Home Profile Partners Tema Takoradi Contact
Map Shipping Limited
Tema Port & Agency Information

Contact Info

Advising ETA
Airport
Anchorage
Approach
Cranes
Currency
Export
Fire fighting
Harbour
Imports
Medical
Position
Pilotage
Population
Public Holidays
Radio/VHF
Ship Papers Required
Ship Repair
Supplies
Tides
Towage
Weather
Working hours


Tema Port Information

ADVISING ETA
Ships are recommended to send their ETA at least 24 hours in advance to their agent’s office before 14:30 hrs Monday – Friday and 10:00 hrs on Friday for weekend working. Berthing Meetings Monday – Thursday at 10:00 hrs determines berthing arrangement for following day whereas Friday’s meeting coordinates weekend work. Notification of the approach by VHF is essential and Scanship can be contacted on channel 9, 14 or 16.
Top ^

AIRPORT
Kotoka International Airport is located abt. 30 km from Tema, on the Eastern side of Accra.
Top ^

ANCHORAGE
There is a good anchorage, ¾ to 2 miles ENE to SW off the main entrance with depths of 30 to 60 metres with good holding ground. The area north of 5°21’N and bounded by 00°05’W and 00°08’E is the safe anchorage area off Tema Port.
Quarantine: Lateral 5°21’N and surround by 00°04’W and 00°08’E.
Top ^

APPROACH
The entrance to the Main Harbour is 240 metres wide with depth of 10.6 metres (Admiralty Chart Datum). Ships entering harbour roll heavily during the wet season, up to 8° at 4-600 metres from entrance. Ghanaian flag to be hoisted.
Top ^

CRANES
There are 2 multi-purpose cranes (MPC) each 40 tons (SWL) operating at berths 10,11 and 12 only. (Editor’s note: only 1 MPC is currently working)
Top ^

CURRENCY
Cedis. US$1 = ¢6,782.00 (22/01/01)
Top ^

EXPORTS
Cocoa beans and products, cola-nuts, shea and cashew nuts, cotton, handy crafts, glycerine, aluminium, petroleum products, frozen fish, pineapple, fresh yams, other local foods
Top ^

FIRE FIGHTING
The port has a well organized fire unit equipped with modern fire-fighting equipment. The service operates 24 hrs a day and is always present alongside when dangerous cargo is involved.
Top ^

HARBOUR
The Harbour of Tema consists of three basins:
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.

Berths:

Draft Limit*
1 11.5m
2 11.5m
3 (navy) 7.6m
4 9m
5 9m
6 (tugboats) 8m
7 8m
8 8m
9 8m
10 8m
11 8m
12 (Clinker) 8m
13 (Oil Jetty) 9.8
14 (Valco Jetty) 9.8

* 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