Montego Bay (JMMBJ)

Montego Bay is an artificial harbour entered through a dredged channel at the S end of Montego Bay. It is the principal port on the N coast of the island and is a tourist resort. The port has an open roadstead of 9.1-11.0m depth, approx 0.5nm from the shore, and depths of 12.8-14.6m in the harbour. The port of Montego Bay is owned by the Port Authority of Jamaica and has berths that are operated by Port Handlers Ltd. There are a total of five berths at Montego Bay, two of which service Montego Bay Freeport Cruise Terminal and the other servicing the Petrojam Tanker Loading Terminal.

North Atlantic Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Nov 1 to Jul 15, Summer Jul 16 to Oct 31.

Montego Bay is located on the NW coast of Jamaica.

LOA 323.63m, beam 42m, draught 10.10m, 51,476DWT.

Approx. 630,000 tonnes of cargo, 460,000 passengers and 350 vessels.

Anchorage points: Anchorage is available in the roadstead, approx 0.5nm from the shore, in depths of 9.0-11.0m or in depths of 12.8-14.6m in the harbour. Anchorage is available in Anchorage "A" (0.7nm WNW from Anglican church), with the permission of the Harbour Master at Kingston. The best position is on the leading line with the front stopping beacon bearing 062°. Conditions at the anchorage: The anchorage is frequently crowded, especially between Dec and Jun. Whenever anchoring in the bay, a vessel should veer a good scope of cable to prevent dragging into deeper water, as the slope of the bank is generally steep. In winter, the closer to the NE shore that a vessel can anchor, the greater will be the protection of the reefs but the holding ground is not so good. The anchorage is quite safe during the period of ordinary land and sea breezes, which blow from between NE and SE. However, the anchorage can rapidly become untenable with N or NW winds as these are generally strong and cause a considerable swell within the bay. Those winds usually occur between Nov and Mar, and are heralded by a sharp drop in temperature (8° to 11°C) in Florida and the Gulf States of the USA. This condition gives approx 12 hours warning of bad weather but winds of force 7 may arise with little or no warning. Quarantine anchorage: Quarantine anchorage is situated at Great River Bay (4nm WSW).

Approach: The berths are reached through a 457m length channel, width 122m, dredged to a depth of 10.36m. Directions for entering harbour: Approach to Montego Bay: Leading lights: From the vicinity of (18°30'N 077° 59'W) the alignment (118.5°) of leading lights (visible about 10° each side of the leading line) leads past the pilot boarding place, to the anchorage in the bay: Front light (red triangle, point up, on mast 5.0m in height), (0.2nm SSW of the church tower), partly obscured by a breakwater and difficult to see. Rear light (white triangle point down on mast, 16m in height) (0.225nm ESE of front light), surrounded by buildings and difficult to see. Lights in line (035.25°), known as "stopping lights", visible 10° each side of the line, (red disc on red round metal tower 4m and 5m in height), front light on fort (0.45nm NNW of the church tower). The rear light is partly obscured by trees and difficult to see. Montego Port: Route: The alignment (200.75°) of leading lights (white triangles on posts) (1.25nm SW of the church tower) leads through the dredged channel into the turning basin. The dredged area is marked by lightbuoys and light beacons.

BA 256, 464; Jamaica 464. Admiralty Pilot NP70, NP286(7).

1026.

Pilotage is compulsory for merchant vessels. Pilot boards approx. 1.7nm WNW of front leading light at the head of the bay, but prior arrangements are necessary. Vessels should request a pilot 72hrs in advance and confirm ETA 48hrs and 24hrs prior to arrival. Pilotage is undertaken during daylight hours only. Pilots communicate on VHF Ch11, 12 and 16. The pilot boat is available to assist with mooring.

Entry by day and night.

Range 0.2m. No current in harbour and virtually no swell alongside the berths.

Available from Kingston if required.

Prevailing winds: NE'ly (10kts).

MONTEGO BAY 18°27.66'N 77°56.26'W UNCTAD LOCODE: JM MBJ For details see: KINGSTON HARBOUR PILOT REQUIREMENTS ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________

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VHF: Ch 16, Kingston Radio. Ch 11, Pilots (callsign "KNRD" 0671).

NOR to be tendered on arrival.