LOCATION
The Port of Tema is located 28 km east of Accra at 5°38’N and 0°01’E.

ANCHORAGE
There is good anchorage between 1.5 km to 4 km ENE to SW off the main harbour entrance in depths of 9 metres to 18 metres with good holding ground. The E area of the anchorage is most suitable without additional swell reflected from the main breakwater.

APPROACH
Harbour entrance is 240 metres wide with a depth of 12.5 metres. A heavy swell may be encountered at 400 to 600 metres from harbour entrance during the monsoon season from April to September which
causes vessels to roll heavily up to 40-80 during the monsoon season. For this reason, deep draught vessels enter only at high tide to obtain sufficient keel clearance.

ARRIVAL
The port requires advance notice of 72 hours prior to estimated time of arrival (ETA) – before 14.30 hours on Monday to Thursday and before 10.00 hours on Friday for weekend working.

BUNKERS
Obtainable by road tankers. All grades of fuel available from Elf, Mobil, Shell and Goil. Refuelling of all marine craft is carried out by Ghana Bunkering Services from the fishing harbour. Heavy bunkers available
from the oil berth.


BUSINESS HOURS
The port is open seven days a week, all year round, except on Christmas Day and Good Friday when ships are handled only in emergency. Overtime rates apply on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and during lunch breaks. Main working hours are 07.30-12.30 hours GMT. Two or three shifts can be worked at the request of the vessel.

RADIO

The port maintains a 24 hour watch on VHF Channels 14 and 16 and any other convenient channel. This signal station can reach vessels 140 km away. During harmattan conditions, vessels can hear the signal 400 km from port. The Port of Tema is linked with the Global Maritime Distress
and Safety System (GMDSS).

STORAGE
Large open block paved storage areas are available in the port. There is 19,000 square metres of storage for transit cargo at Berths 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11. There are also four cocoa sheds with 60,000 tonnes of storage capacity. The port has a total of 53,270 square metres of covered and
92,200 square metres of open storage.

TANKERS
Tankers moored alongside the oil terminal must deploy fire wires and position a floating boom around the vessel. Two fire-fighting pumps are mounted on the jetty. Tankers up to 244 metres in length and 9.7 metres draught can be accommodated at the oil berth.

TIDES
Tidal heights of 1.6 metres at MHWS and 1.3 metres at MLWS and 0.7 metres at MLWN are recorded twice daily.

TOWAGE
Towage is compulsory within the harbour. The port authority operates four tugs: two of 1,866 kW, one of 1,860 kW and one of 1,644 kW. All tugs are fitted with pumps and monitors for fire-fighting.

WEATHER
Light to strong breezes from W and SW throughout the year except from December-February when the NE harmattan dominates, causing poor visibility.. Dangerous winds are tornadoes from E during May-July. There is a swell in the harbour, especially after tornadoes which requires about 0.5 metres under the ship’s keel when lying alongside the wharves.
 
 
 
 
 
THE CLEARANCE PROCEDURE>>
The clearance process may look like a very simple procedure to the layman. However, several factors play a part in the cargo clearance process. The shipping lines, destination inspection companies, CEPS, clearing agents, all have respective roles to play.
This chain of groups work within a set of procedures and accompanying documentation in order for cargo to be cleared through the port.
  • The shipping lines bring in cargo and release requisite documents to agents i.e. a. invoice b. parking list c. freight receipt.
  • The destination inspection companies authenticate the documents and thereafter issue a final certificate of valuation report (FCVR). Stating the value of the consignment and the duty payable.
  • CEPS undertake valuation of certain category of items and ensure that the correct duty is collected.
  • GPHA facilitates the physical clearance process and ensures collection of rent and handling charges.

CURRENT CLEARANCE PROCEDURE  - CONTAINERS>>

  • Importer/agent presents delivery order and other relevant documents to the GPHA revenue staff.
  • The authenticity of the delivery order (DO) and other documents are verified and checked against the consignment’s information on the Ghana Community Network (GC Net) system.
  • The importer/agent is then asked to settle the relevant port charges on the consignment i.e. handling charges; rent, if any, unstuffing and re-stuffing charges (if applicable). After these costs are paid a receipt or cash delivery invoice (CDI) is issued.
  • The importer/agent proceeds to the container depot (yard 10) and deposits the DO at the charting office for 24 hours.
  • Once again the DO is verified with information on the container received from the Stevedores. The container is subsequently tracked down and charted.
  • The delivery order is dispatched to the yard where the container is located. House to house (FCL) containers are picked from the stack and consolidated. Containers that will be un-stuffed are transferred to the delivery bay for un-stuffing the next day.
  • The next day the importer/agent reports to the yard to effect delivery.
    • House-to-house containers are loaded directly on the importer’s truck which has already been provided.
    • The other containers positioned at the delivery bay are un-stuffed and the contents examined in the presence of consignee/agent, port and other security personnel by CEPS. A CEPS release is then issued. The goods are subsequently loaded onto trucks.
  • The delivery orders are then handed over to the importer/agent to proceed to the delivery tally sheet (DTS)/ waybill desk.
  • The DTS/waybill is prepared and the relevant copies are handed over to the importer/agent to enable him proceed to the exit gate.
    • Pink copy-importer/agent
    • Green copy  -  security
    • Blue copy     -  Ppolice
    • White copy  -   Shed
  • At the exit gate the GPHA security personnel verifies the DTS against the cargo loaded unto the truck. They also verify the required GPHA charges are paid. The port subsequently completes its role. However CEPS and other security agencies also conduct an examination. If everything is in order the vehicle is released from the port and the clearing process is complete.

The same process is used for vehicles and general cargo however in those cases payment for the handling charges are made to SCL Ltd at their receipt point within the GPHA revenue building

 
   
   
 
 
For more information on the Port of Tema, please click here for our handbook.
 
 
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