Mezen

MEZEN: 65.50 N. 44.04 E.

GENERAL: A commercial seaport, Mezen is situated at a distance of 22 miles to the South of the mouth of the Mezen River flowing into the head of the Gulf of Mezen, in the White Sea.

The port area is bounded on the North by a line connecting the Ryabinov and the Nerpinsky points and on the South by the parallel of 65° 50' N., Northward of the town of Mezen. The anchorage at the Kuloi river mouth is also included at the port of Mezen area.

Vessels drawing 3.9 m. - 4.2 m. are usually grounded when loading timber alongside a floating berth of the timber-mill at low water.

The port is open for navigation from the end of May until October.

Tidal streams are observed in the Mezen river. The tide is semi-diurnal with two high waters and two low waters a day.

DOCUMENTS: Refer to beginning of the Russian section.

PILOTAGE: Compulsory. A Pilot meets a vessel at an anchorage buoy, at the Mezen River bar (Lat. 66° 12' N., Long. 44° 04' E.), at a distance of 22 miles off the port of Mezen. In the event of bad weather a Pilot at his discretion, may board a vessel in the outer roads.

Pilotage cannot be effected at night.

A Pilot cannot board a vessel earlier than 2 hours before the high water in the Semzha River, and a vessel may be piloted into the port not later than 1 hour before the water in the river reaches its high level.

Pilots do not board vessels in rough water (if the wind is over Force 6 Beaufort scale).

In case Pilot cannot embark a vessel in the outer roads, Master should follow in the wake of pilot boat up to Tolstic Point (Lat. 66° 04' N., Long. 44° 05' E.) where a Pilot will board ship. After leaving the port Master should disembark Pilot on to pilot boat at Tolstic Point and then follow it up to the outer roads of the port of Mezen.

ANCHORAGES: Anchorage can be obtained in the outer roads and in certain places of the Mezen River situated between the outer roads and the Kamenka settlement. The outer roads are situated at the Mezen River mouth. They are bounded on the South by a line connecting the Ryabinov and the Maslyany Points.

Vessels in the outer roads are subject to effects of the N.W. and N.E. winds and heavy waves caused by them. The depths in the outer roads are about 7 m. The holding ground is sand, mud and rocks. Anchorage can be obtained in the inner roads with depths at low water of up to 4.5m.-5m. (length of area is 1.5 mile and width up to 150 m.).

The inner roads are situated opposite the Kamenka settlement. A good anchorage can be obtained there by two vessels simultaneously. The anchorage at Burnovsky Point with depths from 4.5 m. - 5.5 m. can be used by two loaded vessels drawing up to 4.2 m.

RESTRICTIONS: Vessels may enter port only in daytime on high water. Masters have to pay full attention to Pilot's advice as river has varying bends.

MAX. SIZE: The permitted draft for the entry to the port is announced monthly by the Port Authorities. It should not exceed 3.9 m. - 4.2 m. The maximum permitted length is 70 m.

HEALTH: As for "Archangel".

RADIO: Vessels can establish radio contact through the port radio

station Mezen Radio operating 24 hours a day on the following

frequencies:

*Frequencies given are in MHz.

Notice of Arrival: As per conditions of the "Soviet Wood" Charter Party.

REPAIRS: Only minor repairs can be effected. There are no dry docks in the port.

FRESH WATER: Fresh water can be supplied at the berths and by road tankers.

FUEL: Supplies not guaranteed.

BERTHING: The floating dams are used as mooring berths in the port. The depths alongside at low water are about 3.5 m. Vessels drawing 3.9 m. - 4.2 m. are usually grounded while loading at low water.

The port of Mezen specialises in timber exports but other cargoes are also handled at berths. Covered warehouses and open concrete floor sheds are available.

Tug assistance for mooring berths is not compulsory. Berthing is usually done in the daytime. Tugs, if necessary are ordered by Master according to the Pilot's instructions.

Rendering of Notice of Readiness and opening and closing of hatches are usually done in accordance with the "Soviet Wood" charter party.

Loading of timber is done by ship's winches and floating cranes with capacity 5 tons.

TIDE: The difference between two successive high waters and low waters is small but the range of the tide changes considerably. At the Kamenka settlement the mean range of the tide is 2.8 m. and the mean range of the spring tide is 3.1 m. At the Semzha River the mean range of the spring tide reaches 7.7 m. Everywhere in the Gulf of Mezen the differences in the duration of falling and of rising water are big and in some places of the Gulf of Mezen they may reach 5 hours.

Considerable changes in the water level are observed in the Spring. They are usually caused by the seasonal increase in the amount of water (due to melting snow) brought down by the rivers.

TIME: GMT plus 3 hours (all year round).

AUTHORITY: The Port of Mezen Authority, Morport, 164652 - Kamenka Settlement, Mezen, Archangel Region, Russia. Tel: 9-43-41 (Chief of the Port), 9-40-81 (Harbour Master). Cables: Morport Mezen.

AGENT: A branch of the Port of Archangel Main Maritime Agency "Inflot" at the Port of Mezen.

Port - "Inflot", Kamenka Settlement, 164650 - Mezen, Archangel Region, Russia. Cables: "Inflot Mezen-Kamenka". Tel: Exchange -94391. Inflot-94126.