Basrah (IQBSR)

Maqal is an alternative name for Basrah.

Tropical.

Basrah is located on the SW side of the Shatt al Arab waterway in Al Basrah Reach.

LOA 188m, draught 8.8m.

Vessels must avoid anchoring in the vicinity of the mouth of Nahr al Ashshar where ferries cross the Shatt al Arab on both sides, with submarine cables crossing the river just below and 1.0nm above the creek entrance, the landing places of which are marked.

The approach is via a narrow 150m unmarked channel. Shatt Al Arab River has a depth of 9.5m, the Outer Bar has a depth of only 5.2m.

BA 3846. Admiralty Pilot NP63.

1025.

Compulsory. The transit is piloted, but a berthing master will board to relieve the pilot. The berthing pilot boards off the mouth of Nahr al Khawrah (30° 30.6'N 047°51.1'E).

The port of Basrah extends up the Shatt al Arab as far as a stone beacon at Nahr Umar, approx 88nm from the entrance to Outer Bar Reach. It also includes the port of Umm Qasr (30°02.0'N 047°57.0'E), the tidal inlet N of that port and the Iraqi waters of the foreshore between Umm Qasr and the entrance to the Shatt al Arab.

Landmarks within the port area are numerous and include several water towers, high buildings and radio masts, many of which exhibit red obstruction lights.

Those vessels transiting the Shatt al Arab are normally restricted in draught to 8.8m across the Karun Bar at the confluence of the Karun River with the waterway. Vessels over this draught will be required to lighten into barges at Hartheh Point. Berthing of vessels at Basrah is carried out during daylight hours only and according to suitable tidal conditions.

Range approx 1.0m. Tidal streams: The tidal stream at Basrah varies. During the flood season (Feb - Jun), the outgoing stream is accelerated by the freshets due to the melting of the snow in the mountains and may attain a rate of 4.0kts, while the ingoing stream may be entirely overcome by the outgoing current. During the dry season (Sep-Dec) the rate of the outgoing stream varies between 2.0 and 3.0kts and the ingoing stream from 1.0 to 2.0kts. The ingoing tidal stream at Basrah makes approx 3.5 hours before the time of HW there, or approx 2 hours after the time of HW at the Shatt al Arab Bar; the ebb stream begins approx 1.75 hours after the time of HW at Basrah, or approx 7.25 hours after the time of HW at the Shatt al Arab Bar. These times are subject, however, to seasonal and other variations, that of the commencement of the ingoing tidal stream preceding the lower HW being considerable and amounting to as much as 1.5 hours on either side of the average. Slack water is of short duration.

There are 12 harbour and seagoing tugs available throughout the waterway.

Prevailing winds: SW'ly and NE'ly monsoon.

VHF: Ch 16, 12, 14, 20. Throughout 24 hours.

Alcohol and pornographic material is to be bonded by the master. The bonded stores will be sealed by customs officials on arrival.

..... Documents Copies 1. Crew List 3 2. Passenger List 3 3. Store List (deck, engine and galley) 3 4. Provisions List 3 5. Customs Declaration/Crew Effects 3 6. Cargo List 3 7. Maritime Declaration of Health 3 8. Bill of Lading 3 9. Cargo Manifest 3 10. Stowage Plan 3 11. Port of Call List (10 voyages) 3 12. Bonded Stores List 3 13. Arms and Ammunition List 3 The following may be checked by the Port Authority: 1. Load Line Certificate 2. Safety Equipment Certificate 3. Certificate of Registry 4. Safety Radio Certificate 5. International Oil Pollution Certificate 6. Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate 7. International Tonnage Certificate 8. Oil Record Book 9. Seaman's Book and Passport

ETA to be advised at least 24 hours prior to entering Iraqi national waters. The ETA should include the following information: ..... 1. Master's name 2. Arrival draught 3. Expected departure draught 4. LOA 5. Beam 6. Depth 7. Arrival displacement 8. IMO number 9. Owner address details 10. Charterer address details 11. NT, GT, SDWT 12. Last and next port 13. Flag/year built 14. Number of hatches/holds 15. Number of cranes/capacity 16. Cargo quantity to be discharged at the port.

ABU FULUS: General: There is still a security problem for smaller vessels (dhows) in transit to Abu Fulus due to sporadic incidents of illegal activity in the Shatt Al Arab though there have been no recent reports of larger vessels being attacked. For navigational reasons vessels are advised to transit during daylight hours only. There is no specific Ro-Ro berth but smaller Ro-Ro vessels operate a regular service between the UAE and Abu Fulus. Private companies operate services for vessels intending to visit Abu Fulus including pilotage and bunkering. Note: It is illegal to take bunkers from any source that is not authorised by the Iraqi Government and a vessel may be subject to arrest and confiscation if bunkers are taken from non-approved suppliers.

Quarantine regulations are strict. Every vessel arriving is considered in quarantine until the port health officer has boarded and granted pratique. No persons are allowed to board or leave the vessel, except the pilot and harbour master until pratique is granted. Valid cholera and smallpox certificates are essential. Infected or suspected vessels must anchor at Nahr al Khawrah for medical inspection.