📋 Port Overview
✗ ISPS✗ ECA
The port is currently closed for commercial operations. Information for the port is retained should the port reopen. Tolagnaro (previously Fort Dauphin) consists a small harbour and a large natural bay with safe anchorage for ocean going vessels to work cargo into lighters. Cargoes handled include rice, maize and sisal. The new private port of Ehoala, 5km SW has mainly taken over all but small cargo vessel traffic from this port, see separate entry.
Load line zone
Summer.
Location
Tolagnaro is situated on the SE coast of Madagascar.
Max size
Anchorage: Draught 12.0m, 21,500DWT.
Traffic figures
Approx 11 vessels are handled annually. Approx 2,000t of maize, 2,500t of rice and 10,000t of sisal handled annually.
🔧 Facilities
Bunkering ✓Fresh Water ✓Stores ✓24/7 ✗
🧭 Navigation Information
Anchorages
There are 2 anchorage berths in depths of 6.0-14.0m for general cargo vessels and 1 anchorage berth in a depth of 6.0m for tankers. Vessels, drawing 6.0m or more, anchor in the position at the intersection of the leading line and the bearing 155° of the following marks in line: A light (white square tower, red lantern, 12m in height) (25°01.4'S 047°00'E), on the SE shore of Anse Dauphine, and Flacourt Light. Vessels drawing less than 6.0m may, in fine weather, anchor closer in to obtain more shelter from the SE swell, they should not, however, anchor SE of the entry line. There is an outer anchorage at Anse Itapere, where during NE and E winds good shelter may be obtained, in depths from 22.0-24.0m, fine sand. Anchorage can be obtained closer inshore, in depths from 17.0-18.0m, with Lohatanjona Evatra Light bearing 090°. There is complete shelter from the sea raised by NE winds but it has been found that, with strong NE breezes, a heavy SE swell, approx 3m high, sets into the anchorage. Anse Dauphin, on the N side of the peninsula, affords anchorage off Tolagnaro, it is, however, precarious on account that it is not sheltered from sea or swell, especially during fresh winds between N and E. An area of foul ground lies 0.15nm NE of the charted anchorage. A submarine oil pipeline is laid across Anse Dauphin for a distance of 0.4nm N from the centre of the mole (0.2nm WSW of Flacourt Light).
Approaches
Taolanaro is approached from the NE through the bay and entered on the alignment of leading lights. From a position to seaward about 3nm ESE of Pointe Itaperina (25°00'S 47°06'E) the track into Baie de Fort-Dauphin leads W for 7nm on the line of bearing (270°) of Pic Saint Louis, passing 0.3nm S of Roche Itaperina (25°00.1'S 047°06.1'E) to a position on the entrance leading line about 1.7nm NE of Flacourt Light.
Charts
BA 760. Admiralty Pilot NP39.
Dock density
1025.
Pilot
Not available.
Principal navigation aids
Lohatanjona Itaperina (Evatra) Light (24°58.9'S 047°05.6'E). Tolagnaro aero radio beacon (25°01'S 046°59'E).
Restrictions
On entry, Pratique should be requested from the Health Department.
Tidal range and flow
Mean spring range 0.2m, mean neap range is nil.
Tugs
Available for towing lighters.
Weather
Prevailing winds: E-NE'ly. The SE Trade wind, is felt most frequently from Jul - Oct and generally in the afternoon, when it is strong enough to restrict lighterage operations in the anchorage to mornings only. Strong squalls associated with these winds can make the anchorage unsafe. The harbour is also affected by swell from ENE which is often heavy and can disrupt lighterage.