Everything you need to know about Tema Port

Tema Port is the bigger of two seaports of Ghana, handling 80 per cent of the country’s national exports and imports. The harbour is situated along the Gulf of Guinea, 18 miles from the capital Accra, and it serves both as a loading and unloading port for goods, both for Ghana and the land-locked countries to the north.

Tema services a wide range of industrial and commercial companies, producing or handling everything from petroleum products, cement and food items, to iron, steel, aluminium products and textiles. Most of the country’s main export, cacao, is also shipped from Tema.

The harbour covers a total land area of 3.9 million square meters with the water-enclosed area being 1.7 million square meters. It has 5 kilometres of breakwaters, 12 deep-water berths, one oil-tanker berth, one dockyard, warehouses and transit sheds. Nearby is also a fishing harbour with facilities that handles fish processing.

Technical Information

Main Port

Maximum Length of berths and corresponding Maximum Safe Depths at Chart Datum

North/South Quay

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Fishing Harbour

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Takoradi Harbour

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Anchorage

There is a good anchorage, 0.75 to 2 miles ENE to SW of the main entrance with depths of 30 to 60 meters 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.

Coming in to Tema Port

For the latest information about tides, weather conditions, traffic and more, visit FleetMon.

Note that the Ghanaian flag should be hoist upon entry to the port!

Approach

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

Tema Port is Operating at Security Level 1 (one).

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.

Pilotage

Pilotage is 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 2.5 miles from distance.

Times of pilotage are as follows:Main Harbour – dry cargo vessels:
Arrival & departure: 24/7.

Main Harbour- tankers & Valco carriers:
Arrivals: daylight only 06:00–18:00 hrs.
Departure: daylight only 06:00–18:00 hrs.

Boarding Party Information

The following Officials constitute the Boarding Party.

Extra information

Please ensure all seaman’s book (including Flag State Discharge book) are duly signed and stamped (Embarkation/Disembarkation).

If there are crew with new passport/seaman’s’ book on board, ensure holder sign to validate same.

Also you will be required to provide (one) passport size photos (digital) of each crewmember for the processing of ashore passes. Please note also the ashore passes are valid for a period of 72 hrs after being issued. Again make sure that every seaman’s personal details Column at the last page of passport and seaman’s books are filled.

The Yellow book should also be in order.

Important!

Please be advised that it’s a fineable offence for a crew to smoke openly within the port, however, crew can smoke on board and outside port.

The highlighted message in red should be done well; those are the areas that create room for the Immigration and Port Health officers to make noise and demand unrealistically from the Captain. Please let us avoid this.

Advising ETA

Ships are recommended to send their ETA at least 72 hours in advance to their agent’s office. Berthing Meetings are organized three times a week that is Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 10:00 hrs. to 12:00 hrs. to determines berthing arrangements, whereas Friday’s meeting coordinates weekend work. Notification of the approach by VHF is essential and port control can be contacted on channel 14 or 16 all the time.

Airport Protocol Service

We offer Airport protocol services. The only international airport in Ghana is Kotoka International Airport, located about 30 km from Tema, on the Eastern side of Accra.

Boarding Documents

The following documents are required to present upon arrival to Port Health, Immigration and Customs Authorities: