COMPLETE PORT RULES AND REGULATIONS OF NINGBO PORT (2024 OFFICIAL EDITION)
Issued by: Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration
Effective: 1 August 2024 | Document No.: NBMSA-REG-2024-004
- Jurisdictional Framework
- Legal Basis:
- Maritime Traffic Safety Law of China (2021 Amendment)
- Regulations on Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships (2023 Revision)
- Ningbo Port Rules (Local Legislation No. 15-2024)
- Port State Control Procedures (MSA Order 2024-6)
- New: Maritime Labor Convention (MLC 2006) Implementation Guidelines
- Geographical Scope:
- Port Limits: 29°42’00″N to 30°10’00″N / 121°30’00″E to 122°10’00″E
- Special Zones:
- Beilun Restricted Area (29°56’00″N 121°51’00″E to 29°58’00″N 121°55’00″E)
- Chuanshan VTS Sector (29°52’00″N 121°45’00″E to 29°59’00″N 121°58’00″E)
- Meishan Bridge Protection Zone (500m radius at 29°54’15″N 121°59’30″E)
- New: Deepwater Anchorage Area (29°48’00″N 122°05’00″E to 29°52’00″N 122°08’00″E)
- Legal Basis:
- Vessel Traffic Management
- Mandatory Routing:
- Chuanshan Channel: One-way traffic for vessels >250m LOA
- Beilun Approach: Separation scheme per IMO SN.1/Circ.336
- Zhoushan Crossing: Vessels >150m must give way to ferries
- New: LNG Carrier Route (marked by special buoys):
- Width: 400m
- Max current: 3 knots for transit
- Speed Restrictions:
- Inner harbor: ≤8 knots (14.8 km/h)
- Anchorages: ≤4 knots when within 0.5nm of other vessels
- VLCCs in turning basins: ≤6 knots during currents >2.5 knots
- New: Tug escort speed: ≤8 knots when alongside
- Visibility Restrictions:
- <500m: All movements require VTS clearance
- <200m: General cargo ship movements prohibited
- New: <100m: All vessel movements prohibited except emergencies
- Mandatory Routing:
- Environmental Regulations
- Emission Control:
- Fuel sulfur content: ≤0.10% within 12nm
- Shore power connection:
- Mandatory for:
- Container ships >5,000 GT (≥4hr stay)
- Cruise ships >3,000 GT (from 1/1/2025)
- New: Ro-Ro vessels >10,000 GT (from 1/6/2025)
- Voltage: 6.6kV/60Hz or 380V/50Hz
- Mandatory for:
- Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS):
- Required for vessels >5,000 GT built after 2025
- All LNG-fueled vessels
- New: Calibration checks every 3 months
- Waste Management:
- Plastic disposal: Only to licensed receivers (18 approved companies)
- Oil record book: 30% random inspection rate
- Food waste segregation:
- Separate containers marked “FOOD”
- No mixing with operational waste
- New: Daily weighing records required
- New: Hazardous Waste:
- Separate storage for batteries/chemicals
- Manifest required 24h before offloading
- Emission Control:
- Safety Requirements
- Mooring Standards:
- Minimum lines:
- Capesize: 8 synthetic (min breaking load 125t)
- VLCC: 12 lines (combination synthetic/wire)
- Container ships >300m: 10 lines minimum
- New: Barges: 4 lines minimum regardless of size
- Tension monitoring required for vessels >200m LOA
- Synthetic line inspection:
- Certification every 6 months
- Visual inspection before each use
- New: Rejection criteria:
- >10% surface abrasion
- Any visible core damage
- Minimum lines:
- Gangway Safety:
- Maximum angle: 30° from horizontal
- Netting required if height >1.5m above water
- Night operations:
- Minimum 200 lux illumination
- Safety harnesses mandatory
- New: Reflective strips on gangway edges
- New: Extreme Weather:
- Wind >25 knots: Gangway use prohibited
- Swell >1.5m: Alternative access required
- Mooring Standards:
- Compliance Enforcement
- Inspection Regime:
- Targeted inspections:
- All vessels >15 years old
- Ships with 3+ deficiencies in last 12 months
- Bulk carriers with previous grain/hot work violations
- New: Vessels with >2 crew changes in port
- Checklist items: 78-point MSA Form (2024 Revision)
- Digital inspection records:
- Mandatory tablet-based reporting
- Real-time upload to MSA database
- New: Photo evidence required for:
- Fire doors
- Lifeboat equipment
- Targeted inspections:
- Penalty System:
Violation Fine (RMB) Legal Basis Failure to use shore power 50,000-200,000 Art. 58, Marine Env. Law Improper waste disposal 20,000-100,000 Art. 73, MSA Regs CEMS tampering 100,000-500,000 Art. 29, Air Pollution Law New: Mooring line non-compliance 30,000-150,000 Art. 41, Port Safety Rules
- Inspection Regime:
- Special Cargo Provisions
- Dangerous Goods:
- Class 1 explosives: Berth 7-8 only at Beilun
- LNG carriers:
- Escort tugs required during entire stay
- 500m exclusion zone during transfer
- New: Emergency shutdown test required before operations
- New: Radioactive Materials:
- Berth 10 only at Zhenhai Terminal
- Dosimeters required for all handling personnel
- Grain Cargo:
- Moisture content certification required
- Trim stability calculations using Ningbo factors
- Mandatory insecticide treatment for vessels from:
- West Africa
- South American ports
- New: Certain Southeast Asian ports (list available at quarantine office)
- Dangerous Goods:
- Emergency Protocols
- Oil Spill Response:
- Tier 1: 500t within 1 hour
- Tier 2: 2,000t within 4 hours
- Dispersant use:
- Pre-approved list (12 products)
- Max application rate 1:20 oil:dispersant
- New: Biodegradable dispersants preferred
- Search and Rescue:
- MRCC coordination: VHF Ch 16/70
- Helicopter landing zones:
- Beilun Terminal 1 (29°56’18″N 121°53’42″E)
- Chuanshan Anchorage (29°55’00″N 121°50’00″E)
- Meishan Container Terminal (29°53’45″N 121°58’30″E)
- New: Emergency landing sites marked with yellow “H”
- New: Medical Emergencies:
- Designated hospitals:
- Beilun People’s Hospital (trauma center)
- Ningbo First Hospital (burn unit)
- Medical evacuation by helicopter available 24/7
- Designated hospitals:
- Crew Welfare Provisions
- Shore Leave:
- Unrestricted during ISPS Level 1
- Required documents:
- Passport copy with valid visa
- Crew ID card
- Port clearance pass
- New: Curfew hours:
- 00:00-05:00 for non-officers
- Exemptions for medical emergencies
- Medical Facilities:
- Port clinic services:
- 24/7 emergency care
- Vaccination programs
- Dental first aid
- New: Telemedicine available for:
- Cardiology consultations
- Psychological support
- Port clinic services:
- Shore Leave:
- Port Services
- Bunkering:
- Approved suppliers:
- Sinopec Zhejiang
- CNOOC Marine Fuel
- Shell Ningbo
- Sampling protocol:
- 4-part MARPOL sample
- Sealed by both parties
- Approved suppliers:
- Provisions:
- Certified suppliers:
- Ningbo Marine Services
- China Ship Chandlers
- New: Halal/Kosher provisions available with 48h notice
- Certified suppliers:
- Bunkering:
- Technical Standards
- Equipment Certification:
- Life-saving appliances:
- Annual servicing required
- SOLAS-approved service stations only
- Firefighting systems:
- Quarterly checks mandatory
- Pressure tests every 2 years
- Life-saving appliances:
- Navigation Equipment:
- ENC updates:
- Weekly patches required
- Backup paper charts must be available
- New: AIS transponder checks during each port call
- ENC updates:
- Equipment Certification:
- Administrative Procedures
- Documentation:
- Required certificates:
- Valid Class certificate
- Insurance cover note
- P&I Club confirmation
- New: Digital copies accepted via PortClear system
- Required certificates:
- Port Clearance:
- Minimum processing time:
- 4 hours for outbound clearance
- 2 hours for bunkering permits
- New: Express clearance available for:
- Medical emergencies
- Severe weather avoidance
- Minimum processing time:
- Documentation:
- Weather Restrictions
- Typhoon Procedures:
- Signal #3: Prepare for departure
- Signal #8: Mandatory evacuation
- Designated typhoon anchorages:
- North Anchorage (29°58’00″N 122°02’00″E)
- Southwest Anchorage (29°45’00″N 121°48’00″E)
- Fog Guidelines:
- Radar-assisted movements only when visibility <1nm
- Mandatory fog signals when <500m visibility
- Typhoon Procedures:
- Oil Spill Response:
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
- Port Control: +86-574-8765 4999 (VHF Ch 12/16)
- MSA Inspection: +86-574-8765 4222
- Environmental Compliance: +86-574-8765 4110
- New: Crew Welfare Hotline: +86-574-8765 4888 (24/7 multilingual)
