SALDANHA BAY (Saldanhabaai)
Saldanha Bay (33°02'S., 17°58'E.) Saldanha Bay (Saldanhabaai) is entered between North Head (33°03'S., 17°55'E.), lying l.2 miles SE of Long Point, and South Head, 3.7 miles SSE. It is an ore-loading port, capable of accommodating deep-draft vessels. It is easy to access and is probably the safest harbor in southern Africa.
The town of Saldanha, in the NW part of Saldanha Bay, is a well known yachting center and holiday resort. Fishing is also an important industry.
Winds—Weather.—The climate is temperate. The average high temperature year round is 20°C while the average low temperature is in the region of 11°C. Sea water temperature averages 16°C.
The prevailing winds are from SSW in the summer and the NNE in the winter. Rainfall figures are about 30cm per year. Saldanha Bay is a winter rainfall area.
Fog occurs generally in the March to August period.
Tides—Currents.—The tidal rise at Saldanha Bay may be as much as 2m. The tidal currents appear to set fairly in and out of the entrance to Saldanha Bay, at a velocity of 0.2 to 0.5 knot. At a short distance outside the bay, the current sets in a N direction at a velocity of 0.5 to l knot. Strong tidal currents set attaining a velocity of 3 knots at springs.
Depths—Limitations.—Langebaan Lagoon, the SE arm of Saldanha Bay, lies S of Skaapeiland (33°05'S., 18°01'E.) and extends 8 miles SE. It is encumbered by sandbanks near the entrance and has drying sandbanks and saltbeds near its head. Navigation is feasible only for shallow-draft vessels with local knowledge.
The harbor has been developed to accommodate vessels of 350,000 dwt, loaded, with a maximum draft of 21.5m. The dredged channel has swept depths of 23.2 to 23.7m.
An ore-loading jetty, 650m long, lengthened by an oil jetty 310m in length, lies at the outer end of a causeway which extends 1.7 miles SSW from the N side of Saldanha Bay.
Berths alongside the ore and oil jetties are swept to 23m. Vessel draft is limited to 20.5m. Although there are berths on either side of the ore quay, only one vessel can be loaded at a time. The ore/oil jetty is approached through Navigation Channel, which is swept to a minimum depth of 23.2m. A turning circle, 0.3 mile in diameter and swept to a depth of 23.2m, lies at the seaward end of the ore/oil jetty.
Multipurpose Terminal, 250m long, is situated on the W side of the breakwater, about 0.5 mile SW of a conspicuous control tower. It is approached through a buoyed channel, with a maintained depth of 14.9m over a width of 150m. The quay has a depth of 12m alongside and can accommodate vessels with a maximum length of 200m and maximum draft of 11.5m. Ro-ro vessels can be berthed at the general cargo quay provided the vessel’s length is less than 200m.
Off the quay there is a turning circle, 275m in diameter, that has been dredged to a depth of 14.9m. Severe surging can occur at this quay.
Maintenance Terminal, 110m long, and Rock Quay, 85m long, are situated on the W side of the root of the breakwater and have depths of 7.7m alongside. They are protected by a spur extending 0.2 mile WNW. A drying rock lies nearly 50m WSW of the head of the spur. The quays are approached by a channel, 130m wide, that is dredged to a depth of 7.7m.
Government Jetty, 0.7 mile NW of Hoedjiespunt, is a wood and concrete structure, 343m long, projecting NE into the bay, with depths of 6.5m alongside. A surge, particularly along the S side, often makes it impracticable for vessels to berth.
Sea Harvest Factory Quay, 540m long, with depths of 6m alongside, extends ESE from the root of the Government Jetty.
Aspect.—Hoedjiespunt (33°02'S., 17°58'E.), 3 miles ENE of North Head, lies at the extremity of a narrow rocky peninsula extending about 1 mile ESE from the W shore of Saldanha Bay. It is connected to Marcus Island, 1 mile SSE, by a breakwater. The ore-loading jetty lies at the outer end of a causeway which extends SSW from the reclaimed area in the NE part of Saldanha Bay.
North Head (33°03'S., 17°55'E.) is low and marked by a light. Schooner Rock, 7.5m high, is the outermost and highest of a group of above-water rocks extending about 0.2 mile SSW of the point. A rock, with a depth of 23.5m, lies 0.7 mile SSW of Schooner Rock.
Baviaansberg attains an elevation of 72m a distance of 0.5 mile N of North Head. Malgaskop rises to an elevation of 111m about 1 mile farther ENE, and has a large building near its summit.
Malgas Island, 7m high, lies 0.7 mile E of North Head and is surrounded by shoals and rocks extending up to 0.3 mile offshore. Needle Rock, 5m high and surrounded by above-water rocks and reefs, lies 0.2 mile NNE of Malgas Island.
Marcus Island, 9m high, lies 3 miles E of North Head. It is marked by a light equipped with a racon at its S extremity. There is a conspicuous black rock, 6.7m high, at the S tip of the island. Hospital Rock, 6.1m high, lies 100m S of the island.
Marcus Island is no longer an island, but is connected to Hoedjiespunt, nearly 1 mile N, by a breakwater which has a beach on its seaward side so constructed as to absorb the violence of the seas breaking upon it.
The conspicuous three-story Port Control Center building and a flagstaff are situated on the summit of the 37m hill located 2 miles NW of Hoedjiespunt. Another hill, 41m high, lies 0.9 mile farther NW.
South Head (33°06'S., 17°57'E.), the S entrance point of Saldanha Bay, is low, rocky, and marked by a light. It has a steep, cliffy summit, 113m high, close behind it.
There are shoals, with depths of 20m, 1 mile WSW and W of South Head. Jutten Island, 1.2 miles N of South Head, has a 34m high cone-like summit toward its S end, which is covered with guano and gleams white in the sunshine. Rocks extend about 0.2 mile N of the island, the N rock drying at very low spring tides.
Wasserfall Bank lies 0.8 mile NW of Jutten Island and has a least depth of 17.5m. About midway between the bank and Jutten Island is a shoal with a depth of 10.5m 5.57 Lloyd Bank, with a least depth of 11.5m, extends 0.8 mile W of Jutten Island. During strong winds and heavy SW swells, the sea breaks over the two banks and the area between them and the island.
Elandspunt, 1 mile NE of Jutten Island and 1.2 miles S of Marcus Island, is rocky, comparatively steep-to, and marked by a light.
Vlaberg, 193m high, is conspicuous 2.7 miles E of South Head, on the W side of Langebaan Lagoon. Constable Hill, 189m high and 1.5 miles farther SE, is also conspicuous, and the factory building of an aluminum phosphate works is conspicuous on its N face.
Salamanderpunt, 1.2 miles ESE of Elandspunt, has the prominent buildings of a disused whaling station on it. A prohibited area, extending 0.3 mile offshore, surrounds the peninsula from the middle of Plankiesbaai, 1.5 miles SE of South Head, to a position 0.5 mile SW of Meeueisland. Juttenbaai, Stormbaai, Salamanderbaai, and Donkergatbaai are within the prohibited area.
Lynch Point, on the E shore of Saldanha Bay, 3.2 miles E of Marcus Island, is a rocky promontory surmounted by a scrubcovered
sand hill, 40m high, with a trigonometric beacon on its summit. A yacht basin lies close SE of the point.
Lights, in range 056°, lead between Malgas Island and Wasserfall Bank. The front light, which is only exhibited when vessels are expected, is situated 0.3 mile NE of Marcus Island Light; the rear light is shown from the head of the ore loading jetty. Lights, in range 080°, close S of Lynch Point, lead through the entrance channel to Saldanha Bay.
The entrance to Navigation Channel, 0.7 mile SE of Marcus Island, which leads to the ore-loading jetty, is marked by lighted buoys.
North Lighted Buoy, North East Lighted Buoy, and East Lighted Buoy in Saldanha Bay indicate the position of the “safety line,” to seaward of which ore carriers and tankers should keep when in light condition.
Lighted buoys mark the dredged approach channel leading to the general cargo quay on the W side of the causeway. The oreloading
jetty and causeway are lighted at night.
A stockpiling area lies at the root of the causeway; the control tower is conspicuous in the SW part of the stockpiling area. A conspicuous chimney stands N of the stockpiling area.
Lynch Blinder, a rock which uncovers during swells and over which the sea nearly always breaks, lies nearly 1 mile W of Lynch Point. It is marked by a lighted buoy. Inner Lynch, with a depth of 4.2m, lies 0.4 mile ENE of Lynch Blinder. Roman Bank, with a least depth of 7.6m, lies 1.5 miles NW of Lynch Point.
Hoedjieskop, 72m high, with a remarkable rock pillar and beacon on its summit, is conspicuous 1.2 miles NW of the Port Office. Seven Blinders, a small group of rocks with depths of less than 2m, lie 1.5 miles NNE of Hoedjiespunt. They are marked by a lighted buoy.
Pilotage.—Pilotage is compulsory, and vessels are warned not to cross the line joining North Head Light and South Head
Light, known as the Arrival Line, without a pilot. The pilot boards 5 miles SW of North Head.
The pilots and the Port Office can be contacted by VHF and radiotelephone. Vessels calling at Saldanha Bay to load are required
to send their ETA 4 days, 48 hours, and 24 hours prior to arrival. The 24-hour message should state the following:
1. Cargo required.
2. Arrival draft, fore and aft.
3. Deballasting time.
4. Other vessel details, as requested by the Port Captain.
Any changes to the ETA after the 24-hour message should be reported as soon as possible.
Vessels should contact Port Control on VHF channel 16 as soon as possible and request berthing instructions 6 hours prior to ETA.
Radio reporting stations are situated 11.5 miles NW and 14.5 miles SSW of North Head. Vessels requesting free pratique should cable Port Health, Cape Town via Cape Town Radio (ZSC) at least 24 hours before arrival.
Regulations.—A Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) is in operation to ensure the safe and efficient entry and exit for deep draft ore vessels to the Port of Saldanha Bay. Radar and VHF radio stations are installed at the PORTNET Office and on Malgaskop (33°02'S., 18°56'E.) to improve navigation safety within the Port Control limits. The radars cover a radius of about 20 miles offshore. The VTS System is mandatory for the following vessels:
1. Vessels with an loa of 15m and over.
2. Towing vessels, where the length of the tow is 15m or
greater, or the overall length of the tow is 30m or greater.
3. All passenger-carrying vessels.
4. All vessels carrying polluting or dangerous cargo.
The VTS Control Center is situated in the Port Office at Hoedjes Point (33°01.7'S., 17°57.8'E.). It operates 24 hours and can be contacted on VHF channel 12 using call sign “Saldanha Bay Port Control.”
Vessels must contact Saldanha Bay Port Control on VHF channel 12, as follows:
1. Fifteen (15) minutes before arrival at the TSS.
2. Fifteen (15) minutes before departure from its berth.
3. At the designated Reporting Points (RP).
Further information on VTS reporting requirements can be found in Pub. 160, Sailing Directions (Planning Guide) South Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean.
The following information relating to vessels entering the harbor will be transmitted to the VTS Control Center:
1. Particulars of cargo on board.
2. Last and next port of call.
3. Draft, grt, loa, or any other information as required.
The VTS Control Center will provide the vessel with more accurate information of other vessel’s positions and the density of traffic converging on the same positions.
The VTS System is linked to the Cape Town VTS Center, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, the Port Control Office, the Pilot Offices, and the local Coast Radio Station.
Signals.—Traffic control signal lights are displayed below the Port Control Building on Hoedjiespunt. A green light indicates that vessels are allowed to enter the port and a red light indicates prohibited entry. Signal lights have also been established at the head of the ore loading jetty. There are two similar banks, each having red and green lights. The bank facing seaward controls vessels entering the harbor, while the bank facing the shore controls vessels leaving the harbor: A green light indicates that the channel is clear and a red light indicates that passage through the channel is prohibited.
Anchorage.—Saldanha Bay opens out into an extensive basin, E of a line joining Marcus Island and Elandspunt, providing good and sheltered anchorage. The basin is divided into two parts by the causeway and ore-loading jetty. The NW part is Saldanha Bay Harbor.
Smitswinkelbaai is contained between the curved breakwater extending NE of Hoedjiespunt and Baviaanspunt, about 1 mile NW.
Good anchorage, in mud and sand, may be taken anywhere in Smitswinkelbaai, keeping clear of the sunken wreck 300m NW of the end of the curved breakwater and the prohibited area extending 250m from Government Jetty.
The best anchorage in the SE part of Saldanha Bay is in 11m, about 1 mile ENE of Salamander Point. This is not as well sheltered as Saldanha Bay Harbor and is exposed to the frequent swells which set in, even during SW winds. During strong NW winds, the swell becomes very heavy and a nasty sea can be experienced when the ebb tidal current from Langebaan Lagoon is strong. On these occasions, vessels at anchor often lie broadside to the swell. Vessels should exercise caution when approaching the two mooring buoys anchored 0.5 mileESE of Salamandar Point, as they are close to the limit of the prohibited area.
Directions.—In making the approach to Saldanha Bay, as in approaching all other places on the W coast of South Africa, the accuracy of the vessel’s latitude is very important before approaching the land. In approaching Saldanha Bay at night, or in thick weather, care should be taken to avoid approaching the land N of the bay entrance due to the numerous rocks that lie off this coast.
After embarking the pilot, the vessel should enter the bay between Malgas Island and Jutten Island, passing N of Wasserfall Bank, following the previously-described entrance ranges.
Caution.—Submarines exercise frequently in the approaches to Saldanha Bay; a good lookout should be kept when passing through these waters. Extensive cray fishing is carried out in the approaches to Saldanha Bay. Numerous unlit buoys mark the nets and their mooring lines. Vessels are warned not to approach too closely to the coast at the entrance to Saldanha Bay. The foul ground off Malgas Island and Wasserfall Bank are unmarked hazards.
The harbor is occasionally subjected to severe swell conditions associated with weather depressions passing the Cape of Good Hope from W to E. Every depression does not produce a high swell. Conditions in the harbor are influenced by both the height and the direction of the swell outside. Surging can be expected even in the innermost parts of the harbor. A wave monitoring buoy, moored alongside the entrance channel, gives a read out in the port control building.