Latitude: 45°26’N Longitude: 012°20’E Time Zone: GMT +1
Max. Draft: 14.5m UNCTAD code: ITVCE

NAVIGATION INFORMATION

PORT DESCRIPTION
Location: Venice is situated at the Northern end of the Adriatic. 
General overview: Venice is a natural harbour sheltered within a lagoon. 
The main port entrance, for the purpose of sea traffic, is still S Nicolo di Lido, when vessels reach the Marittima (Commercial and Passenger Port), S Basilio (Passenger Port) and Porto Marghera (Industrial Port) through the basin of St Mark and Giudecca Canal. The second entrance, Malamocco-Marghera Canal, allows access to the Malamocco Canal which is navigable by large tankers and bulk carriers.

Traffic figures: Approx 25,000,000t of cargo, over 100,000 TEU’s and nearly 400,000 passengers pass through the port annually.
Max size: Via Porto di Malamocco: To Darsena San Leonardo: LOA 250m, draft 13.5m. To Porto Marghera: LOA 225m, draft 9.3m.
Via Porto di Lido: LOA 220m.

PRE ARRIVAL INFORMATION
ETA’s: ETA to be advised to agent 5, 3 and 1 day prior to arrival, with the following information:

1. Exact arrival time at pilot station
2. Arrival draft
3. LOA
4. Beam
5. Date/place of issue and expiry date of IOPP certificate
6. Confirmation that no arms/ammunition are on board.

Documentation required: The following documentation is required by the Customs and Immigration Authorities, the Harbour Master and agents.

Document Copies
1. Crew List 10
2. Passenger List 
(transit, embarking and disembarking) 10
3. Bar List 2
4. Free Shop List 2
5. Bonded Stores List 2
6. Crew’s Personal Effects List 2
7. Narcotics List 2

No special forms are required.
Radio: Inmarsat communication is possible.
Health regulations: Free pratique must be requested by cable to “Sanita Marittima Zattere-Venice”.
Derat Exemption certificate can be renewed.
Customs and immigration: The customs allowance is 50gm of tobacco for each crew member.
Notices of readiness: NOR to be tendered in accordance with terms and conditions of charter party.
General notices & regulations: 

Regulations in the vicinity of the entrance channels: Special regulations are in force in the vicinity of Porto di Malamocco and Porto di Lido and include the following:
Small craft of any type must give way to vessels entering or leaving the channels within a radius of 2nm from the head of the N breakwaters at both entrances.
Vessels for which pilotage is compulsory are prohibited from waiting within 2nm of the head of the N breakwater at both entrances.
Small craft are prohibited from loitering within 1nm of the head of the N breakwater at both entrances, and within the approach channels (defined as the area bounded by the extension to seaward of the breakwaters at both entrances) at a distance of between 1-2nm from the respective N breakwater heads.

Vessels are required to proceed at the min speed necessary for manoeuvring and where possible to keep to the starboard side of the centre line of the channel.
Mariners are required to adjust their navigation so as to avoid meeting in the entrances. Vessels departing have priority over vessels entering.
Harbour regulations: Special regulations are in force in Porto di Venezia particularly for vessels carrying dangerous or inflammable cargoes, for local craft, and during fog. A copy of these regulations will be shown to the Masters of vessels by the pilot. The following are some of the more important regulations.

General navigation: Vessels are required to proceed at the min speed necessary to retain manoeuvrability and if possible, at less than 6kn. Vessels navigating the major canals in the same direction must maintain a distance apart of at least 5 cables; overtaking is prohibited. Vessels should, when possible, navigate along the centre line of the canals.
Precedence: Local vessels and craft of any kind, which are crossing a major navigation canal, or entering from side channels, must give way to those vessels navigating the major canals.

Dredgers: When engaged in dredging operations, dredgers display the following signals:
By day: Two black balls disposed vertically on the side on which passage is clear; one black ball on the side on which passage is foul.
By night: The black balls are replaced by white lights.
Dangerous cargoes: Vessels carrying dangerous or inflammable cargoes may, at the discretion of the Harbour Authority, be prohibited from navigating in the port at night, or in fog.
Vessels laden with inflammable cargoes, or unladen but not yet certified gas free must enter through Porto di Malamocco.

NAVIGATION
Sea buoys, fairways and channels: The network of ship canals within the lagoon of Venice has a total length of approx 70km. The canal for large vessels, from the port entrance at S Nicolo di Lido to Marghera port area, is 18km in length whereas with the various canals altogether, a length of approx 42km is reached
Via Porto di Malamocco: The depths are 14m to Darsena San Leonardo; 11.5m to Porto Marghera; 10.5m to Porto Commerciale.
Via Porto di Lido: The depth is 11.0m.

Caution: Depths are unreliable due to silting and Port Authorities must be consulted for latest information concerning depths. 
Pilot: Arrival instructions: At least 2 hours prior to arrival in the roads, contact must be made with Venezia pilots on VHF ch 13, or through Venezia radio in order that a vessel may be advised of the entry channel to be used or the designated anchor berth. In the event of no radio contact, a vessel must proceed to the roadstead off Porto di Lido. Advance warning is required for an intended night entry. 

Vessels bound for Porto di Malamocco are controlled as follows:
A vessel not having made radio contact with the pilot station must proceed to Porto di Lido roadstead as instructed above and await further instructions, anchoring if necessary.
A vessel having made contact with the pilot station may anchor, to await the pilot, for a short period off Porto di Malamocco but if delayed for a long period must proceed to the anchorage off Porto di Lido and await further instructions. 

Pilotage is compulsory for vessels over 500grt from a distance of 2nm to seaward of the breakwaters at both entrances. Pilot stations are situated at Porto di Malamocco (mushroom shaped building close N of Rochetta light) and at San Nicolo di Lido for Porto di Lido. A 24 hour service is operated.
Pilots for Porto di Lido board in the vicinity of a buoyant light beacon (approx 2.25nm SE of the breakwater heads). Pilots for Porto di Malamocco will, on request, board off Porto di Lido, otherwise in the vicinity of a buoyant light beacon (approx 2nm ESE of the S breakwater head). During bad weather pilots cannot always proceed beyond the heads of the breakwaters at either entrance.

Pilot launches are fitted with radar.
Anchorages: Anchor berths: Anchorage areas have been established in the vicinity of (Lat 45°25’N, Long 012°30’E) off Puerto di Lido; (Lat 45°21’N, Long 012°25’E) and (Lat 45°22’N, Long 012°27’E) off Porto di Malamocco. A tanker waiting area is situated in (Lat 45°18’N, Long 012°25’E). It is obligatory for vessels to anchor only in the areas designated for them and to observe the regulations concerning entry. All berths are exposed especially to the Scirocco and Bora, and none are totally safe. Mariners are therefore advised to consider vacating their berths in strong onshore winds and if necessary to seek shelter under the coast of Istra.

Some shelter from heavy seas is reported to be afforded by a bank approx 1nm wide lying parallel with and at a distance of 9-12nm from the coast between Porto di Malamocco and Caorle (28nm NE). The bank, of graveland weed, has depths over it of 18-22m and so forms only a slight rise of the seabed.
The best anchorage is between Porto di Lido and Porto di Piave Vecchia (7nm ENE) in approx 15m, good holding, sheltered N, avoiding a submarine pipeline extending SSE from Litorale del Cavallino.

Anchoring is prohibited by the Italian Government within a radius of 1nm of a wreck (10.5nm ESE of Porto di Malamocco N breakwater head), on account of explosives scattered on the seabed.
Anchoring is prohibited in the vicinity of two submarine pipelines, which extend respectively ESE from a position on Isola di Malamocco approx 2nm NNE of Port di Malamocco, and SSE from a position on Litorale del Cavallino approx 3nm ENE of Porto di Lido. A lightbuoy (special) is moored near the extremity of both pipelines.

Anchoring is prohibited in the vicinity of a submarine power cable, extending ESE from the head of Porto di Malamocco N breakwater. 
Mariners are advised to avoid a dangerous wreck (3.5nm S of Porto di Lido NE breakwater head).
Mussel beds are situated 6nm SE of Porto di Lido NE breakwater. A red buoy is moored in (Lat 45°22’N, Long 012°33’E) and marks the centre of a circular area of radius 500m where navigation and anchoring are prohibited. Four cylindrical buoys mark the boundary of the mussel bed.

On anchoring mariners are required to report to the pilot station the position of their berth relative to the head of Porto di Lido S breakwater head.
Tidal range and flow: Range 0.50m.
Dock density: 1028.
Weather: Prevailing winds: NE’ly (winter), S’ly (summer).
Charts: BA 204, 1442, 1449, 1483. Admiralty Pilot NP47.
Tugs: Compulsory if over 1,000grt and for laden tankers.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Repairs: Available. Fincantieri, at Marghera, is equipped to build and repair large ships over 250,000dwt.
Bunkers/water/stores: Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: All marine requirements are met if ordered in advance (barges widely used).
Medical facilities: Ospedale Civile of Mestre, 3km.
Transport: Nearest airport: Marco Polo International at Tessera, Venice, 12km.
Nearest railway: Venezia-Mestre, 2km.
Public holidays: Normal National holidays and local holidays, Nov 21.
Working hours: Normally 0800-1200hrs; 1300-1700hrs; 1700-2330hrs and 2330-0530hrs. Sun and holidays: 0800-1400hrs and 1400-2000hrs.