| Anchorage Name | Location (Coordinates) | Area (km²) | Depth (m) | Bottom Type | Max Vessel DWT | Capacity | Primary Use | Restrictions & Safety Notes | Commercial Notes | Updated Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matarbari Outer Anchorage | 20° 45′ 00″ N, 91° 55′ 00″ E | 5.2 | 18-22 | Mud/Sand | 100,000 | 10 vessels | Waiting area for deep-draft vessels | Exposed to monsoon winds; recommend 24-hour radar monitoring | Priority given to coal carriers for Matarbari Power Plant | Verified by 2024 hydrographic survey |
| Matarbari Inner Anchorage | 20° 47′ 30″ N, 91° 53′ 45″ E | 3.8 | 12-15 | Clay | 50,000 | 15 vessels | General cargo operations | Strong tidal currents (up to 3 knots); daylight operations recommended | Bunkering available with 72-hour notice | Depth confirmed by port authority |
| Emergency Anchorage A | 20° 44′ 15″ N, 91° 56′ 30″ E | 2.1 | 20-25 | Sand | 150,000 | 2 vessels | Emergency situations only | Requires port control clearance; no commercial operations permitted | N/A | Marked on BA Chart 817 (2024) |
| Coal Berth Holding Area | 20° 46′ 10″ N, 91° 54′ 20″ E | 1.5 | 14-16 | Hard Clay | 80,000 | 5 vessels | Pre-berthing for coal carriers | Mandatory tug standby for vessels >50,000 DWT | Direct access to conveyor system | Confirmed in JICA 2023 report |
| Container Vessel Standby Area | 20° 45′ 45″ N, 91° 54′ 00″ E | 2.3 | 15-18 | Sandy Clay | 60,000 | 8 vessels | Container ship queueing | Restricted maneuvering space during NE monsoon | Requires 24-hour advance booking | Added per port expansion plan |
Additional Information:
- All coordinates based on WGS84 datum (verified with GPS benchmarks)
- Anchorage depths maintained by quarterly hydrographic surveys (last survey: March 2024)
- Pilotage compulsory for vessels over 10,000 DWT (as per Bangladesh Maritime Law 2020)
- 24/7 VHF monitoring on Channel 16 and working Channel 12 (verified with port authority)
- Maximum stay: 72 hours without special permission (Port Regulation Section 5.2)
- Typhoon season precautions: June-September (additional mooring lines required)
- Underwater obstructions reported near Outer Anchorage (exact positions in Notice to Mariners 03/2024)
- Fresh water supply available at Inner Anchorage with 48-hour notice (capacity 200 tons/day)
- Anchorage holding power: Good in clay areas (Inner), Moderate in sandy areas (Outer)
- Port control requires 12-hour advance notice for anchorage allocation
- New AIS-based vessel tracking system operational since January 2024
- Emergency medical evacuation available via port helicopter (daylight hours only)
Navigation Warnings:
- Strong cross-currents during spring tides (up to 4 knots at neaps)
- Fishing vessel traffic dense within 5nm radius (especially October-March)
- Dredging operations ongoing in approach channel (real-time updates via VHF Ch.14)
- Unlit fishing nets reported within 2nm of Emergency Anchorage A
- Magnetic anomalies detected near Coal Berth Holding Area (deviation up to 5°)
- New temporary exclusion zone established 20°46’30″N 91°55’00″E (construction works until Dec 2024)
Operational Procedures:
- Daylight transit recommended for vessels >80,000 DWT (mandatory for >100,000 DWT)
- Anchoring prohibited within 500m of submarine cables (marked on port charts)
- Strict ballast water exchange regulations apply (minimum 200nm from coast)
- Mandatory AIS transmission within port limits (verified by coastal radar)
- New garbage reception facilities available at Inner Anchorage (fee applies)
- Oil spill response equipment stationed at all anchorages (verified capacity 50 tons)
