Anchorage
Vessels can anchor in the Suriname River at Suzannasdaal, bottom soft mud. In the Commewijne River at Alkmaar (bottom soft mud) and Koopmanskreek (bottom hard soil) if necessary to pass other departing vessel coming from Moengo.
Arrival
Upon approaching Suriname Ports vessels are requested to send arrival messages 48, 24 and 12 hours prior to arrival at the Sea Buoy, and if necessary to amend their estimated time of arrival in local time (i.e. + 3 hours earlier than GMT) after the 12 hour message, via Pilot Station on VHF channel 12,16.
The arrival message should contain ship particular and drafts fore and aft. The pilot will be sent out only after confirmation of ETA by shipmaster 3 hours prior to arrival at the Pilot Station Buoy
Vessels should also announce their air draft if passing under the bridge of the Suriname River.
Notice of readiness: N.O.R. to be tendered upon arrival at the pilot station.
Flag: Surinam flag must be displayed from 06:00 – 18:00.
Density
At the entrance to Commewijne River is between 1,015 – 1,025. Near Moengo Port the density is 1000.
Navigation
The seaward boundaries of the port, within which a vessel is considered to be arrived, is the entrance of the Suriname River.
The Pilot Station buoy (06° 04’.5 N – 055° 12’.8 W) at the entrance of the Suriname River marks the outer end of a 10 mile, buoyed and lighted entrance channel leading over the bar which is formed by soft mud. There is a depth of at least 4.3 m over the bar.
At the Commewijne River the entrance is buoyed and lighted from Nieuw Amsterdam till Mariënburg (distance 5 miles) formed by soft mud.
The bar, which is stretched out from the entrance of the Commewijne River till Leliëndaal, has a minimum depth of at least 2.6 m. With a tide range of 2.5 meters, the maximum depth at HW is 5.10 meters.
Draft Limitation:
The draft Limitation at the entrance of the Commewijne River is 2.6 meters (LWS).
Situation
Commewijne River is a secondary river.
Tides and Currents
The Avery rise of tide at the Commewijne estuary is 1.00 – 2.60 meters.
Harbour Authorities
Maritime Authority Suriname
Fax No: 597 472940
597 472845
Email: info@mas.sr
VHF Channel 12 and 16