The tug regulations in Port of Gothenburg are developed in consultation with the Swedish Maritime Administration and stipulates number of tugboats during arrival and departure in Port of Gothenburg. They are calculated for normal current conditions and wind force of max 10 m/s.

When exceeding these normal conditions or other circumstances that could appear, it might be necessary to increase the number of tugboats. The Pilot decides in consultation with the captain in each case how a planned vessel operation can be performed with sufficient safety margins.

For vessels not subject to compulsory pilotage, the Port Authority – as responsible for safety and the port facilities – recommends that a pilot is used when tugboat assistance is needed.

Regarding high efficient rudder, it is a high-lift rudder creating effective side force and minimum force forward. A high efficient rudder may be a Schilling-, Becker Flap rudder or a type of rudder with similar functionality. An ordinary spade rudder that can be operated with great rudder angles is not to be considered as a high-efficient rudder. All rudders named high efficient rudder don't create enough side force why the Port Authority, in consultation with the Swedish Maritime Administration Gothenburg pilot area, reserves the right to the definition and assessment of a high efficient rudder. If a vessel desires to prove its rudder to be high-efficient, according to the definition above, the vessel must present a “vector diagram” of the rudder, showing the correlation between ahead-force and force sideways in percent. This diagram shall be sent to the Port Authority for evaluation.  
 
Future development of the tug regulations must be in consultation with the Swedish Maritime Administration, Gothenburg pilot area.

Escort towing is compulsory at the Port of Gothenburg for tankers of more than 30,000 tonnes. The towing company at the Port of Gothenburg, Svitzer, can offer this service. Vessels that are subject to compulsory escort towing must comply with the OCIMF (Oil Companies International Maritime Forum) recommendations.

For detailed information about which rules apply regarding escort towing of tankers at the Port of Gothenburg, see our General Port Regulations.

Continue reading below for detailed specifications per port area.

Torshamnen - arriving vessels

*Each tugboat with a capacity of at least 50 ton BP (bollard pull).

Torshamnen - departing vessels

*Each tugboat with a capacity of at least 50 ton BP (bollard pull).

Arendal, Skandia and  Älvsborg Harbours - arriving vessels

(Note: Does not apply berth 600-601, scroll further down the page for separate chart).

* Vessel LOA <180 metres.
** Vessel draft <10 metres.
***Vessel LOA <152 m arriving/departing from berth 610-615 and equipped with CPP (controllable pitch propeller).

Arendal, Skandia and Älvsborg Harbours - departing vessels

(Note: Does not apply berth 600-601, scroll further down the page for separate chart).

* Vessel LOA <180 metres.
**Vessel LOA <152 m arriving/departing from berth 610-615 and equipped with CPP (controllable pitch propeller).

Berths 600-601 - arriving vessels

* Vessel LOA <180 metres.
** If berth 520 is not occupied. 
*** The total force from minimum 3 tugboats shall at least be 150 tons BP (Bollard Pull).

No arrivals are permitted for vessels >190 metres when the mean wind speed is more than 16 m/s.
When the wind speed exceeds 12 m/s on arrival/departure for berth 601, with ships >190m, loading/unloading at berth 520 and 521 must be stopped. 

The anemometer at "Karet" is to be used as a reference point.

Berths 600-601 - departing vessels

* Vessel LOA <180 metres.
**The total force from the minimum 2 tugboats shall at least match this BP (Bollard Pull). Departure 
in wind speed of >18 m/s for vessels >190 metres may be permitted after a risk analysis is conducted in consultation with the Harbour Master and the Manager of Gothenburg pilot area. 
When the wind speed exceeds 12 m/s on arrival/departure for berth 601, with ships >190m, loading/unloading at berth 520 and 521 must be stopped. 
The anemometer at "Karet" is to be used as a reference point.
 

Skarvik and Rya Harbours - arriving vessels
Berth 509: Vessel LOA (Length Over All) ≥ 120 m and wind speed ≥ 12 m/s (mean wind at ”Karet”) is the use of one (1) tugboat compulsory.
Berth 551: scroll further down the page for separate chart

* For vessels LOA <145 m to berth 510, 511, 519, 520 and 521, and equipped with bow thruster and CPP (Controllable Pitch Propeller). 
** For vessels to berth 512-518.

Skarvik and Rya Harbour - departing vessels 
Berths 510 & 519: Increase the number of tugs with one (1) if draught ≥ 10 metres. 
Berth 551: scroll further down the page for separate chart.

* For vessels LOA <145 m from berth 510, 511, 519, 520 and 521, and equipped with bow thruster and CPP (Controllable Pitch Propeller). 
** For vessels LOA <170 m and equipped with bow thruster and CPP (Controllable Pitch Propeller), the vessel can leave without a tug, if bow is heading towards the fairway.
*** For vessels from berth 512-518.

Berth 551- arriving vessels
Berth 551: Use of one (1) tugboat is compulsory when wind speed  ≥  12m/s (mean wind at "Karet").
Berth 551: For all gas tankers without bowthruster the use of one (1) tugboat is compulsory.

* If the draft <7.3 metres at MW.

Berth 551- departing vessels 
Berth 551: Use of one (1) tugboat is compulsory when wind speed is  ≥  15 m/s (mean wind at "Karet").
Berth 551: For all gas tankers without bowthruster the use of one (1) tug is compulsory. 

* If the draft <7.3 metres at MW.
** If the vessel's bow is pointing towards the fairway regardless draft.
*** f the vessel's bow is pointing towards the fairway and the draft is <7.3 m at MW.

Inner Harbour - arriving vessels

Inner Harbours - departing vessels

* Vessels with azipod, moored with port side to quay 34-36 at Stigbergskajen, can depart without a tugboat.

Gotenius - dry docking arrival of vessels

Gotenius - dry docking departing vessels

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This information was last updated 2020-10-27.