equipped with 246.8m length x 20in floating hose reduced to 12in tail hoses for deballasting. Potential loading rate: Berth "X" and "Y" 32,000bbls/hr max and 10,000bbls/hr min. Standard loading rate is approx 30,000bbls/hr.

Compulsory and available throughout 24 hours. For Esmeraldas, pilot boards vessel approx 2nm N off Coquitos Point Light. Balao Oil Terminal Pilotage Zone: Pilot boards in the area bounded by the following positions: ..... 1. 01°03.8'N 079°44.1'W 2. 01°03.8'N 079°42.1'W 3. 01°02.8'N 079°42.1'W 4. 01°02.8'N 079°44.1'W

Major light: Punta Coquitos Light 00°59.2'N 079°39.9'W. Useful marks given from the position of the breakwater head, 00°59.9'N 079° 38.6'W: E1 Light (red concrete tower, white top) (on the breakwater head). E2 Light (white concrete tower, red top) (0.25nm S), at the S entrance point of the commercial basin. E3 Light (white concrete tower, red band) (0.5nm SSE), on the E entrance point of the fishery basin. E4 Light (red concrete tower, white band) (0.45nm S), at head of finger jetty within the fishery basin.

A navigation restricted area has been established NW of Punta Coquitos Light (00°59.2'N 079°39.9'W). Vessels entering and leaving harbour are required to keep clear of the shore terminals off Balao. A vessel is not permitted to enter the terminal area without a pilot onboard; until the pilot arrives, vessel is required to remain in the waiting and pilot boarding area. Balao: Draught restriction of 15.85m. TME has a max permissible draught of 12.2m.

Mean spring range 2.9m; mean neap range 1.7m. In the harbour area the currents set N to NE at 1 to 3kts. In the anchorage area for Esmeraldas, the rate is increased by the outflow from the river, which occasionally reaches a rate of 3.5kts. Tidal streams flow strongly past the entrance to the commercial basin.

Compulsory, three tugs available. Oil Terminal Tugs: There are 5 available to perform single point mooring operations. Four are equipped with 2,365hp engines and 1 tug of 1,550hp.

Prevailing winds: SW'ly Jun-Nov/NE'ly Dec-May. Weather and current: wind and swell are mostly from SW. During the wet season, Dec-May, approx wind and current are from NW or N. The currents which vary frequently, sometimes operate in direction to the wind causing the vessel to yaw heavily at the berth. Nevertheless, in general, the weather, the whole year, is good. However, sometimes during the dry season, Jun-Nov, mooring operations are limited by wind intensity.

ESMERALDAS 0°59.53'N 79°38.71'W UNCTAD LOCODE: EC ESM ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________

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Radio Costera Guayaquil is the recommended station for passing messages at long range. The station works from 0800-2359hrs. Inmarsat communication is not possible. A 24 hour watch is maintained on HF-SSB 2182kHz, 2136.3kHz. VHF: Port: Ch 16. Pilot: Ch 06. Balao Oil Terminal: Pilots and Terminal: Ch 16; 14. Tel: +593 26 272 8738, Email: bater01@andinanet.net.

Customs allowances: There is no specific allowance set by Customs. However, personal effects should be limited to one item such as one TV, one radio, etc. Penalties for non compliance result in excess/undeclared items being confiscated. Immigration: Passports have to be presented. Crew and passengers proceeding ashore must be in possession of their passport and a shore pass which will be inspected.

The following documents are required on arrival: ..... Document Copy 1. Last Port Clearance 1 2. General Declaration 6 3. Crew List 6 4. Crew Personnel Effects List 6 5. Bonded Store Declaration 6 6. Passenger List or Nil 6 7. Mail Way Bill 6 8. Maritime Sanitary Declaration 2 9. Ship's Particulars 5 10. Report Coast Guard 2 Special forms for completion by the Master are delivered onboard by the local agent on arrival.

ETA should be sent 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to arrival.

Whilst navigating Ecuadorian waters and in port, vessels must display their national flag as well as the Ecuadorian flag. For not displaying Interco and/or other flags a vessel may be detained and fined by an amount determined by the local authorities.

A representative of the Health Department boards with Port Authorities on a vessel's arrival. Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Exemption Certificates can be issued and renewed.

NOR is normally tendered on arrival at first sea pilot station.