The Harbourmaster is responsible for the safety of navigation within all waters under the jurisdiction of the Northland Regional Council. The Harbourmaster is appointed by the Northland Regional Council (NRC) pursuant to the Local Government Act 2002 and is afforded powers under part 39A: Navigation, of that Act. The Harbourmaster’s responsibilities are detailed in the New Zealand Port and Harbour Marine Safety Code and are implemented through the NRC’s Navigation Safety Bylaw 2007 and its amendments or by directions made by the Harbourmaster.

If Harbourmaster’s authority has been exercised and requires specific action to be taken, that action cannot be discontinued without his prior approval.

The Harbourmaster may be contacted via the NRC’s Hotline phone 0800 504 639.

The Harbour Master
Northland Regional Council
Postal Address: Private Bag 9021, Whangarei, New Zealand
Phone: (09) 438 4639
Fax: (09) 438 0012

Northport is situated in the province of Northland approximately 145km north of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.

Marsden Point 35° 50.0´S, 174° 30´E – Chart NZ 5214, NZ 5215, NZ5219

TIME ZONE: GMT + 12 hours (NZST) Daylight saving is applicable during summer months

The location of this port makes it the northern most multi-purpose port in New Zealand and the closest port to the majority of New Zealand's international markets.

Northport is a three-berth port facility at Marsden Point together with considerable backup land. Although
primarily for the export of forest products, the terminal is a flexible facility catering for large multi-purpose
vessels.

Northport is a deep-water port served by a good road connection. Northland as a province has much to offer international markets particularly in forestry, processed timber products, agricultural, horticultural products and cement, which are all exported through the port.

A wide variety of cargoes can be handled. These include: coal, bulk fertiliser, gypsum, bagged cement, kiwifruit, logs, meat, veneer, triboard, sawn timber, LVL and woodchip.

All communications regarding shipping operations must be carried out through Whangarei Harbour Radio which is manned 24 hours. Pilotage is available on a 24hr / 7 day per week basis for normal operations subject to notice being given as follows through Whangarei Harbour Radio.

 
Notification of vessel’s arrival

Ships agents must notify Northport of a ship’s impending arrival to Harbour Radio/Security as follows:

• 14 - 7 days in advance - Pre-arrival notification
• 7 days in advance - Pre-arrival form
• 48 hours in advance - Pre-arrival form
• 24 hours in advance - Confirm ETA
• 12 hours in advance - Update ETA and supply cargo information
• 4 hours in advance - Vessel to confirm ETA. Agent to confirm pilot order
• 2 hours in advance - Ship to contact Harbour Radio

Ordering Tugs and Pilots

• ETA’s should be given with as much notice as possible but at least 24 hours in advance of arrival at the pilot boarding ground.
•  Confirmation of pilot times must be made no later than 4 hours before arrival or departure.
•  At time of berthing agents must give an Estimated Time of Departure (ETD).
•  ETD’s should be updated regularly throughout the vessel’s stay.
•  Updated Estimated Time of Arrivals (ETA) and ETD’s must be given by 1600 hrs each day.
•  Amendments to or cancellations of a movement will be accepted up to 4 hours before pilot time with no penalty.
•  The ship’s agent is the only person who can schedule or make changes to a pilot time.

PILOT BOARDING TIMES

Marsden Point Cargo Terminal Berths - MP 1, 2 and 3

* > =Greater than and < = Less than

Note 1: All movements subject to tide and DUKC calculation as required
Note 2: Tankers have priority over cargo ships for movements
Note 3: For a port side to berthing, pilot boarding may be extended to 1/2 hr before LW (pilots discretion)
Note 4: These times and criteria may be altered subject to pilot's requirements, tidal variations and weather conditions. 

Tugs

North Tugz is the contracted supplier of tugs and craft to assist in shipping operations

Note:  All craft operate out of Marsden Point

“Whangarei Harbour Radio” is the official call up name for the radio station - Call Sign is ZMH 56. A listening watch is kept 24 hours/day on VHF Channels 16/19.

Emergency contact with Northport Ltd, ship safety and emergency services must be made through Whangarei Harbour radio VHF Channel 19.

A ship’s listening watch must be kept on VHF channels 16 and 19 at all times when at anchor or manoeuvring in the harbour.

All commercial vessels must notify Whangarei Harbour Radio when departing a berth or passing the Fairway Buoy and provide the following information:

•  Ship’s Name
•  Last Port
•  Next Port
•  Draft

Radio reporting points have been established adjacent to the following aids to navigation:

Reporting Point                                  Lattitude & Longitude                                    Position Direction

Fairway Buoy                                      35º 53'.25S, 174º 33.15E                                  320.6º / 140.6º

Snake Bank                                         35º 49'.73S, 174º 29.10E                                  107º / 287º 

Wellingtons Rock Beacon                    35º 46'.59S, 174º 22.42E                                  081.5º / 261.5º

The following documents are required before entry to Northport as First Port:

Pre-arrival Forms - to be completed and forwarded to ship's agent no less than 48 hours before arrival:

• New Zealand Advance Notice of Arrival Form (2 pages)
• Ballast Water Declaration Form - Part 1 and 2
• Crew List (NZ Customs XLS Format)
• Voyage Memo showing arrival and departure dates at all ports visited in the last two years (or since vessel last came to NZ if less than two years ago).

Customs Papers to be presented for inspection on arrival:

• Inward Report (including stores list)
• Crew List
• Individual Crew Declarations (Manifest)
• Nil List

Quarantine Papers

• Masters Declaration
• Ballast Water Declaration Part 1 (original)
• Ballast Water Declaration Part 2 (if applicable)

Health Papers

• Maritime Declaration of Health - (Between 24 - 12 hours before arrival, request "Free Pratique" by e-mail to shipping@nhl.co.nz

Customs and MAF officials generally board ships on arrival.

The prevailing wind is south westerly. Occasional strong north easterlies occur near the end of the summer. Fog affecting shipping operations is limited to 2 – 3 days per annum.

The port is well lit with buoys, beacons and leading lights. Vessels may enter by day or by night. There is no
shore-based control of vessels. Any issues associated with navigation aids on the harbour should be reported to:

Whangarei Harbour Radio – VHF Channel 19 – Ph 09 4325018

Levels given are above chart datum. (Lowest Astronomical Tide)

Tidal Predictions

 For the tidal predictions for Marsden Point please see Marsden Point Tides 2011

For the tidal predictions for Whangarei or Portland please see Secondary Port Tides 2011

Description of tide regime for Whangarei Harbour

The range in tide increases the further up the harbour a vessel progresses.

High water at Whangarei is approx. 21 minutes after high water at Marsden Point and low water  Whangarei is approx. 14 minutes after low water Marsden Point, i.e. the tide is always lagging behind Marsden Point at Whangarei.

Northport is designed as a multi berth facility to accomodate a combination of vessel lengths.  The total berth face is 570 linear meters PLUS an allowance fo a 10m overhang at the western end and 25 over hang at the eatsern end.

*Additional draft available subject to tidal and DUKC calculations

Reference should be made to the following documents :

• Northport's Health and Safety Manual
• Northport's Emergency Procedure Manual
• Code of Practice for Health and Safety in Port Operations

These files can be found in the Health and Safety section of this website.

Crew Access

Ship's crews are not to walk in areas of cargo operations. 

Crew Transportation

A regular bus service is provided by Northport between the ship's gangway and the entrance gates to the port on a scheduled service.  The time table is provided by the ship's agent.

Port Evacuation

In case of an emergency Northport may order a general evacuation of the port.  The alarm used will be a continuous sounding alarm from a moving vehicle horn and the wharf alarm will be sounded.

A rising alarm from the refinery indicates an incident not necessarily an emergency within the refinery. TAKE NO ACTION.  Ships will be instructed if any further action may be required.  A second rising alarm indicates the situation is over.  Note: The alarm is tested every Wednesday at 1300 hours.

Assembly Points

In the event that ships need to be evacuated, crew members must assemble at the nearest wharf side assembly point at the stevedores berth office. If necessary ship's crew may be redirected to the off-site assembly point located at the main entrance gate.

The Harbourmaster is responsible for Harbour Safety Management of all waters under the jurisdiction of the Northland Regional Council and can be contacted via the NRC Environmental Hotline phone: 0800 – 504-639.

Contractors and visiting ships are “port user” and therefore must be fully conversant with Northport’s “Emergency Procedures” and “Health and Safety Requirements for Marsden Point”.

Pilots will give to each master of a ship arriving in the port, a copy of Northport’s “Instruction to Masters and Emergency Information” and Northland Regional Council’s current booklet “Navigation Safety Bylaws”.

In emergencies contact must be made with Whangarei Harbour Radio VHF Ch 19 or phone 4325018 to obtain assistance. Tugs and Pilots are available on a 24hr/7 day per week basis.

Fire

In the event of a fire on a ship other than at the Refinery Jetties:

• Call WHANGAREI HARBOUR RADIO VHF CH. 19
• Sound 1 or more blasts of 10 second duration on the ship’s whistle.

Oil Pollution

Oil is not permitted to be discharged into the harbour. Any oil spill must be reported immediately to
Whangarei Harbour Radio – VHF Channel 19 and every effort must be made to minimise or reduce the
effects of a spill. Notify Northland Regional Council’s Environmental Hotline – 0800 504 639.

Medical or Police Emergency

• Call: 111 and ask for service required OR
• Call WHANGAREI HARBOUR RADIO VHF CH 19 or 4325018

Smoke Pollution

Vessels must not allow excessive funnel smoke.

Sewage

The Resource Management (Marine Pollution) Amendment Regulations 2002 and the Regional Coastal
Plan for Northland make it illegal for a vessel to discharge untreated sewage into Northland harbours.
There is a “No Discharge Overboard” policy whilst inside Whangarei Harbour.

Ship’s agents are to ensure that Masters of vessels visiting Northport’s berths complete on arrival the
Northland Regional Council’s Confirmation of Compliance with the Resource Management (Marine
Pollution) Amendment Regulations 2002 Form (Appendix). The agent must retain the completed form
on the ship’s file for presentation to the Northland Regional Council if required.

Northland Regional Council’s Hotline – 0800 504 639.

Noise Pollution

Wherever possible all noise is to be kept to a minimum during the vessels stay in port.

Immobilisation of Ship’s Engines

Whilst alongside Northport’s berths the ship’s engine should be kept in a state of readiness unless authorisation is received from the Harbourmaster to immobilise.

• Ship’s agents should use the NRC Application for Immobilisation of Ship’s Engine at Berth form, to apply for immobilisation.  Available from the Northport Gate House or http://www.northport.co.nz/files/Immobilisation%20Form.pdf.
• At the Harbourmaster’s direction or Northport’s request (no dispute) the ship’s agent shall make arrangements with NorthTugz to provide a standby tug at the Agent’s cost.
• The ship must notify Whangarei Harbour Radio at the commencement and completion of immobilisation via VHF channel 19.

Testing of Engines:

• Permission must be obtained from Gatehouse/Whangarei Harbour Radio to carry out any engine testing and must be advised immediately prior to and on completion of testing.

In considering all aspects of ship manoeuvres and operating criteria to or from Northport berths, all operations will be undertaken in the safest manner and in accordance with best practices and good seamanship.

Under Keel Clearance

The port works on a minimum 10% Static Under Keel Clearance for manoeuvring purposes when
performing manual calculations.

Dynamic Underkeel Clearance (DUKC)

Northport operates a dynamic underkeel clearance system for vessels using Marsden Point berths. The DUKC system is used to accurately predict a particular vessel’s under keel clearance (UKC) based on the vessel’s dimensions and stability information, the prevailing environmental conditions which include tides, sea levels and swell data, predicted vessel speeds and a detailed profile of the Whangarei Harbour approach channel. The DUKC system ensures that minimum levels of net UKC for vessel manoeuvrability and bottom clearance, for safe navigation in restricted waters, are always met or exceeded.

As the allowances in a manual calculation for under keel clearance may preclude a ship from entering the harbour when it may otherwise be possible, agents should have the ship’s master fill out a DUKC Vessel Particulars Request form (refer Appendix) for vessels under the following circumstances:

• Vessels arriving or departing with a draft greater than 11m
• When the weather forecast predicts swells of 2m or greater
• Any vessel with a Static Underkeel Clearance of 3m or less based on chart datum of 14.6m calculated over the shoal patch at the harbour entrance
• When requested by the pilot
• All overseas tankers.

Berthing Direction

Vessel berthing is dependent on the direction of the tidal stream. Ships are berthed head to tide. Subject
to Pilot’s discretion, ships may be berthed with the flood tide where the pilot boarding time is to be no later than 1 hour before low water slack water.

Tug Usage

For arrivals and departures at the cargo berths the general requirement is for two tugs.

Where the draft exceeds 10m, tug escort will be used from and to the vicinity of No 7 buoy. The level
of escort provided may be varied on any specific occasion according to the prevailing conditions. For all
vessels the tug will meet the ship at No. 9 buoy and on departure may be dismissed in the vicinity of No
18 buoy.

For deep draft tankers, tugs will meet the ship at No. 4 buoy.

Restrictions
 

• Positioning of ships at berth. Northport operates with 15m spacing between ships although exceptions may occur in special circumstances with the Marine Services Manager’s approval.
• Where a vessel has to be berthed between 2 vessels, the minimum space required will be the ship’s length plus 50m subject to weather conditions prevailing at the time.
• Provided the vessel has suitable mooring lines and mooring arrangements, it is permissible to overhang ships at each end of the berth.
• Vessels will normally arrive or depart at any time during the tidal cycle as required by the agent subject to length or draft restrictions
• Vessels of greater than 200m LOA and/or greater than 11.8m draft may be restricted to an appropriate tidal window for departures. This is particularly so in the case of MP1 and MP3 berths when there is a ship at an adjacent berth
• The pilot or Northport may delay any vessel subject, but not limited to, high winds, exceptional swell, deep draft or excessive tidal flow.

Shifting Ships

The shifting of ships along Northport berths is not to be carried out without permission from
Northport who reserves the right to refuse any shift. Agents must have the ship’s master complete a
“Shift Ship” form and any shift must be carried out according to the following criteria:

•   Application Form to be completed before shift commences (see Appendix)
•   Instructions for Shifting Ship’s can only be made through the ship’s agent.
•   Minimum of a 4 person lines party is required

Non-assisted shift ship:

•   Shift no more than 20m – pilot required on all occasions
•   To be undertaken at slack water only
•   Wind strength to be not more than 10 knots
•   2 of the linesmen must be capable of manning a workboat
•   Whangarei Harbour Radio to be notified.

Fully Assisted shift ship (more than 20m):

•  Pilot, Tugs, Linesmen - Resources to suit size of ship and weather maximums.

Mooring Arrangements

• The optimum mooring arrangements for all vessels is 4 head/stern/breast lines and 2 springs fore and aft.
• Minimum Separation between ships for berthing should be not less than 15m.
• Mooring lines at the east and western end of the berths should be squared off.
• Marsden Point Jetty – Mooring arrangements are to be discussed with Northport prior to the vessel's arrival.
• Storm Bollards - the pilot will make the master aware of the storm bollards which are to be used in the event of strong winds. Northport will advise of expected strong winds and the vessel must comply with any requirement to run out additional lines. Should the master require assistance, contact Whangarei Harbour Radio VHF Ch 19.
• Fumigation – When a ship is undergoing fumigation or is undermanned for any reason, extra lines must be run to the storm bollards and turned up on the ship’s bitts (Not winch drums).

Weather Criteria

The figures given are for guidance purposes only. Depending on wind gust strength and direction, the pilot may make a judgement call on a ship by ship basis to increase or decrease the weather criteria.

  Indicative maximum wind strength for normal ship handling at Marsden Point Cargo Wharves:

• 30 knots mean wind speed from all directions
• For high sided vessel such as car carriers and chip ships, the indicative maximum wind speed:
  20 knots mean wind speed from all direction.