PILOTAGE:
Compulsory. Pilotage available throughout 24 hours. At the outer pilot station, the
pilots usually only board vessels during two periods daily, so enabling vessels to
pass through the shallow waters of the channel approaches at high water (HW). This
results in vessels entering the channel one after another in what looks like a convoy.
Pilots board shallow draft vessels that are not tide-bound
outside these time periods.
The pilot ladder should be rigged 0.5 m. above the water.
Shanghai Port Pilot Station Scheduling Division. T: +86 (21)
6595 9175, 2863, 0064,
4411. F: +86 (21) 6595 3149, 1270, 3149, 1270.
Pre-Arrival Notification:
Vessels inbound, shall notify the pilot station of their pilot requirement, 48 and
24 hours before arrival at pilot station.
Vessels outbound shall have their Agent notify the pilot
station the afternoon before
the day of departure.
Vessels are required to contact pilots 1 hour before arranged
boarding time on VHF Channel 14 and
then maintain listening watch for further instructions. On confirmation
of receipt
number provided by the Agent, and notified of the pilot station, pilot
will board
and vessel proceeds inwards.
The Agent will contact the Pilotage Service Operations Office
from 1400-1500 hrs.
to obtain the following day's movements schedule.
Communications:
The Pilotage Authority listens on VHF Channel 16 and works on VHF Channels 6, 9, 15 and 27 throughout
24 hours.
Ships waiting in the outer anchorage, or approaching to take
a pilot on board, should
monitor the pilotage transit schedules broadcast by the pilot station
mother ship.
The following day's schedule for transits is broadcast at 1600 hrs and
any changes
are broadcast at 1100 hrs the following morning. The Agent may also
notify the vessel
before arrival. If the vessel's Master needs to clarify the situation,
the pilot station
mother ship should be contacted via VHF.
When vessels are instructed by the pilot station to ``Proceed
to Buoy No. 1'', the
vessel should proceed to the Nan Cao (North Channel) Lightvessel instead
of Lightbuoy
No. 1. Lightbuoys No. 1-3 in Nan Cao have been withdrawn and replaced by
the Nan Cao
Lightvessel. Vessels' Masters should clarify the situation with the
pilot station
mother ship.
Chiang Jiang Kou (River Yangtze Estuary):
The estuary has two branches, Bei Zhi (north branch) Shuidao (channel) and Nan Zhi
(south branch), passing either side of the Chong Ming Dao (island). The north branch
is very shallow and therefore impassable to most vessels.
Nan Zhi Shuidao:
The channel is divided into two channels, Bei or Bei Gang Shuidao (north port channel)
and Nan or Nan Gang Shuidao (south port channel) passing either side of two islands,
Chang Xing Dao and Heng Sha Dao and a shallow bank Heng Sha. The depth in the Bei
or Bei Gang Shuidao is shallow, and is therefore only used by domestic vessels.
Nan or Nan Gang Shuidao:
The channel is divided into three passages:
Bei Cao Shuidao (north dredged channel), or called Bei Cao.
Nan Cao Shuidao (south dredged channel), or called Nan Cao.
Nan Gang Zhi Hangdao (south port branched fairway). Jiu Duan
Sha Bank is between Bei
Cao and Nan Cao.
Navigational lightbuoys separate the Nan Cao and Nan Gang Zhi
Hangdao.
Bei Cao:
Consists of the upper part of the Yuan-Yuan-Sha dredged channel and lower part the
Chang Jiang Kou deep water fairway that has depth 8.5 m., width 300 m. and sloping
bottom (1/60) giving total channel width of 400 m. between the navigational buoys
on either side. At the eastern end of the channel, there is the Chang Jiang Kou Lightvessel
in position 31° 06' 05" N, 122° 26' 39" E (Racon O).
Nan Cao:
In the Nan Cao, the depth is 5.2 m. and, due to the sheltered waters, the majority
of pilots board vessels here if the vessel's draft including height of tide (rising)
is permissible to pass through the channel. At the eastern end of the channel, there
is the Nan Cao Lightvessel in position 31° 02' 39" N, 122° 16' 21" E, (Racon N).
Nan Gong Zhi Hangdao:
The channel runs along the south shore of the estuary and is only used by small domestic
coasters. At the eastern end of the channel, there is the Nan Zhi Lightvessel.
Pilot Station Mother Ship:
The vessel is white hulled, length 87 m., and is anchored between Lightbuoys No. 5 and
No. 6 in Nan Cao, in position 31° 03' 33" N, 122° 06' 42" E, or between Lightbuoy No. 4 (the most eastern buoy in Nan Cao) and Nan Cao Lightvessel
in heavy weather.
In calm weather, the vessel shifts eastward and holds
position near the Nan Cao Lightvessel
or more easterly anchoring in position 31° 04' 00" N, 122° 22' 00" E, at
the mid-point between the eastern ends of the Bei Cao and Nan Cao
Channels.
Pilot boards in position 31° 04' 00" N, 122° 24' 00" E.
SWATH Pilot Vessel:
A new SWATH (small water-plane area twin hull) pilot vessel ``Bai Yu Lan'', length
27 m., is limited to daylight services only. The Pilot boards/disembarks in Chang
Jiang Kou for vessels bound for/departing from Bei Cao.
The vessel has upper operational limits of Force 8 and wave
height of 3.0 m.
Pilot Boarding in Calm to Moderate Weather:
In calm weather, ship must arrive at position 31° 04' 00" N, 122° 24' 00" E, at the appointed time, if delayed more than 10 minutes, the vessel's slot may be
cancelled by the Pilotage Authority, especially if the draft is 10.0 m. or more.
Pilot Boarding During Bad Weather:
In bad weather the vessel anchors between Lightbuoys No. 5 and No. 6 in the Nan Cao
Approaches. When proceeding to the boarding area, one hour before arrival, the vessel's
Master should contact the pilot station mother ship via VHF to confirm current position
and thereafter keep in close contact.
If, on passing Long. 122° 27.0' E, the pilot launch has not
yet been sighted, confirm
the pilot boarding area as the mother ship frequently changes position
in bad weather.
The pilot may board a ship for Nan Cao between Lightbuoys No. 4 and No.
5, in bad
weather or as far in as Buoy No. 9.
During bad weather, the Bei Cao pilotage is suspended. If sea
conditions permit, the
pilot may board the vessel near the Nan Cao Lightvessel, then proceed to
the Chang
Jiang Kou Lightvessel for Bei Cao.
In heavy weather, the pilot can board vessels bound for Bei
Cao via helicopter. The
helicopter can carry up to four river pilots, but is limited to daylight
services
only.
For vessels other than large container vessels, the Agent
must apply and pay for services
of the SWATH ship or helicopter. If in daylight the wind is more than
Force 6 or wave
height more than 2.0 m. in the estuary, then the Agent can apply for the
SWATH ship
or helicopter service.
If the SWATH ship and helicopter are unable to disembark the
pilot at Chang Jiang
Kou in very rough seas, the pilot will disembark elsewhere in the region
(Korea, Japan,
Hong Kong etc.). The Agent must make an application to the Pilotage
Authority office
and obtain authorisation from the Port Authority and Immigration before
proceeding
into international waters.
Transfer of Shanghai Pilots, whose pilotage area includes the
lowest section of Yangtze
River to Chang Jiang Pilots, whose pilotage area excludes the lowest
section of Yangtze
River, is in the area between four Lightbuoys (No. 35, No. 35-1, No. 34
and No. 36).
Shanghai/Chang Jiang Pilotage Transfer Centre arranges a launch or tug
for the embarking/disembarking
of all pilots.
Every port Agent shall report vessel's draft correctly so as
to help the pilot station
assign pilots.
