Varkaus Harbours (FIVRK)

The port includes three distinct harbour areas: ..... 1. Kosula Harbour: Private industrial harbour owned and operated by Stora-Enso OYJ. 2. Akonniemi Harbour: Dry and liquid/bulk general cargo harbour owned and operated by the town. 3. Taipale Harbour: General cargo harbour owned and operated by the City. The three harbour areas are approx 125nm from the Saimaa Canal entrance.

Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Seasonal Area for ships of 100m or less in length. Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

The harbours of Varkaus are located in the central area of the Saimaa Lakes in Varkaus City.

LOA 82.5m, beam 12.8m, draught 4.35m.

Approx 500,000t of cargo handled annually.

The navigation mark system approaching the Saimaa Canal is adequate to ensure safe navigation throughout 24 hours. In the navigation mark system of the Saimaa Canal, lanterns have been used, orange on the West bank of the Canal and green on the East bank, as well as spar buoys, line markers, beacons and radar reflectors, in accordance with International System "A". Booklets on the navigational mark systems of the channels can be obtained from Finnish Maritime Administration. The fairway of the Saimaa water system is made up of three types of public channels: ..... 1. The deep channels of Saimaa, draught 4.3m (according to water level between Lake Saimaa and the Gulf of Finland being 75.25m), total length of channels 813km; 2. Main channels, permissible draught, greater or equal to 2.4m, total length of channels, 1,560km; 3. Side channels, permissible draught, greater than 2.4m, total length 1,207km. The most important deep channel goes from the mouth of the Saimaa Canal in Lauritsala via Savonlinna to Haukivesi, thereafter, branching off to the channel leading via Varkaus to Kuopio and Siilinjarvi, and to the channel for Joensuu. The other deep channels are those of Lappeenranta, Imatra, Ristiina and Puhos. Channels of the main channel level lead, eg from Kuopio to Iisalmi, from Joensuu to Lake Pielinen and from below Puumala to Mikkeli. A channel of the side channel level for instance leads along the Heinavesi chain of lakes from Haukivesi to Kuopio and from this route to Juojarvi. The approach channels from the sea to the canal: The canal can be reached from the Gulf of Finland through an approach channel E of Someri marked on Sea Charts No 11, 12, 140 and 141. The channel passes the island of Vihrevoi and continues by the island of Malyj Vysotskij as the Vysotskij-Viipuri channel from which the incoming channel of the Saimaa Canal diverges by the Maariankivi. The distance from international waters to the Island of Vihrevoi is 95km and from there to Brunsnitchnoe Lock, 36km. The permissible draught of the approach channel up to the Island Malyi Vysotski is 7.3m and from there to the port of Viipuri 6.5m. The passage depth permitted in the channel departing for the Saimaa Canal is 4.35m. The other alternative is the protected coastal channel: The canal can also be reached through the coastal channel, starting from the Finnish boundary near the Island of Santio and merging into the sea channel mentioned above at the Island of Vihrevoi. The permissible draught of the channel is 4.35m. The length of the channel from the border to Vihrevoi is 49km and the length from the border to the Brusnitchnoe Lock is 86km. The channel and its refuge harbours are marked on Russian charts 1131 and 1132 (available from Inflot Bureau, Viipuri) and Finnish charts 11 and 12. The time of passage through the part of the Canal provided with locks (Malkia to Brusnitchnoe) is 5 to 8 hours depending, for instance, on the frequency of the traffic and the size of the vessel.

Finnish 411. Admiralty Pilot NP20.

1000.

Pilotage in the Russian water area is carried out by the Russian Pilot Service. Pilotage is required when using the outer channel between Vihrevoi and Brusnitchnoe, and when using the coastal channel also between Vihrevoi and Brusnitchnoe. Pilotage is compulsory. Pilotage on the Saimaa Canal: Pilotage on the section from Lock Brusnitchnoe to the Lock Malkia is carried out by canal pilots subordinated to Finnish State Pilotage Enterprise. All vessels, excluding small Finnish vessels of more than 25m in length, are required to use a pilot when proceeding through the canal. Upon application, Inland Waterways District may grant to a Master of a vessel, the right to navigate his vessel on the canal without a pilot provided that the Master of the vessel has passed an examination required for the purpose. In navigation from the Gulf of Finland, the pilot must be ordered from the Viipuri Section of Inflot 24 hours prior to arrival at Vihrevoi where the pilot is to be taken onboard. The order must be checked two hours before the start of the pilotage. In navigation from Lake Saimaa, the pilot must be ordered from the Saimaa VTS centre 6 hours before entrance into the canal. The order must be checked 2 hours prior to pilotage being started. In navigation from the Gulf of Finland, a canal pilot need not be ordered separately. Similarly, a Russian pilot for the approach channel need not be ordered separately for vessels proceeding from Lake Saimaa. Pilotage in the water system of the Saimaa is carried out by pilots of Finnish State Pilotage Enterprise.

Saimaa VTS is in operation.

Prevailing winds: SW'ly.

Communications: A Marine VHF network system is used on Lake Saimaa.VTS Communication: Call Saimaa VTS, Ch 09. All passenger vessels and all other vessels of more than 25m in length must maintain a continuous watch on VHF Ch 09 in the Saimaa Canal and the deep channels on Lake Saimaa.In the Saimaa Canal, vessels must listen on Ch 09 and 11. On Lake Saimaa vessels must listen on Ch 09 and 16. Communication with Saimaa Canal locks, Taipale Lock in Varkous and Konnus Lock in Leppavirta: 'Name of lock', Ch 11.

Vessel's agent carries out Customs formalities.

Port@Net-system is an information system on vessels in Finland. All vessels that visit Finnish ports are obliged to provide the following information regarding their voyage to Port@Net-system: ..... 1. Vessel identification (name, callsign, IMO number, MMSI number). 2. Route information (port of destination, previous and next port of call). 3. Estimated and actual time of arrival and departure (ETA, ATA, ETD, ATD). 4. Information on cargo (unloaded, loaded) and passengers (disembarked, embarked). 5. Information on port services required during harbour visit. 6. Information on its maritime and harbour fees 7. IMO/FAL sheet 8. Information on the agency that handles all declarations for the harbour visit. 9. Information on ship managers, etc.

To be advised to agent's office.

NOR is to be tendered on arrival in accordance with the Charter Party. Working hours are normally 0700-1530hrs and 1530-2359hrs.