BELIZE

CARGO GEAR: Ship’s gear; heavy lift cranes are available up to

Belize 140 tons for vessels which can reach the dock.

GENERAL: (See Plan) REPATRIATION: Possible, regular air services to and from Miami, New
Orleans, and neighbouring Republics.
GEO-POLITICAL: AIRPORT: Phillip Goldson International Airport 10 miles from Belize City.
Capital City: Belmopan.
Nationality: Belizean. TIME: Normally GMT minus 6 hours.
Population: 249,000.
COMMUNICATIONS: HOLIDAYS: Public Holidays: New Year’s Day*; Baron Bliss Day (9th
International Direct Dial Code: 501. March); Good Friday; Holy Saturday; Easter Monday*; Columbus Day
Number of Internal Airports: 3. (12th October); Labour Day* (1st May); Commonwealth Day (24th May);
Major Languages Spoken: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Creole, St. George’s Caye Day* (10th September); Independence Day*
Garifuna (Carib). (21st September); Carib Settlement Day (20th November); Christmas
ECONOMY: Day* (25th December); Boxing Day* (26th December).
Currency: 1 Belize Dollar (BZD) of 100 Cents. *Special arrangements must be made with Union. All other days are
Exchange: (as of July 2002) subject to overtime rates.
US$ 1.00 ␦ BZD 1.97
BZD 1.00 ␦ US$ 0.51 POLICE/AMBULANCE/FIRE: All emergencies dial 911.
Main Industries: Garment production; food processing; tourism;
construction. EMERGENCY CO-ORDINATION CENTRE: None.
ENVIRONMENT: BANKS: Barclays Bank International Ltd., P.O.Box 363, Albert Street,
Other Maritime Claims: Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 m. Belize City. Tel: 77211/2. Telex: 217. Fax: 78572.
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m. in the north, 3 n.m. in the south. Belize Bank Limited, 60 Market Square, Belize City. Tel: 77132.
Coastline Extent: 386 km. Telex: 229. Fax: 72712.
Climate: Tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to
Bank of Nova Scotia, P.O.Box 708, Belize City. Tel: 77027. Telex: 218.
February).
Natural Resources: Arable land potential; timber; fish; hydropower. Fax: 77416.
Atlantic Bank, 6 Albert Street, Belize City. Tel: 77124. Fax: 77736.
STORING: See ‘‘Prelims’’.
BELIZE: 17.29 N. 88.11 W. (See Plan) 1. Yes.
2. Vessels may store by barge during loading and discharging.
PORT LIMITS: Usually upon arrival at English Caye Pilot Station for 3. Yes.
vessels arriving from North and East and at anchorage in Belize Harbour
for vessels arriving from South inside the reef. 4. Yes.
DOCUMENTS: 5. Prior arrangements must be made.
Crew Lists – 6 copies for local use plus 10 Spanish copies for Consular 6. Possible to use riggers, however, it is best to use crew.
Clearance.
SHIP SUPPLY SERVICE: There are numerous small craft each
Passenger Lists – 5 copies for local use plus 10 Spanish copies for
Consular Clearance. individually owned, which ply between the wharves and ships anchored
Stores List – 5 copies for local use plus 10 Spanish copies for Consular in the harbour. These craft provide ship to shore transport of personnel,
Clearance. and/or essential stores and/or sick crew members.
Manifests – 10 copies. SHORE LEAVE: Possible.
Customs Documents – Clearance for last port and crew declaration.
Health Documents – International Declaration of Health plus one copy IDENTIFICATION CARDS: Seaman’s Book sufficient.
crew vaccination list.
Ship’s Papers and Certificates should be available on request. REGULATIONS: None.
PILOTAGE: A Pilot is always on station at English Caye. Contact can
be made with the Pilot Station on VHF Channel 16. Vessels consigned DELAYS: Discharge and loading operations occasionally delayed by
to Eurocaribe can make contact on VHF Channel 16. weather (rain) and sometimes by shortage of equipment (trailers, etc.).
ANCHORAGES: Depths in harbour anchorage area vary due to a natural GENERAL: Starboard anchor usually used to make lee for operations
slope; for example, a vessel drawing 14 ft. can anchor within 0.25 miles; on portside if vessel is at anchor. It is necessary for vessels to provide
16 ft. 0.5 miles; 20 ft. 1 mile and so on Southward. Masters should refer
to Pilot for this information. toilet facilities for stevedores. Feeding of Supervisors and Customs
MAX. SIZE: Size and length, within reason is not a problem. Tankers Officials is normal.
bringing oil to the Esso storage depot secure to buoys fore and aft.
Max. draft 19 ft. 6 in.
HEALTH: Granted by Customs after boarding in harbour or at berth. SHIPMASTER’S REPORT: February 1987.
VHF: Most ships’ Agents man their own radio stations and usually
stand-by on Channel 16 VHF with alternative Channels 6, 11, 12, 13 Port Limits: 3 miles from English Caye light and on leading lights.
and 14. Documents:
TUGS: Tugs are not normally necessary but small tugs are available. 6 Crew Lists.
BERTHING: Main berth – length 220 ft., depth 17 ft. (approx.). Ro-Ro 2 Passenger Lists.
berth is 70 ft. wide, vessel lies alongside dolphins. 2 Crew Declarations.
STEVEDORES: Gangs usually require 2 hours notice during normal 1 Health Declaration.
working hours. Work rates average between 3 tons and 10 tons per gang 8 Cargo Manifests.
hour. 2 copies of Bills of Lading.
MEDICAL: Hospital facilities are available. Pilotage: Pilot ordered through Agents. Pilot boards outside reefs and
TANKERS: Undersea pipeline 8 in. in diameter. asks vessel to go on to English Caye leading lights 2 – 3 miles from the
Hand-pump discharging rate 250 to 300 g.p.m., also gravity flow. leading lights. Pilotage to berth is straight forward in deep natural
Normal discharge rate 2,000 barrels per hour.
channel. Once vessel leaves this channel the waters shoal rapidly and
DENSITY: Density varies with outflow from rivers during wet season
(July-December). 20 ft. is the maximum draft, although the Pilot says he has berthed ships
FRESH WATER: Very scarce and expensive if vessel cannot berth at at 21 ft. Approach berth on 045␥ T and when starboard buoy almost
dock. abeam let go starboard anchor and manoeuvre into berth. First line to
FUEL: Light diesel oil 45/48 available subject to Government approval. port aft buoy needs to be the best and to be doubled up. The stern is
Can be supplied at buoys with 8 in. dia. pipe (reductions to 4 in. available heaved around with this and as the wind was Northerly 10 – 15 knots
or by barge). Also available by truck if vessel able to dock. it was taken steadily. Forward port buoy lines were run and vessel then
FIRE PRECAUTIONS: None. heaved over to pipe-line buoy. Stern buoy line then run and vessel
CONSULS: backed into position. Cable was out to 5 shackles on deck. Other buoy
Belgium Italy lines were run and on completion vessel was heading 108␥T. Throughout
Brazil Jamaica our stay the weight remained on the port buoy lines as the wind stayed
Canada Lebanon in the North. Very little tidal influence.
Chile Netherlands Anchorages: None specified, numerous safe areas to anchor if required.
Cuba Nicaragua Restrictions: Daytime berthing and unberthing.
Denmark Norway
France Sweden Max. Size: Limiting factor is 20 ft. draft.
El Salvador Germany Health: Port Health Officer gives Free Pratique and ‘Q’ flag to be flown
Israel until given. Renewed Derat Exemption here.
Embassies: Costa Rica Panama Radio: All communication done via Sat Com.
El Salvador Taiwan
Guatemala United States VHF: Pilot on Channel 16 and 6. Port working Channel is Channel 6
Honduras Venezuela which Agents and all use. Port not very busy so no problems. They have
Mexico 1 tanker per month.
High Commission: British Radar: None.
REPAIRS: Only small minor repairs possible. Tugs: None.
SURVEYORS: Lloyd’s and A.B.S.
GANGWAY/DECK WATCHMEN: Not required. Berthing: See ‘‘Pilotage’’.
OPENING/CLOSING HATCHES: Stevedores open and close hatches Bridges: None.
except MacGregor type. Medical: Doctors in the town but anything serious has to be flown out.
CUSTOMS ALLOWANCES: 200 cigarettes plus 1 bottle spirits (0.20).

See guidelines on how to compile and submit information to us (page vi). 270
BELIZE
Tankers: 1␺8 in. submerged pipe-line through which all grades are
pumped with water plug between each. Line to be left in gas oil. NOTES
Max. B.P. is 140 p.s.i. and a general rate of 375 cu.m.p.h. was obtained Please also advise Shipping Guides Ltd.
on all grades.
Density: 1021.
Fresh Water: No means to supply at tanker berth.
Fuel: Diesel with 48 hours’ notice. No fuel oil.
Fire Precautions: Normal ship precautions; no help from shore.
Repairs: Very minor repairs only.
Dry Docks: None.
Surveyors: Lloyd’s, A.B.S. and B.V.
Gangway/Watchman: None.
Customs Allowances: 200 cigarettes and 1 bottle of spirits. Bond sealed.
Repatriation: No problems with staff or crew changes.
Airport: 12 miles from town.
Time: GMT minus 6 hours.
Police/Ambulance/Fire: None.
Emergency Co-Ordination Centre: None.
Telephones: None.
Services: None.
Banks: Royal Bank of Canada, Barclay’s Bank, Bank of Nova Scotia,
and Atlantic Bank.
Storing: Fresh vegetables only. Lobster in season January to March.
Shore Leave: No restrictions and boat stays with ship all the time.
Identification Cards: Not required.
Regulations: None.
Delays: Weather, daylight berthing and unberthing.
Developments: None anticipated.
General: Shore capacity: Avgas 2,400 bbls., REG Mogas 24,800 bbls.,
Premium Mogas 7,900 bbls., Avtur 22,800 bbls., gas oil 29,600 bbls.

AUTHORITY: Belize Port Authority, P.O.Box 633, Ceasar Ridge

Road, Belize City, Belize. Tel: ␣501 (2) 72439, 72449. FAX: ␣501 (2)
73571. Email: portbz@btl.net Contact: A. Coye, Port Commissioner
and Chief Executive. L. Garbutt, Operations Manager.

271 We welcome all advice, updates and additions to this information.