SAILING DIRECTION FOR THE PORT OF SUAO PORT

PART I Preface

Suao Port is situated at “24°35'40"N”, “121°52'32"E” and dominates the Suao Bay in Lanyang Plain, northeast of Taiwan. It is a fine natural port in terms of terrain conditions, 50 NM away from Keelung Port in the north and 40 NM from Hualien Port in the south. The total area of Suao port is 406 hectares, including 279 hectares of water area and 127 hectares of land area. There are 13 wharves with a total length of 2,610 meters, including one wharf for service vessels and twelve commercial wharves which cover 2,400 meters. The water depth ranges from -7.5 to 15 meters and the length from 125 meters to 300 meters, where allows Panamax size to berth.

The main channel for entering and leaving the port:
The total length of the main channel of Suao Port is 1.5 NM. The water area between the south side of the connection of Northern starting point “24°35'30"N；121°54'33"E” and North Outer levee Light Pole “24°35'43.7"N；121°52'55"E” and the north side of the connection of Southern starting point “24°34'54"N；121°54'17"E” and South Outer levee Light Pole “24°35'35.2"N；121°52'50.9"E.” Ships’ inbound and outbound follows single entry and exist and is controlled by the signal station of Suao Port.
(Note: The above latitude and longitude coordinates are based on "WGS-84".)

This guideline aims to regulate the navigation order of ships in Suao Port, so as to maintain and enhance the safety and efficiency of navigation. It is strongly recommended that ships navigating in the waters of Suao Port should put this guideline on the bridge, so that it can be referred for navigation and voyage planning at any time.

PART II General Principles

1. 1. Traffic Service Waters of Suao Port
   It refers to the water area with a radius of 20 nautical miles drawn outward from the outer breakwater of Suao Port.
2. 2. Channel of Suao Port
   The fairway of Suao Port adopts the single entry and exit system. When ships enter and leave the port, the entry and exit of the port are controlled by the VTS of the port. The coordinates of each point of the channel and the check-in line are listed below. Please refer to the attached drawing for the schematic diagram of the navigation boundary and the check-in line.
   1. （1）　Traffic Separation Scheme and Position
      It is divided into the north side of the main channel and the south side of the main channel. The north side of the main channel is composed of the starting point of the north side and the light pole of the north outer breakwater; the south side of the main channel is composed of the starting point of the south side and the light pole of the south outer breakwater. The coordinates of each area are as follows:
      1. A. North side of the main channel: The connecting line of the starting point (24°35'30"N；121°54'33"E) and the light pole of the north outer breakwater (24°35'43.7"N；121°52'55"E) forms the north side of the main channel.
      2. B. South side of the main channel: The connecting line of the starting point (24°34'54"N；121°54'17"E) and the light pole of the north outer breakwater (24°35'35.2"N；121°52'50.9"E) forms the south side of the main channel.
         The water area of the south side of A and north side of B is the main channel of Suao Port.
      3. C. Pilot station: 
         (A) Ships less than 200 meters in length or the DWT below 60,000 tons when entering the port, should wait at the pilot station (24°34'54"N；121°54'25"E), 1.5 NM away from the south breakwater for the pilot.
         (B) Ships with a total length of more than 200 meters and above or the DWT exceeds 60,000 tons when entering the port, should wait at the pilot station (24°34'38"N；121°55'02"E), 2.2 NM away from the south breakwater for the pilot.
   2. （2）　Anchorage area：                
      1. No.1 Anchorage area
         (1)（24°35'24"N；121°53'02"E）
         (2)（24°35'00"N；121°53'53"E）
         (3)（24°34'23"N；121°53'20"E）
         (4)（24°35'09.5"N；121°52'50.5"E）
      2.  No.2 Anchorage area
         (1)（24°34'23"N；121°53'20"E）
         (2)（24°34'22"N；121°53'37"E）
         (3)（24°34'06"N；121°53'21"E）
         (4)（24°34'06"N；121°53'37"E）
   3. （3）　Check-in Line：
      The line 20 nautical miles away from the center of the outer breakwater is the check-in line of Suao Port.
3. 3. Suao Port Vessel Traffic Service System (hereinafter referred to as "Suao VTS" in this guideline)
   The Vessel Traffic Service System established in accordance with the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), is mainly responsible for serving ships navigating the waterway of Suao Port, and providing navigation warnings and other related services and assistance in a timely manner, hereinafter referred to as “Suao VTS.”

PART III: Suao VTS Reporting Mechanism

1. 1. Ships should follow the Suao VTS reporting mechanism (including pre-arrival and reporting)
   1. （1）　Pre-arrival and reporting to Suao Port for entry.
   2. （2）　All ships sailing within the monitoring range of the Suao VTS (Within 20. NM from the center of outer breakwater)
2. 2. Communication
   1. （1） All ships navigating the fairway of Suao Port and within the control area of Suao VTS shall be equipped with AIS, VHF and radio equipment in compliance with GMDSS regulations for A1 and A2 waters. The relevant information shall be correctly set and turned on throughout at all times. Ships shall make pre-arrival notification and report to Suao VTS through Channel 16 and designated channels.
   2. （2）　The designated channels for VHF communication with Suao VTS are as follows:

      Channel	Purpose
      16	Distress, Emergency, Safety Communications
      14	Port operations, Ship’s check-in, Ship-shore contact

   3. （3）　The languages for reporting and communication to Suao VTS are Chinese and English. When necessary, the "Standard Maritime Communication Phrases (SMCP)" of the International Maritime Organization may be used.
3. 3. Pre-arrival
   1. （1）　For ships intending to enter or leave Suao Port, the agency company of the ship shall, in accordance with the provisions of the "Commercial Port Law" and the "Regulations on Port Services and Commercial Ports", go through relevant procedures such as ship entry and exit permits from Suao port authority in advance. Inbound ship berth will be allocated according to regulations.
   2. （2）　For ships intending to enter or leave the port shall be reported to the Taiwan Port Terminal Service Network System (TPnet) in advance, and the contents required for pre-arrival shall be filled in according to the form provided.