The following list of Libyan sea ports
provides an introductory information about the
main Libyan ports. Interactive maps of the
ports allow zooming for detailed picture
about the port. Tripoli Port currently (2010)
is the only port that receives tourists, and there are a number of visitors arriving
at the port from Europe and elsewhere. All other ports are
mostly industrial or commercial. The list includes summary information
about the following Libyan sea ports: Abu Kammash
Port, Bouri Oil Terminal, Benghazi Port,
Darna Port,
Elbrega Port
(Marsa Brega),
Khoms Port, Marsa al-Hariga
Oil Terminal,
Musratha Port
( Musratha or Qasr Ahmed),
Ras Lanouf
Oil Terminal,
Ras Lanouf
Port (RASCO),
As-Sidrah Port (Oil Terminal),
Tobruk Port, Tripoli Port, Zawya (Zawiya or Azzawya)
Port,
Zwitina Port (or Zueitina), and Zwara (Zuwarah) Port:
Marsa Zuwarah.
Abu Kammash, or Abu-Kemmash, is a small village situated on the western coast of Libya, close to the Tunisian border. The village of Abu Kemmash is originally a fishing village and still is a home of a fishing community whose love for the sea goes back to ancient times.
Operator: General Company For Chemical Industries.
Location: Lat: 33:05 N Long: 11:49 E.
Communications: VHF: Ch 16, 09, 12.
Port Activity: loading petrochemical products.
Pilot: available.
Admiralty Pilot NP49.
Max draft: 7.5 M.
Charts: BA 3327, 3353.
A pier for coasters: depth 6.7m.
Services: tug available, fresh water, medical facilities, garbage disposal not available.
Bouri (Oil Terminal)
Bouri oil terminal is located approximately
50nm off the Libyan coast, about 150 km north-west
of Tripoli, in western Libya. The el-Bouri
oilfield, the largest in Libya with an output
around 60,000 bbl/d, was discovered in 1976
and is
located on Block NC 41-B, a 37,700 sq km
tract in the Libyan sector of the Gulf of
Gabes. El-Bouri is Libya's first
offshore field, with an estimated reserve two
billion barrels of crude oil, and
also large volumes of associated natural
gas.
FSU
"Sloug"
is moored to the SPM structure by an articulated
bracket, water depth approximately 161m.
Operator: AGIP Oil Company.
Port Activity:
loading crude oil.
Communications: VHF: Ch 16
.
Location: Lat: 33:54 N, Long:
12:39 E
Max size: approximately 150,000dwt.
Pilot: the pilot boards 2nm S of FSU
.
Anchorage: forbidden; the waiting area
is 2nm S of FSU
"Sloug
"
.
Dock density: 1025.
Charts: BA 3327.
Berthing is in daylight only.
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya after
the capital Tripoli. It is located on the eastern
coast of Libya, east of the the Gulf of Sidra. Max LOA 167.6m
and draft 8.53m. Vessels burning fuel oil need
to clean bilges prior to arrival.
Operator: Socialist Company For Ports.
Port Activity: bulk cargo, general cargo
&
containers.
Communications: VHF: Ch 16.
Contact: +218 51 627910-15
/ 615400 - 623745.
Location: Lat: 32:07 N, Long: Long: 20:03 E.
Dock density: 1026.
Charts: 3352.
Admiralty Pilot NP49.
Max Draft: 12M
Pilot boards vessels approximately 1nm off the harbour
entrance.
Anchorage: according to instructions.
Tidal range: 0.6m.
Benghazi Light: tower, 22m height, SE of Ra's
Sidi Khuraybish.
Berths: max LOA 60m, draft 4.3m; containers are
worked alongside the general berths; plus 2 berths
used by tankers.
Services: tugs, barges, fresh water, bunkers,
and medical facilities (in the
city).
Darna Seaport
Darna is located in the eastern
coast of Libya, between Benghazi and Tobruk.
It is a small port, visited by about 80 ships
a year. Entry is allowed during daylight only.
Operator: Socialist Company For Ports.
Port Activity: general cargo & containers.
Communications: VHF: Ch 16.
Location: Lat: 32:25 N, Long:
22:42 E.
Max Draft:
9M.
Dock density: 1025.
Charts: 3355.
Admiralty Pilot NP49.
Anchorage: according to instructions: 0.5nm off
the N breakwater; for vessels awaiting a berth:
1.5nm of 32°49.3'N 022°39'E.
Tidal range: 0.5m.
Darnah Light: 12m height: 32°45'N 022°41'E.
2 berths: one has a quay length of 333m, depth
9.0m; and the other 120m, depth 6.0m.
Services: barges, 3 tugs, fresh water, medical
facilities availably at the hospital.
Brega, Elbrega or Elbriga is located in the
Gulf of Sidrah (the Sirte Gulf), about 270km
west of Benghazi city. The name is usually
written as
"
Marsa Elbrega Port"
, which translates to
"Port Elbrega Port
"
. The port is used for loading general cargo
and oil and petrochemical products.
Operator: Sirt Oil Company.
Port activities: loading general cargo, crude
oil
&
petrochemical products.
Location: LAT 30:26 N, LONG 19:33 E.
Contact: +218 61 2230216-225 / +218 21 3610379-90.
Telex: 20240 - 30120 SIRTCO LY.
Max Draft: 14M.
Services: medical facilities, bunkers, fresh
water.
Nearest airport: Benghazi International Airport.
Khoms Seaport
Khoms (also occasionally found written as Homs) is
located about 120km east of the capital Tripoli, and close to legendary
Leptis Magna. (Products handled through this port include cars and containers.
Vessel should have a clean Bill of Health from the last port of call;
and all crew must show smallpox vaccination certificate. Tobacco products,
alcoholic drinks, perfume, arms and ammunition have to be locked up under
customs seal until time of leaving territorial waters.
Operator: Socialist Company For Ports.
Port Activity: general cargo and containers.
Communications: VHF:
Ch 16 and with the pilot station on Ch 08, 10
and 12.
Location: Lat: 32:41 N
, 14:15 E.
Contact: +218 51 627910-15 / 615400 - 623745.
Max 12M.
Dock density: 1025.
Charts: BA 3353.
Admiralty Pilot NP49.
Pilot: compulsory.
Anchorage: according to instructions: obtainable
in a depth of 10m, rock, with Ras al-Wazif light
bearing 272° at a distance of 880m.
Wharf operated by Khoms power station reaches
1,500m NNE from coast.
Services: barges, tugs, fresh water and bunkering
(on advance request), medical facilities are
available in the town, garbage disposal must
be arranged by the port authority.
Marsa al-Hariga (Oil Terminal)
Marsa al Hariga oil terminal is situated 1nm
SSW of Tobruk.
The oil terminal consists of 2 jetty berths.
Operator: Sirt Oil Company
Port Activity: loading crude oil & petrochemical products.
Communications: VHF: Ch 16.
Location: Lat: 32:04 N, Long: 24:00 E.
Max Draft:
18.3M.
Max LOA 335m.
Pilot: compulsory: pilot will board vessel
from a tug, 1nm NE of the outer buoy.
Tidal range: 0.6m.
Dock density: 1026.
Charts: BA 3355, 3657.
Admiralty Pilot NP49.
Berthing is restricted to a max wind force
of 22kn and swell up to 0.9m.
Two 25t bollard pull tugs available
Two berthing faces of 30m each are provided,
depth alongside 18.3m.
Medical facilities: available.
Misrata Seaport
Misrata (also spelt as Misurata, Mesrata, Mesratha, or Misrathah)
is located about
250km east of the capital Tripoli. The port, also known as Qasr Ahmed,
is a commercial
port serving the town and the neighbouring power station and the steel factory,
and in addition to normal goods it can handle petroleum and containers. The
port is visited by about 200 vessels a year.
Operator: Socialist Company For Ports.
Port activity: general cargo, containers
&
bulk cargo.
Communications: VHF: Ch 16.
Contact: +218 51
627910-15 /615400 - 623745.
Location: 32:21 N, Long: 15: 14 E.
Max draft: 12M (14m for HBI Berth).
Tidal range: 0.5m.
Dock density: 1026.
Charts: BA 3353.
Admiralty Pilot NP49.
There are 3 tugs up to 2,400hp available.
Pilot: compulsory, available from 0800-2000hrs,
except on Fri. The pilot boat is grey with
white upper works.
Anchorage: within 1.5nm of 32°23'N 015°18'E,
approximately 5nm ENE of Ras al Barq Light in charted
depths of 25-37m, owing to poor holding.
There are 5 berths available, each 180m in
length with 11.0m depth alongside.
There is 22,500m2 of covered storage and
46,000m2 of open storage area available.
Services: minor repairs, fresh water, bunkers,
crew changing, and medical facilities are available.
Nearest airport: Tripoli International Airport
(250km).
Ras Lanuf
oil terminal is located in the Gulf of Sidrah
(the Sirte Gulf). The offshore oil export terminal,
consisting of 2 conventional buoy berths and
2 SPM's, receives approximately 300 vessels a
year. Contact
Veba Oil
Operations
for details. Vessel should have a clean Bill
of Health from the last port of call; and all
crew must show smallpox vaccination certificate.
Tobacco products, alcoholic drinks, perfume,
arms and ammunition have to be locked up under customs seal until time of leaving
territorial waters. Any vessel over 20 years of age may be rejected. Local winds,
known as ghiblis or ghibli, reach up to 45kn
from SE to SW and are frequent throughout the year. Winds in the area are generally
unpredictable and can reach up to 70kn.
Operator: VIBA Oil Company.
Port activity: loading crude oil products.
Communications: VHF: via Ch 16 (3 to 4 hours
prior to arrival).
Location: 30:31 N, Long:
18:35 E.
Max draft: 22M.
Largest vessel handled: about
255,000dwt.
Dock density: 1027.
Charts: BA 3343.
Admiralty Pilot NP49.
Pilot: compulsory: provided by the oil
company.
Anchorage: 0.5nm radius centred on position
30°33.9'N 018° 36.3'E.
Tidal range: 25-45cm; currents
vary in strength from 1-3kn and persist for
12 to 24 hours after the wind ceases.
Navigation Aaid:
a radio beacon with station identification
VR, transmitting on 385kHz, and located at
approximately 30°30'N 018°31.8'E. A radio transmitter
building, with one antennae tower 30.5m tall,
is located at position approximately 30°31'N 018°30.5'E,
and is surmounted by a fixed, red air warning
light.
Large oil storage tanks (up to 114.6m high)
are located in approximately 30°27.4'N 018°30'E:
10 tanks are coloured white and 3 are black.
Ras Lanouf (RASCO)
Ras Lanuf
port is located in the Gulf of Sidrah (the
Sirte Gulf), about 600km east of Tripoli,
the harbour is protected from the north by
Main breakwater and from the east by Lee breakwater. Positions are taken
from the head of Main breakwater (30°30.6'N 018°35.7'E).
Operator: Ras Lanuf Oil Company.
Port activity: loading oil & petrochemical products.
Communications: VHF: via Rasco Port
control monitors on Ch 10, 12, 16 and 22.
Pilot: boards near the Fairway lightbuoy
(30°30.8N 018°37.7'E) or in the anchorage
close north.
Max draft: 13M.
Admiralty Pilot NP49.
The piers each has 2 berths.
A quay wharf of 67m dredged to 11.0m,
max permitted draft 9.5m.
As-Sidrah (Oil Terminal)
As Sidrah or as-Sidra, located in the Gulf of
Sidrah (the Sirte Gulf), is an offshore oil
terminal, frequented by about 200 vessels a
year. Vessels with telex facilities on board
should telex directly to al-Waha Oil Company
on 20158 or 20758. Customs and Immigration
requirements should be obtained from the vessel's
agent. Tankers with inoperative or partially inoperative
propulsion units will be rejected. There
are no garbage disposal facilities, and severe
penalties may be imposed for pollution and
waste discharged into the sea. The approach
to the harbour is best made parallel to the
coast until the oil tanks are detected on
radar.
The most prominent landmark is a water tower
in the terminal area (white colour), located
at 30°38'N 018°21'E (FR).
Tanker specifications: tankers should have
2 bower anchors and ground tackle; at
least one winch capable of heaving on two
ropes simultaneously; suitable stoppers for
all lines and stoppers for wire ropes; at least
nine good synthetic fibre lines of not less than
9in circumference; be equipped with block, tackle,
booms, runners, sundry equipment, wrenches, gaskets,
nuts, bolts, strops, drip tray and sawdust, drift
pins and taglines. No repairs should be made
while the tanker is in or near a berth.
Operator: Waha Oil Company.
Port activity: loading crude oil.
Communications: VHF: Ch 16.
Location: 33:38
N,
Long: 18:22 E.
Tankers
should maintain listening on VHF Ch 08 and 16.
Omnidirectional aircraft radio beacon: at
30°37.31'N 018°21.04'E, transmission OJ,
5 times every 60 seconds on 300KC/S.
Charts: BA 3344. Admiralty Pilot NP49.
Max draft: 18M.
Dock density: 1025.
Pilot: compulsory and according to instructions,
available at all hours, in the vicinity of
30°40.2'N 018°23.5'E.
Anchorage: between the parallels of 30°41.4'N
and 30°43.0'N and between the meridians of
018°22.0'E and 018°25.0'E; depth approximately 33m.
Tidal range: 0.5m.
There are 4 crude oil loading berths, 2 conventional
buoy berths and 2 SBM.
Services: no bunkering, medical facilities for
emergencies only.
Nearest airport: local airfield, for oil
company personnel only.
Tobruk is located along the eastern coast
of Libya, not far from the Egyptian border.
The port receives about 120 ships
a year.
Operator: Socialist Company For Ports.
Port Activity: general cargo & containers.
Communications: VHF: Ch 16, 12 and 19.
Location: Lat: 32:55 N, Long: 23:59 E.
Max Draft: 8M.
Contact: +218 51 627910-15 / 615400 - 623745
Pilot: compulsory; pilot boards off the Fairway
buoy during daylight hours only.
Anchorage: according to instructions; 10
anchorages, capacity: 6 vessels at a time,
depths: 13.8m.
Tidal range and flow: range 0.3m.
Dock density: 1025.
Charts: 3657, 3355. Admiralty Pilot NP49.
Services: 3 tugs,
limited facilities, bunkering,
limited quantities of fuel oil,
medical facilities plus hospital in the town.
Nearest airport: Benghazi International Airport:
about 350km west of Tobruk.
Libya's capital Tripoli (locally pronounced T'araboulus)
is located on the western shores of Libya,
about 170km from the Tunisian border.
Tripoli airport is quite large and covers nearly 3sq km. It is protected
by 2 breakwaters, the length of which are 2000m and 700m. About 600
vessels visit the port each year.
Operator: Socialist Company For Ports
Port Activities: general cargo, bulk cargo
&
passengers
Communications: VHF: Ch 06, 10, 12, 16.
Location: Lat: 32:54 N
, Long: 13:10 E
Contact: +218 51 627910-15
/ 615400 - 623745
Charts: BA 248, 3353.
Admiralty Pilot NP49.
Max draft: 12M
Max size: Max LOA 173.7m.
Dock density: 1026.
Pilot: compulsory: boards 1nm NNE of the
harbour entrance.
Anchorage: vessels awaiting a berth: 1.5nm
N of Tripoli Light.
Tanker berths: length 152m; max draft 8.38m;
offshore berth: about 6nm E of the port.
Tidal range: 0.5m.
Prevailing winds: mist with winds between
E and S; strong NW winds.
Services: handling container traffic, 17
tugs (500-2,400hp), repairs available, fresh
water, bunkering, medical facilities, storage
(75,000m2 of warehousing and 75,000m2 of open
storage).
Zawya (Oil Terminal)
The Zawya (Zawiya or Azzawya) port, located about
50km west of Tripoli, handles about 480
vessels a year. The port is running throughout
the year 24 hours a day. Berthing is allowed
only during daylight.
Operator: Zawya Oil Refining Company.
Port Activity: loading oil products
&
crude oil.
Communications: VHF: Ch 16 , 22 and 27.
Location: Lat: 32:48 N, Long: 12:42 E.
Max draft: 20M.
Charts: BA 3327, 3353. Admiralty Pilot NP49.
Dock density: 1025.
Max size: approximately 14,000dwt.
Anchorage: anchor 1.5nm off No 1 berth to
await the pilot.
Prevailing winds: NW'ly wind during the winter,
and N, NE and E'ly throughout the rest of
the year.
Berths: 2 x SBM and 1 x CBM.
Services: tugs, medical facilities (Azzawiya
Central Hospital), nearest airport: Tripoli
International.
Zwitina (Oil Terminal)
Zueitina Oil Terminal Postal Stamp.
Zwitina is located about 129 km south of
Benghazi city, in eastern Libya. The port
comprises offshore loading berths for oil
tankers and LPG carriers. The port handles
about 270 vessels a year.
Operator: Zwitina Oil Company.
Port Activity: loading crude oil & gas.
Communications: VHF: Ch 13 and 16.
Location: Lat: 30:50 N, Long: 20:00 E.
Max Draft: 17M. Dock density: 1026.
Charts: BA 3346, 3354.
Admiralty Pilot NP49.
Max size: LPG carriers LOA 160m, oil tankers
up to 270,000dwt.
Minimum channel depth is 18.3m.
Anchorage: according to instructions, no
anchoring S of Lat 30°54'N.
Vessels awaiting a berth, anchor approximately 1nm
SE of the fairway buoy in depths of approximately 30m.
Holding ground is moderate to poor.
Tugs: 1 x 4,600hp.
Five offshore crude oil loading berths.
All ships must have clean SBT ballast.
Medical facilities: only emergency medical
facilities.
Transport: Nearest airport: Benghazi.
No garbage disposal facilities.
Marsa Zwara is the sea port of Zwara
town, a busy coastal town situated 110 km west
of Tripoli, and about 40 km east of the Tunisian border.
The town has
a small airport, mainly used by the government
and which will be developed into an international
airport as part of Zwara Free Trade Zone. After the destruction of Tripoli airport
in 2014, Zuwara airport began to receive national flights, with plans to prepare
it for international flights.
The port is visited by about 50 ships
a year.
Operator: Socialist Company For Ports.
Port
activities: general cargo and petrochemical
products.
Communications: VHF: Ch 16.
Contact:
+218 51 627910-15 / 615400 - 623745.
Location: Lat: 32:55 N, Long:
12:07 E
Max Draft: 20M.
Channel: 1000m long, protected by 2 breakwaters.
Dock density: 1025.
Charts: 3353.
Admiralty Pilot NP49.
Services: fresh water, crew changing, medical
services, tugs, bunkers.
Anchorage: within 1nm of 32°57'N 012°10.5'E;
in depths from 6.9-9.1m, with the N mole
head bearing approximately 213°.
Winter storms prompt night anchorage farther
out and must follow instructions
Berths: a quay provides 2 berths, 4m deep.
A floating jetty can accommodate vessels
up to 65m in length, max draft 5.0m.
Nearest airports:
Zwara national airport (about 40km east),
Tripoli International Airport (110km east).