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New Caledonia

Pre Arrival: Documents

Arrival: Pilotage

Communications: Pratique | VTS/Radar

Facilities: Medical

Local Info: Time | Holidays | Weather

Shore: Customs

General Information for New Caledonia

Geo-political:

Capital City: Noumea. 22° 16.00′ S, 166° 27.00′ E

Nationality: (noun) New Caledonian(s), (adjective) New Caledonian.

Population: 290,009 (July 2020).

Communications:

International Direct Dial Code: 687.

Number of Internal Airports: 25 (2013).

Major Languages Spoken: French (official) and Melanesian-Polynesian dialects 33%.

Economy:

Currency: 1 CFP Franc (XPF) of 100 Centimes.

Exchange Rates: (as of November 2020)

USD 1.00 = XPF 102.50

Exchange rates under licence from XE.com

Main Industries: Nickel mining and smelting.

Agricultural Products: Vegetables, beef, venison, livestock products and fish.

Imports: Machinery, equipment, fuels, chemicals and foodstuffs.

Exports: Ferronickels, nickel ore and fish.

Commodities: Products: Imports 19,100 bbl/d.

Environment:

Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.

Exclusive Economic Zone: Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 n.m.

Coastline Extent: 2,254 km.

Climate: Tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid.

Natural Resources: Nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead and copper.

Natural Hazards: Cyclones, most frequent from November to March and Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active.

Terrain: Coastal plains with interior mountains.

DOCUMENTS: The following documents shall be ready on arrival:

APAR Quarantine*

Arms & Ammunitions List

Crew Effects Declaration (FAL 4)

Crew List*

Crew List (FAL 5)

Currency Declaration

Declaration of Security*

Drugs & Narcotics List

General Information*

Last Port Clearance

Maritime Declaration of Health*

Parcel List

Passenger List (FAL 6)

Plants & Animals List

Ship Sanitation Control (Exemption) Certificate (SSC)

Ship's Particulars

Stores Lists (FAL 3)

Stowaway List

Submission*

Voyage Memo

* Supplied by Agent.

A common Nil List can be issued where applicable. Stores List must include not only oil, life preservers, alcohol, tobacco, provisions, firearms and narcotics but also all ship’s stores such as general equipment.

Declaration of Security, Crew/Passenger List, Crew List for NC immigration and General Information is to be sent to Agent 4 days prior to ship’s arrival in New Caledonia. Ballast water declaration will be checked by pilot on arrival. Maritime Declaration of Health/SSCEC copy must be sent 48 hours prior ship’s arrival.

PILOTAGE: SURNAV: Applies to all v

essels carrying hydrocarbon cargoes as per MARPOL 73/78 Appendix 1 to Annex 1, and any vessels assisting vessels covered by this.

Area covered is up to 50 n.m. from the coastline. Messages to be sent via Noumea Coast Radio Station to the Head of Marine (CMN) based in Noumea. Vessels heading to Noumea report directly to the Port Captain.

Any vessel sailing through the 12 n.m. territorial waters, berthing or anchoring shall forward the following prefixed SURNAV-NOUMEA to CMN Noumea 6 hours before entry:

a)	vessel's name, call sign, nationality
b)	destination
c)	cargo type and quantity
d)	1.	date, time (GMT) and position entering territorial waters
	2.	date, time (GMT) moored/anchored within territorial waters
e)	1.	date, time (GMT) and position leaving territorial waters
	2.	date, time (GMT) of arrival at destination within territorial waters
f)	any defects to ship's equipment

If unable to send, it should be sent via VHF Channel 16 when in range. If vessel details or passage is to change after forwarding SURNAV message, then an update should be sent.

PRATIQUE: Biosecurity Clearance: All commercial vessels must complete an Arrival Form for Military, Scientific and Commercial Ships Arriving in New Caledonia prior to arrival. The form should be handled to the Biosecurity/Quarantine Officer during the arrival biosecurity inspection; officers are from the veterinary, food and phytosanitary inspection service (SIVAP), a department of Direction des Affaires Veterinaires, Alimentaires et Rurales. Forms are available to download at davar.gouv.nc/importations-exportations-importations/particuliers-voyageurs-plaisanciers

On arrival, Biosecurity/Quarantine officers will inspect goods that may pose a biosecurity hazard. These goods are subject to specific regulations and must be declared, and include: animals and plants, products and food of plant and animal origin, equipment that may have been exposed to biosecurity hazards (e.g. hiking, camping, farming equipment).

SIVAP T: +687 243745. [email protected] www.davar.gouv.nc

VTS/RADAR: New Caledonia Ship Reporting System is established. Participation in the system is mandatory for vessels transporting hydrocarbons, liquefied gas or toxic liquid substances in the territorial waters (12 n.m. limit) and internal waters of New Caledonia and its dependencies.

Procedure:

1.	A report must be sent to COMAR New Caledonia and to MRCC Noumea by participating vessels before berthing or transiting the territorial and internal waters of New Caledonia as follows:
	a)	24 hrs before entering territorial waters
	b)	6 hrs before departure if in a New Caledonian port or anchorage.
2.	A correction message must be sent immediately if there is a change to any planned movement or to a vessel's manoeuvring or navigational ability.
3.	Messages should be sent directly, via fax or email, or via Noumea CRS.
4.	The report should include the following information (if no information available, insert NONE):
	ID	Information Required
	A	Vessel's name and nationality
	B	Last port and destination
	C	Draft
	D	Cargo (quantity in metric tonnes by category of hydrocarbons or chemical products in accordance with the definitions in Annex 1, Appendix 1 and Annex 2, Appendix 2 of the MARPOL Convention 73/78
	E1	Date/time (UTC) and point of entry into the territorial waters of New Caledonia or date/time (UTC) and place of departure from last New Caledonian port
	E2	Date/time (UTC) of arrival at the port/anchorage, or date/time (UTC) and point of exit from the territorial waters of New Caledonia
	F	Normal manoeuvring and navigational ability or ability reduced by total or partial failure of:
		i.	propulsion equipment
		ii.	control equipment
		iii.	mooring equipment
		iv.	radar
		v.	radio equipment needed to send reports and changes, and to maintain a watch on VHF Channels 16 and 70.
5.	Throughout the entire duration of transit within the territorial and internal waters of New Caledonia, vessels participating in this system must maintain a continuous listening watch on VHF Channels 16 and 70, and respond to any calls made by Government vessels, MRCC Noumea or Noumea CRS.

Procedure in Case of Failure or Incident at Sea:

1.	The Master of any tanker transporting hydrocarbons, liquefied gas or toxic liquid substances which, when in internal waters, in territorial waters, or when less than 50 n.m. from the outer limits of these waters, suffers a failure or a fault due to an incident on board or outside the vessel which affects its manoeuvrability, safety or the integrity of the environment, is required to inform COMAR New Caledonia and MRCC Noumea immediately of this event by means of a message stating the following:
	ID	Information Required
	A	Name and nationality of vessel in difficulty
	B	Date/time (UTC) and position
	C	Course and speed
	D	Cargo (quantity in metric tonnes by category of hydrocarbons or chemical products in accordance with the definitions in Annex 1, Appendix 1 and Annex 2, Appendix 2 of the MARPOL Conventions 73/78
	E	Nature of failure and, if necessary, the nature and extent of pollution or progress of the situation
	F	Time (UTC) any call for assistance or towage was made
	G	Presence of any vessels rendering assistance or time (UTC) of arrival of any vessel intending to render assistance
	H	Name, telephone number and email of owner, charterer and of any consignee at Noumea
	J	Any other information
2.	This message does not constitute a request for help or assistance. If considered necessary, vessels should send a request to MRCC Noumea, following international regulations.
3.	Any vessel called upon to render assistance or to tow a vessel affected by section 1 must immediately notify COMAR New Caledonia and MRCC Noumea by means of a message stating the following information:
	ID	Information Required
	A	Name and nationality of vessel rendering assistance
	B	Date/time (UTC) and position of vessel rendering assistance
	C	Course and speed of vessel rendering assistance
	D	Name, telephone number and email address of owner, charterer, and of any consignee at Noumea of vessel rendering assistance
	E	Name and nationality of vessel in difficulty
	F	Date/time (UTC) and position of vessel in difficulty
	G	Course and speed of vessel in difficulty
	H	Failure suffered by vessel in difficulty, if known and, if necessary, the nature and extent of pollution and progress of the situation
	J	Any other information
4.	The vessel in difficulty and the vessel rendering assistance must:
	a)	inform COMAR New Caledonia and MRCC Noumea of the progress of the situation by means of the message types stated in sections 1 and 3
	b)	respond to any calls by French government vessels, MRCC Noumea or Noumea CRS
	c)	take all measure prescribed by the Maritime Authority in New Caledonia in order to avoid or prevent any dangers to navigation and any threat of pollution.

Contact: MRCC Noumea. Fax: +687 292303. [email protected]

COMAR New Caledonia. [email protected]

MEDICAL: General health care facilities in New Caledonia are good for uncomplicated treatment but more serious cases may require evacuation to Australia or France. Make sure you have adequate insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment and repatriation.

Several cases of Chikungunya were reported in New Caledonia in March 2011. Chikungunya is viral infection that is transmitted by mosquitoes that bite during daylight hours. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, and a rash. Outbreaks of dengue fever are possible.

Also see `` General''.

HOLIDAYS: 1 January (New Year's Day); Easter Monday; 1 May (Labour Day); 8 May (1945 Victory Day); Ascension; Whit Monday; 14 July (Bastille Day); 15 August (Assumption); 24 September (French Treaty Day); 1 November (All Saints' Day); 11 November (Armistice Day); 25 December (Christmas Day); 31 December (New Year's Eve).

WEATHER/TIDES: Tropical cyclones may occur in New Caledonia between mid-December and mid-March. Local weather updates are available from the New Caledonia Meteorological Department. www.meteo.nc/

Also see `` General''.

CUSTOMS: No more than 200 cigarettes and 1 bottle of spirits per crew (only for onboard crew consumption during ship’s call). Balance is to be sealed before entering New Caledonia territorial waters. Customs officers may search vessel at any time during the port call and any differences may result in the Master being fined.