IZMIR TCDD ALSANCAK

Anchoring is considered safe for large vessels (the best anchorage information will be given by the Pilot station). Crude oil and large tonnage tankers must anchor in the Outer Harbor.

A large area where ships can anchor, 300 m outside the old harbour breakwater in the outer harbour. Ships bound for Izmir or in transit cannot perform anchored cargo operations unless they are carrying red-labelled cargo. Two main anchorages have been defined.

(1) Aircraft carrier anchoring at approximately 105 feet depth west of Yenikale.
(2) Mid-port anchoring at 46 to 52.5 feet depth off the old harbour breakwater.

Anchoring areas:
38° 25' 48' N – 27° 05' 30' E
38° 26' 18' N – 27° 07' 36' E
38° 24' 30' N – 27° 05' 12' E
38° 25' 12' N – 27° 07' 12' E
38° 25' 30' N – 27° 07' 00' E

It is compulsory for ships entering and leaving the port of Izmir. It is provided by the Turkish Maritime Authority (TDI). VHF channel 16, 12. (The use of a pilot is not mandatory, but it is recommended for all ships unfamiliar with the port when proceeding to the middle harbour anchorage area. Ship captains unfamiliar with local waters should contact pilot captains near Pelikan Bank. Pilot captains are required for entry into the inner port. They board ships just outside the old port and the northern entrance to the inner port. Pilot use is not required for aircraft carriers proceeding to normal anchorage areas.)

Towing is provided by Turkish State Railways (TCDD), which has three tugboats with up to 2,500 HP.

There are 24 quays with a total pier length of 3,319 m. The quays and the rear courtyard are well equipped with modern handling facilities.

İzmir's storage facilities consist of 215,940 m² of open space and 26,978 m² of enclosed space,including a hazardous cargo warehouse.

The grain silo has a capacity of 76,000 tons. The conveyor can deliver between 2,500 and 3,000 tons per 24 hours. Bulk ore loaded by buckets. The daily loading capacity per 8-hour shift is between 750 and 1,000 tons.

There are terminals and piers serving passenger traffic.

The container terminal has 7 piers with a berth depth. The total length of the 13 m piers is 1,050 m. The terminal covers an area of 152,000 m2 and has a holding capacity of 7,074 TEU. Container operations at the piers are carried out using 5 portal cranes with a capacity of 40 tonnes. Operations in the container yard are carried out using 19 rubber-tyred transloaders, 21 stackers with a capacity of 40 tonnes, and 28 container forklifts with a capacity of 42 tonnes. Reefer facilities are also available for refrigerated containers.

Access to the port from the Aegean Sea is provided through the Izmir Strait, where depths vary between 25 and 40 fathoms. Radar may be the most reliable way to determine a ship's position at the entrance. There may be significant differences between actual depth soundings and charted depths when approaching the sea in the Izmir Bay and anchoring in the middle harbour. Depths at Pelikan Bank may vary between 6 and 8 ft; around Yenikale between 6 and 12 ft; and within the middle harbour anchoring area between 12 and 18 ft.

There are significant hazards alongside the channel; commercial vessels have run aground near Pelikan Bank due to lack of proper vigilance and failure to use all available navigation aids. Caution should be exercised when passing near Yenikale. The channel, marked by two buoys, is approximately 900 ft wide at the buoys and narrows to 600 ft east of the buoys. Caution should also be exercised near Çakal Burnu (point), where a wide pier is provided. The main entrance to the inner harbour of the old port is 130 ft wide and 40 ft deep. All vessels use the main entrance, but freedom boats may use the southern entrance when travelling to and from the inner harbour fleet pier.