a) The large basin of the main harbour, formed by Main Breakwater 6,250 ft long, and Lee Breakwater 3,650 ft long, enclosing a water area of approx. 430 acres, 12.5m deep.
b) The Outwater Fishing Harbour east of the Lee Breakwater.
c) The Inner Fishing Harbour on the northern side of the former.

In the Main Harbour there are Quay no. 1 and 2 with 12 berths, each 600 ft long (except no. 3 which is 485 ft). Berths around Quay no. 2 are numbered 1-5 and along Quay no. 1 from 6-12. There are lock-up sheds of 342,000 sq. ft opposite each of the berths, except for berths no. 3, 6 and 10. Berth 2 shed accommodates the Customs and Immigration Office.

* The port is currently undertaking an extension program to be completed by April 2004. New drafts will be confirmed later.

Usually ships moor starboard side alongside at berths no. 1-2 and 6-9 and port side alongside at berths 3-5 and 10-12. At Valco and Oil wharf, always starboard side alongside.

There are 4 cocoa sheds (totalling 272,000 sq. ft) with capacity of 40,000 ts situated in the western corner of the harbour. Cocoa is transported per haulage trucks to alongside loading ship from quay side.

The bottom of the harbour consists of sand and mud, with frequent hard, rocky ground. There are two sets of mooring buoys with depths of 34-36 ft with lengths of 450 and 650 ft between them. Inside the harbour, alongside Lee Breakwater, there is an Oil wharf for tankers. Tankers moor starboard side to the dolphins and ropes are sent to the breakwater and bow-buoy. Crude oil is pumped to a refinery by ships pump, a distance of 18,000 ft north of the Oil wharf.

At a distance of about 2 cables on the same breakwater is the Valco wharf for the aluminium smelter. A narrow channel, 250 ft wide, leads to this berth. The wharf, 380 ft long, has two discharging elevators with conveyor to the deposit shed on the north side of the harbour.
The Outer Fishing Harbour consists of one large basin and is designed for big fishing vessels and fish-carriers with 800 ft quay. There are no cranes or sheds built yet. Drafts vary from 4.6 to 5.6 metres.

There are also two buoy berths to take ships with a max. length of 350’ at 18’6” draft and 25’6”. There is a 16 ft patch at the entrance mid-way between the two ends of the breakwaters. The Inner Fishing Harbour, situated north of the former, has a separate entrance, width only 100 ft with 13’6” draft at the entrance. A dangerous rock with depth of 16 ft is situated opposite the entrance, distance 360 ft of the red entrance light. The Southern part of the main wharf (1,080 ft long) has depth of 12’ to 17’6” and is designed for small size fishing vessels. The max. recommended draft is 16’6” and max. ship length 22 ft. Fuel oil is available alongside the wharves. The northern area serves smaller craft, boat-yard and canoes.

Port Authorities:

Headquarters:	Tema Port:
Director General of Port Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority (GPHA) P.O. Box 150 Tel: +233 22 202631-9 Fax: +233 22 202812 Tlx: (094) 2106 ports gh E-mail: gpha@ghana.com	P.O. Box 488 Tel: +233 22 204385-8 Fax: +233 22 204136 Tlx: (094) 2344 cargo gh

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IMPORTS
Consumer goods, machinery, cement, alumina, clinker, smelter supplies, fish, crude oil, tallow and caustic soda.
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MEDICAL
GPHA hospitals and clinics are available, but serious cases are referred to the Tema General Hospital or Korlebu Teaching Hospital.
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POSITION
Lat. 5°38’N, Long. 0°01’E – abt.. 30 miles east of Accra. Africa West Coast, Gulf of Guinea
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PILOTAGE
Compulsory for vessels of more than 10 NRT when entering, leaving or shifting in the Main Harbour. Optional pilotage available in the Fishing Harbour. Vessels wishing to enter harbour must await the pilot off the harbour entrance, up to 1 mile distance.

Times of pilotage are as follows:

a) Main Harbour - dry cargo vessels:
arrival & departure: 24 hrs a day
b) Main Harbour- tankers & Valco carriers:
arrivals: daylight only 06:00–18:00 hrs
departure: daylight only 06:00–18:00 hrs

Tide tables are available for sale.
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TOWAGE
A tug is compulsory for ships over 1000 GRT, with two tugs compulsory for tankers and Valco ships. Tug’s wires are used. 6 Tugs with 1,380 HP with 10 tons bollard pull.
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WEATHER
Light to strong breeze from W and SW during all year except December to February, when NE Harmattan is dominating with poor visibility. Dangerous winds are line squalls from E, January to July, swell in the harbour, especially after line squalls (1-2 days) requires 2 ft of water under ship’s keel, when lying alongside.
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WORKING HOURS
The port is working round the clock and operates with 2 shifts: 07:30-19:30 hrs and 19:30-07:30 hrs with 30 minute meal breaks.

ORDINARY DAYS (MONDAY-FRIDAY):
Normal hours: 0730-1200, 1400-1700 & 1930-0330
Overtime hours: 1230-1400, 1700-1930 & 0330-0730

SATURDAY/SUNDAY/HOLIDAYS
Overtime hours: round the clock

LATEST TIME OF ORDERING GANGS:
For weekdays: 1500/1600 hrs the day before with possibility of cancellation up to 0645 on the day the gang is ordered for.
For Saturdays/Sundays: 0730 hrs.

No cargo handling work on Christmas Day and Good Friday.

Oil and Valco jetty work round the clock 7 days a week