sailing directions

Sector 3. Coasts of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria 33View, in two parts, of the coast in the vicinity of Bayrut3.12 Depths—Limitations.—Berth No. 1, Berth No. 3, andBerth No. 4 have been taken out of service; the mooring buoyshave been removed, but the submarine pipelines remain on thebottom.3.12 Berth No. 2 lies in a depth of 20.4m and consists of sevenmooring buoys. Tankers up to 80,000 dwt and 16.8m draft canbe handled during the winter. In summer (April through October),tankers up to 100,000 dwt can be handled.3.12 It is reported (1994) that cargo vessels up to 10,000 dwt,130m in length, and 8m draft can anchor E of Az Zirah; cargois discharged into lighters.3.12 Aspect.—Several radio towers and a tall black chimneystand near the shore in the S part of the port. The town standson the NW slope of a rocky promontory at the N end of theport. Az Zirah, an islet, lies 0.4 mile NNW of the town. It is 6mhigh and is marked by a light at the S end. A small and shallowharbor fronts the N side of the town.3.12 Pilotage.—Pilotage is compulsory. Pilots and oil companymooring masters can be contacted on VHF channel 14 or 16and generally board about 2 miles W of the berths. Vesselsshould send an ETA 72 hours, 24 hours, and 12 hours in advance.Vessels should then contact the port on VHF 4 hours beforearrival.3.12 Anchorage.—Vessels awaiting a berth may anchor, indepths of 29 to 36m, sandy bottom, about 3.2 miles SW of thetown. Due to excessive depths for safe anchoring, vesselsshould under no circumstances anchor to the N of the aboveposition.3.12 Caution.—A dangerous wreck is reported to lie about 1.3miles SW of Az Zirah.3.12 An anchorage prohibited area, which may best be seen onthe chart, lies in the vicinity of the offshore berths.Sidon to Bayrut3.13 Nahr al Awwali (33˚35'N., 35˚23'E.) flows into thesea 3 miles NNE of Sidon. A conspicuous hotel stands on the Sside of the entrance to this river. Vessels may find anchorage, ina depth of 16m, about 0.5 mile WNW of the river mouth.3.13 Between the river and Ras as Sa'diyat, 6.2 miles NNE, thecoast retains its rocky, steep, and barren characteristics. Part ofJabal Lubnan (Jebel Libnan), a Lebanese mountain range,stands inland and runs parallel to the coast. Jabal Tawmat Niha,a rounded double peak, rises 13 miles ESE of the entrance tothe river and is prominent.3.13 Ras Bayrut (33˚54'N., 35˚28'E.), located 13 miles NNE ofRas as Sa'diyat, is the W extremity of the promontory whichforms the S side of the port of Bayrut. It is fronted by rocks andshoals. A main light is shown from a prominent structure, 27mhigh, standing on the point.3.13 The red sand hills standing SE of the point are conspicuousfrom seaward. The coast between Ras as Sa'diyat and the pointcontains numerous villages and monasteries. A prominentradio mast and two aeronautical lights are situated in thevicinity of the airport, 4 miles S of Ras Bayrut.3.13 Caution.—A submarine pipeline extends 3.5 miles WSWfrom a point along the shore in the vicinity of the airport.Bayrut (33˚54'N., 35˚31'E.)World Port Index No. 450303.14 Bayrut, a large port, lies between Ras Bayrut andQuarantine Point, 3 miles E. The main harbor is protected fromthe N by an extensive breakwater. An offshore petroleum berth,which is connected to the shore by submarine pipeline, lies atthe E end of the port.3.14 Winds—Weather.—During the winter, strong onshorewinds, sometimes accompanied by rain, set up very heavyswells in the outer part of the harbor and often generate heavysurges in the inner part of the harbor. At such times, portoperations may be frequently interrupted for two or three days.3.14 Tides—Currents.—The tidal rise is very small, being only0.4m at springs.3.14 A strong current usually sets to the N in the vicinity of RasBayrut.3.14 Depths—Limitations.—The entrance fairway has a depthof 15.2m over a width of 320m. The harbor has four basinswhich provide 3,400m of main commercial berthing space.There are 14 quays, 180 to 450m long, with depths of 8 to 14malongside. In addition, there are three mooring buoy berthswithin the harbor. There are facilities for bulk, passenger,general cargo, and ro-ro vessels. Vessels up to 96,800 dwt,265m in length, and 12.9m draft have been accommodated.3.14 The offshore oil berth, consisting of several mooring buoys,lies 0.7 mile SE of the head of the main breakwater. It is re-Pub. 132