NAURU
Nauru Radio Station is situated on the South side of the island. Some
Nauru
GENERAL: (See Plan)
GEO-POLITICAL:
Capital City: None.
Nationality: Nauruan.
Population: 12,000.
COMMUNICATIONS:
International Direct Dial Code: 674.
Number of Internal Airports: 1.
Major Languages Spoken: Nauruan, English.
ECONOMY:
Currency: 1 Australian Dollar (AUD) of 100 Cents.
Exchange: (as of July 2002)
US$ 1.00 ␦ AUD 1.80
AUD 1.00 ␦ US$ 0.56
Main Industries: Phosphate mining; financial services and coconut
products.
ENVIRONMENT:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Other Maritime Claims: Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 30 km.
Climate: Tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February).
Natural Resources: Phosphates.
NAURU: 00.32 S. 166.56 E. (See Plan)
PORT LIMITS: Vessels to arrive approximately 4 miles to the West of
the island and establish contact with Nauru Port Control on VHF Channel
16 to obtain further instructions. Vessels are advised not to approach
closer than 0.5 miles off the island, due to very strong and variable
currents.
DOCUMENTS:
International Declaration of Health, 1 copy.
Clearance from Last Port.
Crew Lists, 2 copies.
Passenger Lists, 2 copies.
Manifest, 1 copy.
PILOTAGE: Pilotage is compulsory. The Pilot Station is 0.25 miles
bearing 315␥ (T) from the Northern-most buoy (‘A1’) of the Northern
(No. 2) cantilever, on the West side of the Island, which is approximately
0.5 miles offshore.
Masters should inform the Harbour Master on departure from last port,
72 hours and 24 hours before arrival. ETA messages should be sent
through Radio Nauru (C2N) or through Sydney Radio to telegraphic
address ‘‘Nauruphos Nauru’’ or telex No. ZV 33082 Nruphos for attention
of the Harbour Master. On receipt of the second ETA message,
Nauruphos will advise the Master through Nauru Radio or Sydney Radio
of any messages for the vessel.
The Harbour office is open from 0700 hrs. daily, 0730 hrs. Sundays,
and the Harbour Master will contact vessels on VHF Channel 16 or
2182 kHz regarding berthing instructions.
Vessels should fly the Nauru National flag when approaching the
island.
A safe, clean pilot ladder with 2 manropes should be rigged on the
port side of the vessel with the bottom rung 0.7 m. above the water.
Vessels should approach the Pilot Station from the North on a heading
of about 220␥ (T).
The pilot normally remains on board throughout the period that the
vessel is made fast to the mooring system. The weather is extremely
unpredictable and the vessel may be required to slip and sail at very
short notice.
ANCHORAGES: No sea anchorage is available at Nauru due to extreme
depths of water all around the island. Vessels unable to moor due to
adverse weather, late arrival or berth occupancy drift off the port and
return by daylight next morning, or when required to do so by the Harbour
Master.
There are no known shoals offshore.
RESTRICTIONS: There are no restrictions on draft or tide. Onshore
winds (Westerly) generate an onshore set which may make ship handling
unsafe when the Harbour Master will declare a non-weather working
day. Vessels are only brought in to the moorings during daylight hours.
Sailing possible at anytime.
MAX. SIZE:
No. 1 (Southern) Cantilever: Condemned as beyond repair.
No. 2 (Northern) Cantilver:
Maximum arrival deadweight 20,000 tonnes.
Maximum sailing displacement 50,000 tonnes.
Maximum length 192.02 m.
Maximum beam 28.34 m.
Maximum airdraft 12.73 m.
HEALTH: Masters of vessels approaching Nauru are required to send
a telegram or telex directly to the Quarantine Officer, Nauru, not more
than 24 hours and less than 12 hours before arrival either through Nauru
Radio or Sydney Radio. The quarantine message should state the name
of the last port, the date of departure from the last port, the number of
crew and passengers, and the presence of any infectious disease. If no
reply is received from the Quarantine Officer, the vessel should call
Nauru Radio on VHF Channel 16 and obtain pratique, after arrival off
the island. The telex number of the Quarantine Officer is ZV 33086
NRUMIC.
VHF: The Harbour Office (Nauru Port Control) has a VHF set with a
range of 20 miles to the West of the island. Difficulty is experienced
communicating by VHF with vessels to the East of the West side of the
island.
Calling: Channel 16 – Working: Channel 14.
See guidelines on how to compile and submit information to us (page vi).
difficulty is experienced communicating by VHF with vessels to the North
of the island. Nauru Radio operates on Channels 16, 11, 26 and 68.
RADAR: A radar set is installed in the Harbour Office for the purpose
of monitoring rain squalls.
TUGS: No tugs available.
BERTHING: There are 2 sets of mooring buoys for the phosphate
loading cantilevers. The mooring gear for making fast to the mooring
system for vessels coming to load phosphate or discharge oil is supplied
from ashore. Mooring gangs board the vessel at the Pilot Station to carry
out the mooring operation under the direction of the duty Harbour Master
(Pilot). All Harbour Master’s are qualified Master Mariners. Ship’s anchor
cables are not used. The ship’s forward and after cranes/derricks must
be rigged on the port side for lifting the mooring gear on board.
A vessel is moored initially to the outer buoys which are anchored in
approximately 600 m. of water and are then hove to an inner mooring
system. In the loading position the vessel lies in about 30 m. of water
and about 18 m. – 24 m. from the reef edge.
Loading of phosphate is from 2 cantilevers with a combined pour rate
of 3,000 tonnes per hour.
Vessels handling containers or general cargo tie up to the outer buoys
and use ship’s lines. Lighters are brought alongside for the handling of
cargo.
STEVEDORES: Supplied by Nauruphos, no advice required. When
shore mooring ropes are used, the stevedore supervisors are in charge
of the mooring gangs fore and aft. Cargo operations are conducted
around the clock.
MEDICAL: Medical treatment can be given at short notice. There are
2 hospitals on Nauru and emergency surgery can be carried out. Cholera
vaccinations are required if the vessel has come from an infected area.
If vessels are calling at the island solely for the purpose of obtaining
medical assistance, the request for medical assistance should be sent
directly to the Principal Immigration Officer, Nauru, on telex No. ZV 33086
NRUIMC or ZV 33081 GOVNRU.
TANKERS: Length and beam as for phosphate vessels. 8 in. discharge
line, to storage tanks, capable of 60 p.s.i. discharge pressure.
Small tankers (less than 150 m.) usually use ship’s lines for head and
stern lines, but inner and outer breast lines are supplied from shore as
for phosphate vessels.
DENSITY: The entire mooring system is in the open sea. Normal salt
water at all states of tide and season.
FRESH WATER: A new desalination plant was built in 1993, and fresh
water supply is now plentiful on the island. However, there are no water
barges available, and ships can only get water in small quantities, and
only in case of emergency.
FUEL: Island stocks are imported for use in the phosphate industry.
Bunkers are not normally supplied. Limited quantities may only be made
available in cases of extreme emergency.
CONSULS: Australian and Republic of China (Taiwan).
REPAIRS: Small repairs such as welding, brazing and lathe work may
be carried out when such repairs are essential to allow the vessel to
proceed on its voyage. Electronics technicians employed by the
phosphate corporation may be able to effect repairs to electronic
navigational aids providing that circuit diagrams are available.
Main engines may not be immobilised while the vessel is made fast
to mooring system.
SURVEYORS: Nauru Phosphate Corporation is the appointed agent of
Lloyd’s of London. The Harbour Master performs the surveys. Draft
surveys are the responsibility of the vessel.
GANGWAY/DECK WATCHMEN: The inshore gangway is usually used
for labour to gain access to the vessel. The alighting platform of the
gangway should be suspended about 2.0 m. above the water. A member
of the crew should be available to raise or lower it as necessary.
OPENING/CLOSING HATCHES: Carried out by ship’s crew.
CUSTOMS ALLOWANCES: No restrictions on crew consumption
apply. Trading between ship and shore is prohibited.
CARGO GEAR: Cargo gear should be up to the standard demanded in
Australian ports. Derricks and/or cranes must be topped and made ready
for operation by the ship’s crew who should instruct the winch/crane
operators in their use. The handling of containers and general cargo is
by ship’s gear only.
REPATRIATION: Repatriation and crew changes can be arranged.
AIRPORT: Airport is 1 km. from the Harbour Office. Air Nauru operates
regular flights to Australia, New Zealand, S.E. Asia and major locations
in the Pacific.
TIME: GMT plus 12 hours. No alterations during the year.
HOLIDAYS: Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday and Easter
Sunday are normally closed holidays. Other National holidays occur
during the year but work normally continues on these days.
POLICE/AMBULANCE/FIRE: All emergencies are handled by the
Harbour Masters.
TELEPHONES: Nauru International dialling code: 674.
No telephones are placed on board. The duty Harbour Master and
Stevedore Supervisors carry radios for communication with the Harbour
Office, wharf supervisors and plant operators. No radiotelephone
facilities exist.
SERVICES: 2 good hotels (3 and 4 star) with all facilities.
BANKS: The Bank of Nauru is the only bank on the island. There are
2 branches of the bank, both within 0.5 km. of the Harbour Office.The
main office is located in the Civic Centre. The currency of Nauru is the
Australian dollar. Money transfers can be arranged directly with the bank,
or through the Westpac Bank of Australia. Bank of Nauru, P.O.Box 289,
Republic of Nauru, Central Pacific. Telex No. ZV 33085 BANKNRU.
Telephone 5239 and 5240.
STORING: There are 2 large supermarkets which can supply foodstuff,
hardware and clothing.
SHIP SUPPLY SERVICE: The Marine Department can provide a barge
to ferry personnel to and from the ship in emergency cases. At all other
times, use of the barges is subject to availability. A charge of A$50.00
is levied for the service.
1751
NAURU
SHORE LEAVE: This may be granted by the Master in consultation with
the Harbour Master on board. NOTES
IDENTIFICATION CARDS: Some form of identification, Passport, Please also advise Shipping Guides Ltd.
Discharge Book, or I.D. card, should be carried by crew members.
GARBAGE DISPOSAL: Not available.
WASTE OIL DISPOSAL: Not available.
SEAMAN’S CLUBS: None.
REGULATIONS:
1. Unless otherwise advised, derricks and/or cranes must be rigged
for discharging to or from lighters alongside the vessel.
2. The rigging and adjusting of derricks and cranes prior to, or during
cargo operations is the ship’s responsibility.
3. Shore crane drivers are supplied solely for the loading and
discharge of cargo.
4. The opening and closing of hatches is the ship’s responsibility.
5. Shore labour does not apply or release cargo lashings, except in
the case of twistlocks within a container stow.
6. Hatch cleaning is not performed by shore labour as part of cargo
operations.
7. The handling of ship’s moorings is the responsibility of the ship’s
crew. Shore labour will handle the moorings when the vessel ties
up alongside the phosphate loading cantilvers.
8. Normal hours are 0700 – 1900. Any variation is at the Harbour
Master’s discretion.
9. The pilot is to be provided with access to the wheelhouse at all
times in order to operate the radar to detect rain squalls.
10. Mooring winches to be available at all times.
11. The engines are not to be immobilised, but are to be ready at
10 minutes notice. When notice is given, it is expected that the
mooring winches will be immediately available.
12. The weather is extremely unpredictable. If the weather
deteriorates, the vessel will be slipped from the moorings and put
to sea WHETHER OR NOT THE MASTER AND CREW ARE ON
BOARD. For this reason, it is imperative that the vessel is
adequately manned at all times.
13. Barges may be provided to ferry crew ashore, subject to their
availability. All requests should be referred to the pilot or
Stevedore Supervisor.
14. Vessels must not approach the port unless requested to do so.
15. Trimming of bulk phosphate is not performed by shore labour.
DELAYS: Normally no delays should be expected. Vessels arriving in
the afternoon usually berth the following day. One or two days delay
may be experienced due to port congestion, but this is rare. Phosphate
vessels usually take preference over other vessels which will be berthed
after the phosphate vessels have tied up.
Delays can occur due to adverse weather, the duration of which is
unpredictable.
GENERAL: The mooring system is in the open sea with no protection
from the wind or waves from the West. Waves under the cantilevers are
shorter and steeper than outside as a result of the shoaling effect of the
coral reef. Vessels are continually rolling and heaving while under the
cantilevers This makes it extremely dangerous for the ship’s crew to
open and close hatches with pontoons.
Vessels with derricks cause delays because it is usually not possible
to swing the cantilevers between hatches for the various pours without
heaving the vessel out on the moorings and back in again after shifting
the cantilever.
Easterly trades predominate for most of the year when the mooring
system is in the lee of the island. However, Westerly monsoons blow
during the wet season from November to March. Westerly winds blow
up to 45 knots and rain squalls are frequently experienced. Strong
onshore currents remain for several days after the winds have eased.
For this reason it is extremely dangerous to approach the buoyage
system after Westerly winds.
During the monsoon season vessels should have sufficient fuel, fresh
water and provisions for at least 30 days over and above the normal
duration of the voyage.
Strong mooring winches are essential since no tugs are available and
the vessel has to heave out on the mooring ropes before sailing.
AUTHORITY: Nauru Phosphate Corporation, Marine Department,
Aiwo District, Republic of Nauru, Central Pacific. Tel: 5554192,
5554205 (after hours). Telex: ZV 33082 NRUPHOS ‘‘Attn. Harbour
Master’’. Cables: Nauruphos, Nauru. Fax: Area Code 674, 555-4111.
Contact: Captain R.N. Underdahl, Harbour Master (Tel. Office (674)
555-4189. Residence (674) 555-4205.

1752 We welcome all advice, updates and additions to this information.