PORT LOUIS CHART NO. 2514 General Information Position and function 1 Port Louis (20°08'.98S 57°29'.24E) is situated at the head of a group of bays on the NW coast of Mauritius. The city of Port Louis, with a population of about 158 200 in 2007, is the only commercial port in Mauritius, a port of entry, cruise port and fishing port. Topography 1 The harbour and town are backed by steep hills, rising to mountains which form part of a range 2 miles SE of the port. Port limits 1 A line joining Pointe aux Sables (20°10'.53S 57°25'.87E) and Pettie aux Piments (20°03'.52S 57°31'.21E), about 8½ miles NE. Approach and entry 1 The main harbour is approached from NW and entered between Fort William (20°09'.27S 57°29'.17E) and Fort George, about 5 cables NNE, on the alignment of leading lights. Container Terminal is approached from the pilot boarding area through English Channel (20°08'.40S 57°29'.05E) which is marked by light beacons. Traffic 1 In 2012, 3 476 vessels totaling 8 035 431dwt used the port. Port Authority 1 Mauritius Marine Authority, PO Box No379, Port Administration Building, Mer Rouge, Port Louis, Mauritius. E-mail: info@mauport.com Website: www.mauport.com Limiting conditions Controlling depths 1 English Channel. Dredged depth of 14.5 m (2006), leading to Container Terminal and Oil Jetty. Approach to main harbour: Least charted depth of 12.3 m on the edge of the white sector of the directional rear leading light about 2 cables SSW of No 1 Light Beacon, and a depth of 11.6 m close W. Trou Fanfaron at the head of harbour has a charted depth of 5.8 m and lesser charted depths alongside. Deepest and longest berth 1 Container Terminal Tide levels 1 Mean spring range about 0.5 m; mean neap range about 0.1 m. For further information see Admiralty Tide Tables Volume 3. Density of water 1 Density: 1.02500 g/cm3. Maximum Size of vessel handled 1 Length 280 m, 12 m draught at Container Terminal. 55 000 dwt at Oil Jetty. Arrival Information Port operations 1 Vessels can enter and leave harbour at any time, except for those carrying flammable cargos which are berthed indaylight only. Vessels are normally turned in the harbour and berthed bows seaward. Vessels longer than 152 m cannot be turned in the harbour but, if manoeuverable, will be taken in stern first; otherwise, such vessels berth in the quarantine anchorage. Notice of ETA 1 ETA, including pilotage request, should be sent to the Harbour Master 24 and 2 hours before arrival. See Indian ListofRadioSignalsVolume6. Outer Anchorages 1 Outer Roadstead (20°07'.90S 57°28'.65E) affords anchorage in 27 to 37 m, course sand, broken coral and shell. This is the usual anchorage with the best holding ground, a suitable berth being indicated on the chart. 2 Caution. The following is the advice of a former Harbour Master: From the moment of anchoring, be ready to weigh and put to sea if necessary. Use chain for a buoy rope. If ordered to proceed to sea, do so at once, and never attempt to ride out a storm. When leaving, note the direction in which the wind shifts and steam in the opposite direction until clear of the land, when an E course will take a vessel into fair weather. 3 Never heave-to heading towards the land because, in strong winds, the current locally is often very strong and uncertain in direction. Neglect of this precaution, due to the belief that a sufficient offing has been made, has hazarded many vessels and led to the loss of some others. Quarantine anchorage.There is a dedicated quarantine anchorage (20°08'.68S 57°28'.29E) with depths of 20 to 30 m, coarse sand and coral. 1 Prohibited anchorages. These exist: SW of the Quarantine anchorage, and in Grand River Bay (20°09'.58S 57°28'.21E), due to the existence of disused submarine cables. Immediately N of the Quarantine anchorage, including the approaches to the port. The limits are shown on the chart. In Tombeau Bay (20°05'.98S 57°30'.14E) Submarine cable and pipeline 1 A submarine cable leads generally WNW from Tombeau Bay (20°05'.98S 57°30'.14E). A submerged sewage pipeline, its seaward extremity marked by a buoy (W cardinal), extends about 8 cables W from Pointe Roche Noire (20°07'.60S 57°29'.77E). Pilotage and tugs 1 Pilotage is compulsory for merchant vessels over 100 gt and is available 24 hours.Boarding ground is 1¾ miles from the harbour entrance, on the alignment (127½°) of the leading lights. Vessels should on no account pass the entrance channel light beacons inward bound without a pilot on board. Pilot boat is white launch equipped with VHF. Tugs equipped with VHF, and for minor salvage work, are available on VHF Ch 12 14 16. Regulations concerning entry 1 Preparations for entry. In addition to both anchors being ready for letting go, two hawsers and two wires are required to be ready aft before the pilot boards. Quarantine 1 Entry.Vessels in quarantine are permitted to enter harbour to fuel in clam water. Berths.In addition to the quarantine anchorage there is quarantine berth between mooring buoys, 2½ cables N of Fort William, off the harbour entrance. Cyclones 1 Warnings.During the cyclone season a weather forecast is broadcast daily from the port radio station to all vessels in harbour. When a cyclone is expected to pass within 300 miles of Mauritius special weather information is sent to all vessels in the port. 2 When a cyclone is expected to pass close to the island a warning message is issued and vessels are required to be made ready to proceed to sea. At least 24 hours notice canbe expected to be given, while about 3 days is the normal period of notice. When a cyclone warning is in force more frequent weather forecasts are issued. 1 Precautions. A vessel remaining in Port Louis harbour for more than 48 hours during the cyclone season should obtain special mooring from the Port Authority.When a cyclone is expected to pass within 300 miles, precautions should be taken as follows: The crew should remain on board. 2 Main engines and deck machinery should be prepared and ready for immediate use. Stern moorings should be examined to ensure that each part is taking an equal strain. Any slack in chain cables should be taken up. Every available ballast tank should be filled. On the approach of a cyclone all vessels in harbour that are capable of proceeding to sea are required to do so. Directions Principal marks 1 Landmarks: Le Pouce (20°11'.90S 57°31'.73E), a mountain which resembles an upright thumb. Snail Rock (20°11'.54S 57°30'.92E). Pieter Both (20°11'.50S 57°33'.40E), a mountain with a huge knob on the summit. Signal Mountain (20°10'.34S 57°29'.50E), which rises over the SW side of the port. A radio tower (red light, 19 m in height), stands close N of the summit. 2 Martello tower (white granite with black stripe, 12 m in height) (20°10'.08S 57°28'.33E). Saint James’ Cathedral (20°10'.05S 57°30'.35E). It has been reported that St. James’ Cathedral is no longer conspicuous due to harbour construction. Citadel (20°09'.83S 57°30'.62E) with a mast (red and white, 23 m in height). Power station (20°09'.82S 57°28'.63E) on the coast at Fort Victoria. 3 Molasses tanks (20°09'.36S 57°29'.89E) near Berth D. Signal station tower (black and yellow chequers; white flagstaff on tripod) (20°09'.25S 57°29'.14E). Oil storage tanks, about ½ cable E of signal station tower. Cement silos (20°09'.01S 57°29'.58E). Tank (20°08'.93S 57°29'.47E). 1 Major lights: Pointe aux Caves Light (20°11'.54S 57°30'.92E)(White concrete tower, two red bands, 46 m in height, 29 M in range) Port Louis Rear Entrance Leading Light (White diamond on Mauritius Commercial Bank building) (20°09'.64S 57°30'.16E) Other aid to navigation 1 Racon: Port Louis Light Beacon No 1 (20°08'.46S 57°28'.86E). For further details see Indian list of Radio Signals Volume 2. Approach 1 From the position off Pointe aux Sables (20°10'.53S 57°25'.87E), a vessel bound into Port Louis should proceed NE into the port approaches from whence marks, lights or bearings will lead to the vicinity of the pilot boarding place, 3¼ miles NNE of Pointe aux Sables, or to anchorage, passing seaward of reefs fringing the coast between Pointe aux Sables and the port entrance, 3 miles ENE. 2 Leading marks and lights. From seaward, the following lead to the pilot boarding ground: The alignment (123°) of the Citadel with Pieter Both The line of bearing 124° of cement silos near Berth No 2. Entry – main harbour 1 Leading lights: Front light (red and white metal structure) (20º 09'.5S, 57º 29'.9E) at Berth A. Rear light (White diamond on Mauritius Commercial Bank building) 496 m SE of front light); this is a directional light. 2 From the vicinity of the Pilot boarding station the alignment (127½°) of these lights, and in the white sector (127¼°-127¾°) of the directional light, leads through a channel, the entrance of which is marked by light beacons (lateral), passing: SW of Fort George (20º 08'.80S, 57º 29'.50E) on which there are several square towers, and: NE of Fort William (20º 09'.27S, 57º 29'.17E), which stands on a low-lying point. 3 The track then leads directly to the turning basin and berths within the main harbour. Entry – Container terminal and oil jetty 1 From the vicinity of the pilot boarding station the track leads ESE for about 1 mile, passing through English Channel directly to the turning basin, off the terminal; the channel and terminal are marked by light beacons (lateral). Useful mark 1 Martello Tower Light (disused) (20º 10'.08S, 57º 28'.33E) Basin and berths Moorings 1 A berth between two mooring buoys, 90 m apart, is situated close SE of Bulk Sugar Terminal, abreast of Berth No 2. A further berth between two mooring buoys, 240 m apart, lies close NW of Bulk Sugar Terminal. Alongside berths 1 In addition to the berths at Container Terminal and Oil Jetty on the N side of Mer Rouge, and Bulk Sugar Terminal, on the SW side of the harbour entrance, there are a number of berths on the NE side of the harbour and in Trou Fanfaron. Most berths are fendered but the fendering is not resilient and vessels landing heavily may be damaged. 2 Dimensions of the larger berths are: Berth Length Depths Purpose Number/ Name (metres) (metres) Container Terminal 560 14.5 Container traffic Oil Jetty 55* 14.5 Petroleum products, LPG Bulk Sugar Terminal 335 13.0 Bulk Sugar loading No 1 123 12.2 Petroleum, liquid ammonia, tallow and bulk cargo No 2 and 3 365 12.2 General, cement, coal and containers No 4 185 12.2 General, LPG and bitumen MFD Quay 120 09.0 Frozen fish A and D 380 12.2 Petroleum, LPG, grain, molasses and passenger vessels C 121 05.5 Cattle and inter-island trade E 135 09.0 General, Passenger and inter-island trade Trou Fanfaron I 150 05.5 Frozen fish Trou Fanfaron II 165 06.0 Frozen fish 3 The positions and depths of berths with unspecified use are shown on the chart. A bulk cement discharge facility is situated between Berths 1 and 2 for cement carriers of up to 135m LOA. Larger vessels, up to 183 m LOA, can be accommodated, subject to the adjacent berths being unoccupied. Port Services Repairs 1 Most types of repairs can be undertaken. Underwater repairs can be effected in one of three dry docks, two situated on the N side of Trou Fanfaron and one close NW of Berth No 1, suitable for vessels up to: Length: 120 m. Breadth: 17 m. Draught: 5.2 m. There are also two slipways on the N side of Trou Fanfaron and one close NW of Berth No 1. Other facilities 1 Ship Sanitation and issue of SSCE Certificates; garbage disposal by lighter; hospitals.There are no facilities for reception of oily waste. Supplies 1 Fresh water by lighter; provisions through ship chandlers. Fuel and diesel oils are available at a number of berths and by lighter. Harbour regulations 1 Landing is only permitted at Customs Quay, on the S side of the entrance to Trou Fanfaron. Garbage may not be thrown into the harbour from any vessel, or from the shore. Every vessel entering the harbour is required to provide two covered containers for storing garbage until it can be disposed of. Immobilization of engines during the cyclone season is only permitted by the Port Authority for short periods.