Local regulations applying to ships
- Pilotage regulations
The official decree deals with all regulations addressing the NC pilotage and its operations. It deals partly with the pilotage obligation and its exemptions, the fares and all legal matters. This document is available only in French.
- Modification 2016-2033/GNC
- Pilotage decree 10-2006/AM
- Pilotage areas
Please find here attached charts specifying the 5 pilotage area of New Caledonia and the limit of the baseline.
- Baselines
- Charts
- Vessels exempted
Pilotage is compulsory for all French and foreign commercial vessel and warship inside the New Caledonian barrier reef and islands.
Find here attached the text regarding pilotage exemptions.
- Pilotage exemption
- Pilotage fees
The pilotage fees are fixed by the New Caledonian Government. The basis for the calculation of pilotage fees is the volume of the ship's live works at tropical draft :
V = Maximum length overall x Maximum breadth overall x Tropical draft.
When a tropical draft is less than : 0,15 x V(LOA x Max.breadth), this figure substitutes for the tropical draft.
All rates are in francs CFP.
- Fees 2023
- Fees application
- Fees decree 2022-511/GNC
- New Caledonia Harbour
All ships with intented to sail New Caledonian internal waters must fill in an "Inwards Declaration". This declaration has to be addressed to Port Authority at least 24 hours prior to arrival. A copy will be handed over to the pilot upon arrival.
Please find here an electronic form of this Inwards Declaration as well as an ISPS form.
- Inward declaration
- ISPS Form
- Tankers ships
Decree 20-2006/AM is aimed at all tanker ships sailing within the territorial and internal waters of New Caledonia.
In the attached document you will find all regulations governing this matter.
- Addendum Tankers in Vavouto (French Only)
- Information sheet
- Tanker vessels
- Water Ballast management
Decree n°3-2006/AEM is aimed at water ballast discharge within New Caledonian territorial and internal waters.
In attachment, you will find the complete regulation and the official form of the Water Ballast Declaration to be completed by the ship and sent to the agent at least 24h before ETA. Moreover this form must be tendered to the pilot upon his arrival on board.
- Ballast Declaration
- Ballast regulation
- Navigation regulation
Due to decree 2015-001040/GNC All vessel must applied RULE N°9 of International Regulation for Preventing Collisions at Sea in the inners and territorial waters of New Caledonia.
- Decree n°2015-1040/GNC Rule 9
- Quarantine
Any vessel calling at any port in New caledonia is required to submit a statutory health declaration to the harbour authorities. Without this clearance, pilotage operation could not be carried out and free pratique will not be granted.
You will find, in attachment, a procedure for health declaration from New Caledonia quarantine authorities (Direction des Affaires Sanitaires et Sociales) and a weblink with the official website of this Health Department.
- DASS website
- Sanitary Procedure
- Loyalty Islands anchorages
In order to reduce the impact of the ship's anchors on the corals reefs in the Loyalty Islands, the decree N°86/AEM of 2010 and 2015-1044, have been adopted. Compulsory anchorage positions have been prescribed.
- add 2018-4054 to mare anchorages regulation
- modifying 86/2010 lifou anchorages
- Officials Anchorages LIFOU
- Officials Anchorages MARE
- Helicopter
Terms for using and landing helicopter on board vessels.
- Helicopter
- Submarine
The document in attachment summarizes the two decrees that deal with submarine :
N°328 of 1985/04/30 about navigation between Dumbea passage and Noumea Harbour.
N°85-41 M-5050 of 1985/04/23 from New-Caledonia Government about mouvement, berthing or anchorage of submarine in Noumea Harbour.
- Submarine
