Local Chart – NZ5571 – All arriving vessels must have this chart on board in paper or electronic form.
Pilot Boarding Ground (PBG) – 38°43.56’S, 178°01.52’E.
Designated Anchorages – There are 3 designated anchorages marked on chart NZ5571 and in approximate position 2 miles north of Young Nick’s Head.
Promulgated Depths/Required Minimum Static UKC:
•Approach channel – 10.2m / UKC 2.0m
•Berth 8 – 10.2m / UKC 0.7m
•Berth 7 – 8.5m / UKC 0.5m
The port is affected by ingress of sand and sediment and dredging is carried out throughout the year. A full bathymetric survey is carried out every 3 months. The pilot will advise any changes to the promulgated depths.
Click here to view the pre-arrival documentPort Dimensions
The Port has 364 metres of available wharf length (berths 7 & 8), line of berth is same as the leads, 234.5°T/ 054.5°T and a swinging basin of 255m diameter. The approach channel is 8 cables in length and 93 metres wide.
Bollards have ratings between 35T and 60T spaced 10m apart. Fendering is Trelleborg SCN900 cone type with 2m x 2m face plates spaced at 10m apart. Telemetry at the port monitors and displays all appropriate environmental conditions in real time and can be viewed here.
Arrival Draft & Trim– Due to prevailing cross winds in the port approach channel, vessels are requested to arrive with a minimum forward draft of 4.5m (deeper if possible), trimmed no less than 0.5m by the stern, and with a maximum stern trim of 2.5m. The propeller must be fully submerged.
VHF Radio Communications
The working channel for the Port is Ch12. Gisborne Harbour Radio watches CH12&16 during the approximate hours of 0800 to 1700 Monday to Friday. At times when Gisborne Harbour Radio is not manned ships should communicate any messages via their Agent by email or telephone.
Pilot Boarding
The pilot will board arriving vessels at the designated PBG marked on chart NZ5571.
The pilot will board vessels already at anchor at the anchorage position.
Pilot ladders must be rigged 2 metres above the water or otherwise as advised by the Pilot prior to arrival. Man ropes are not required on arrival.
Pilot ladders must be rigged in accordance with Maritime Rules Part 53 – Refer to www.maritimenz.govt.nz/rules/part-53/ and also see the diagram to the right of this text. Note however that Maritime rules Part 53 is more prescriptive than SOLAS Regulation V/23 & IMO Resolution A.1045(27) and Maritime Rules Part 53 must be complied in all respects.
Eastland Port Ltd has identified a list of key requirements for pilot transfer at the Port which are derived from MR53. Please note however that this list is not comprehensive in terms of the vessel’s compliance with MR53.
Please note that pilots are required by New Zealand Health & Safety legislation (The Health & Safety at Work Act 2015) to refuse to use any pilot ladder which does not meet the required standard. Failure to provide a pilot ladder in good condition and properly rigged will result in delays to the vessel until such time as the vessel is able to provide a compliant pilot boarding arrangement
- Pilot ladders must be certified per the requirements of SOLAS Reg V/23 – copy of certificate to be supplied to Eastland Port Ltd as part of vessel pre-arrival information declaration.
- Pilot ladders must be presented in obvious good condition.
- Steps to be firmly secured, sitting in the horizontal and firmly against the ship’s hull plating – loose whippings and or stretched side ropes resulting in un-firm or non-level footing will not be accepted.
- Pilot ladder and manropes to be secured (preferably shackled) to ring plates on the deck of the ship.
- Tripping lines to be secured to the pilot ladder no lower than a point above the lowest spreader.
- Side ropes to be independent – respective side ropes not to be looped or joined from one side of the ladder to the other below the lowest step.
- Vessels with freeboard in excess of 9 metres must provide a ‘combination’ pilot transfer arrangement.
- In the case of combination arrangement the accommodation ladder must be secured to the ship’s side. The manropes must also be secured to the ship’s side, independently from the accommodation ladder, and nominally 1.5 metres above the lower platform of the accommodation ladder.
- At night the pilot transfer arrangement must be illuminated by spotlight or cluster rigged immediately adjacent to the head of the pilot ladder and facing forward.
Passage Planning
Passage planning charts and associated waypoint lists for arrival and departure are attached for reference. The passages and waypoints described must be loaded onto the ship’s ECDIS displays in preparation for port entry. The pilot will refer to the intended courses and a member or members of the ship’s Bridge Team should be designated to monitor the progress of the vessel throughout the passage.
Moorings Lines
Gisborne is a ‘surge port‘. The surge is generated by long waves of low amplitude (Infra-gravity waves, or IG) which fluctuate more or less in synch with the tide cycle. Highest amplitudes tend to coincide with high water.
At times of low IG ship’s mooring lines will be used in a 4 & 2 configuration – 4 head/stern lines and 2 springs fore & aft.
At times of higher IG, ShoreTension (ST) equipment (www.shoretension.com) will be utilised.
With ShoreTension equipment the ship will make fast with ship’s lines in the following configuration:
- 2 back springs forward and aft. Springs must be fed directly from ship’s mooring winch drums.
- Either an eye and a bight, or 2 bights (depending on prevailing conditions – Pilot will advise) fed directly from off-side winch drums.
The ship will then receive a high breaking load (200t mbl) high modulus line from the shore side at each end of the ship. This line will enter through the centre lead fore and aft.
A mooring crew comprising 2 mooring-men will board the vessel via ship’s gangway once alongside and in position with both spring lines secured. The mooring-men will provide guidance to the ship’s crew on the focsle and the poop during the mooring process.
Ship Stability Alongside
Vessels must maintain positive intact stability at all times and should generally remain at even keel or trimmed by the stern at all times. Under no circumstances may the vessel become ‘down by the head’ without the prior written consent of the Eastland Port Marine Manager or his designated representative.
Ships must endeavour at all times throughout the loading of the vessel to avoid stern trim in excess of 2.5m. This may require critical management of de-ballasting and loading. Simply dumping all ballast as soon as the vessel is alongside with resultant excessive trim by the stern is not acceptable practice.
Limiting Environmental Conditions and ‘Captive’ Vessels
Vessels loaded deeper than 8.6m draft are considered ‘captive’ and will require a component of tide above low water to enable adequate under-keel clearance (UKC) for departure from the Port. The Port operates a comprehensive captive vessel process to ensure vessels do not become captive within the port at times when environmental conditions may affect the safety of the vessel alongside.
Factors such as prevailing and forecast weather conditions and IG will be considered alongside vessel loading information and deck cargo securing requirements. Ultimately and as necessary the vessel may be ordered to cease loading, secure cargo and depart the Port before it becomes captive by draft and/or environmental conditions.
Deck Cargo
All deck cargo must be lashed before departure.
Pre-Arrival Information Required
- At least 48 hours prior to arrival at the Port all vessels must return the information form below, completed in full; and
- a copy of the pilot ladder manufacturer’s certificate complying with Chapter V, Regulation 23, of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS Reg V/23).
Arrival from pilot boarding ground to berth
Tugs lines by heaving line, made fast in the vicinity of WP # 3 on approach to the dredged channel.
Courses are indicative only and may be modified to suit prevailing conditions.
The ship’s position should be monitored by a suitable trained member of the ship’s Bridge team.
Anchors to be cleared for use
VHF Ch 12 & 16 to be monitored when inside harbour limits.
Arrival from anchorage to berth
Tugs lines by heaving line, made fast in the vicinity of WP # 3 on approach to the dredged channel.
Courses are indicative only and may be modified to suit prevailing conditions.
The ship’s position should be monitored by a suitable trained member of the ship’s Bridge team.
Anchors to be cleared for use
VHF Ch 12 & 16 to be monitored when inside harbour limits.
Arrival from anchorage to berth
Tugs lines by heaving line, made fast in the vicinity of WP # 3 on approach to the dredged channel.
Courses are indicative only and may be modified to suit prevailing conditions.
The ship’s position should be monitored by a suitable trained member of the ship’s Bridge team.
Anchors to be cleared for use.
VHF Ch 12 & 16 to be monitored when inside harbour limits.
Gisborne Pilotage Waypoints (Based on WGS 84 DATUM)
NOTE: The following waypoints may be used for settings tracks on GPS or ECDIS equipment. Eastland Port accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of this data.
Arrival from pilot boarding ground to berth
| Waypoint # | Waypoint Name | POSITION | COURSE | DISTANCE |
| 0 | PILOT BOARDING GROUND | 38°43.57’ S 178° 01.54’ E | 308° T | 1.93 nm |
| 1 | NE SPOIL GROUND | 38°42.23’ S 177° 59.39’E | 356° T | 0.51 nm |
| 2 | APPROACH | 38°41.64’ S 177°59.33’ E | 054.5° T | 0.76 nm |
| 3 | POVERTY BAY LEAD | 38°41.33’ S 177° 59.89’ E | 054.5° T | 1.27 nm |
| 4 | BUTLERS / BREAKWATER | 38° 40.59’ S 178° 01.20’ E | Manoeuvring |
Arrival from anchorages to berth
| Waypoint # | Waypoint Name | POSITION | COURSE | DISTANCE |
| 0 | ANCHORAGE # 2 | 38°43.25’ S 178° 59.30’ E | 347° T | 1.07 nm |
| 1 | APPROACH 2 | 38°41.89’ S 177° 58.89’ E | 054.5° T | 1.21 nm |
| 2 | POVERTY BAY LEAD | 38°41.33’ S 177° 59.89’ E | 054.5° T | 1.27 nm |
| 3 | BUTLERS / BREAKWATER | 38° 40.59’ S 178° 01.21’ E | Manoeuvring |
Swing basin manoeuvre, diameter 255m
Departure from berth to pilot boarding ground
Courses are indicative only and may be modified to suit prevailing conditions.
The ship’s position should be monitored by a suitable trained member of the ship’s Bridge team.
Anchors to be cleared for use.
VHF Ch 12 & 16 to be monitored when inside harbour limits
Courses are indicative only and may be modified to suit prevailing conditions.
Pilot will normally disembark in the vicinity of WP 3 to utilise lee created on starboard side from prevailing SE swell.
Gisborne pilotage waypoints (based on WGS 84 DATUM)
NOTE: The following waypoints may be used for settings tracks on GPS or ECDIS equipment. Eastland Port accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of this data.
Departure from #8 berth to pilot boarding ground
| Waypoint # | Waypoint Name | POSITION | COURSE | DISTANCE |
| 0 | #8 BERTH | 38°40.48’ S 178° 01.43’ E | 238° T | 0.21 nm |
| 1 | BUTLERS / BREAKWATER | 38°40.59’ S 178° 01.21’ E | 234.5° T | 0.83 nm |
| 2 | TOKOMARU ROCK BUOY | 38°41.10’ S 178°00.29’ E | 197° T | 0.38 nm |
| 3 | POVERTY BAY LEAD | 38°41.65’ S 178° 00.07’ E | 150° T | 2.46 nm |
| 4 | PILOT BOARDING GROUND | 38° 43.59’ S 178° 01.50’ E | Commence Sea Passage |
