Founded 175 years ago, Port Adelaide is one of South Australia’s earliest settlements and became South Australia’s first state heritage area in the 1980s.
Port Adelaide is a tidal port with the geographic coordinates:
- Latitude 34 degrees 51 minutes south
- Longitude 138 degrees 30 minutes east
Communications on VHF radio telephonic channels, 12 and 16, are with the call sign “Adelaide VTS”. The additional local working channels are 6, 8 and 67.
Flinders Ports’ Port Adelaide Port Rules apply to all shipping in port waters. Please ensure you and your ship’s Captain and crew are familiar with these rules before arriving or departing from Port Adelaide.
Master Port Rules
Port Adelaide – Port Rules
Principal Commodities
- Grains and seeds
- Limestone
- Petroleum products
- Motor vehicles
- Metals and scrap metal
- Cement and cement clinker
- Fertilisers
- Agricultural commodities
- Iron-ore, iron and steel
- Break-bulk and general cargo
- Mineral sands
- Mineral concentrates
- Containers
Berth Information
As the owner and operator of the Port of Adelaide, Flinders Ports is responsible for maintaining these berths to meet the needs of our shipping clients.
| Berth ID | POA Declared Depth (metres)* | Wharf - Hard Stand (square metres) | Wharf - Height (metres) | Height (metres) Berth Box - Length (metres) | Berth Box - Breadth (metres) | Max Vessel Dimensions - LOA (metres) | Max Vessel Dimensions - Beam (metres) | Commodities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADL IH 18 | 10 | 509 | 4.6 | 178 | 30 | 206 | 32.26 | Fertilisers / Scrap metal / Steel / Textiles / Acids / Soda Ash |
| ADL IH 19 | 10 | 509 | 4.6 | 168 | 30 | 206 | 32.26 | Fertilisers / Scrap metal / Steel / Textiles / Forestry products / Soda Ash |
| ADL IH 20 | 10 | 509 | 4.6 | 163 | 30 | 206 | 32.26 | Fertilisers / Scrap metal / Steel / Textiles / Forestry products / Soda Ash/Grain |
| ADL IH 25 | 8.5 | 125 | 4.4 | 240 | 35 | 170 | 32.26 | Stores / lay-up. ADL IH 25 is not a security regulated berth or Biosecurity listed import facility. |
| ADL IH 27 | 10.9 | 142 | 4.6 | 204 | 30 | 206 | 32.26 | Grains & seeds |
| ADL IH 29 | 10 | 169 | 4.4 | 245 | 30 | 206 | 32.26 | Mineral sands / Livestock / Sulphur / Fertilisers / Scrap metal |
| ADL IH H | 11.2 | NA | 4.4 | 304 | 30 | 206 | 32.26 | Cement / Cement clinker |
| ADL IH K | 7.5 | 56 | 4.4 | 170 | 26 | 120 | - | Limestone |
| ADL IH M | 10.7 | NA | 4.4 | 218 | 35 | 206 | 32.26 | Petroleum products |
| ADL IH N | 8.7 | NA | 4.3 | 100 | 25 | 140 | - | Bulk liquid |
| ADL OSB 4 | 7.5 | 221 | 4.6 | 120 | 30 | 120 | - | This Berth is not in use. |
| ADL OSB 1 | 10 | 185 | 4.4 | 245 | 35 | 185 | 32.26 | Acid / Break bulk / General cargoes / Grain / Cement |
| ADL OH 1 | 11.5 | 432 | 5.6 | 185 | 30 | 300 | 49 | General cargo / lay-up |
| ADL OH 2 | 11.2 | 432 | 5.4 | 183 | 30 | 300 | 49 | Passenger Terminal / Motor vehicles |
| ADL OH 3 | 11.2 | 432 | 5.7 | 64 | 30 | 300 | 49 | Motor vehicles |
| ADL OH 4 | 13.8 | 300 | 5.7 | 300 | 50 | 300 | 49 | Petroleum products / Motor vehicles |
| ADL OH 6 | 14.2 | 660 | 5.3 | 300 | 40 | 300 | 49 | Containers |
| ADL OH 7 | 14.2 | 660 | 5.3 | 323 | 40 | 300 | 49 | Containers / Ores |
| ADL OH 8 | 16.2 | 229 | 5.3 | 320 | 50 | 300 | 49 | Grains & seeds |
*Allowable depths are a minimum of 0.3 metres less than the declared depth. Please check notices to mariners for temporary limitations.
Note: For further information about Port Adelaide’s Inner Harbour and Outer Harbor berths including the latest depths in the channel or berths please contact Adelaide Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) on +61 (0)8 8447 0623
Bunkering Facilities at N Berth
Since October 2016, BP Australia has had a new pipeline facility at N Berth, located in Port Adelaide’s Inner Harbour.
- Port: Port Adelaide
- Supply Point: BP Largs North Terminal
- Berth: N only
- Draft: 8 metres
- Flow rate: 130 cbms / per hour
- Operating hours: daylight hours (interim)
- Contractor / third party: Australian Terminals Operations Management (ATOM)
- Other: vessels up to 120 metres in length
For more information visit our Port Service Providers Directory and view
Inner Harbour and Osborne
The ship limitations for vessels calling at Port Adelaide’s Inner Harbour berths 18-29, H, K, M, N and Osborne berths are:
- Maximum length overall – 206 metres
- Maximum beam – 32.2 metres
- Maintained depth, below lowest astronomical tide – 9.3 metres
- Mean high spring tides – 2.4 metres
- Mean high neap tides – 1.3 metres
Swing Basin
A swing basin is situated just south of Inner Harbour Berth 27 which has a diameter of 330 metres.
Outer Harbor
The ship limitations for vessels calling at Port Adelaide’s Outer Harbor berths OH 1 to OH 8 are:
- Maximum length overall – 350 metres
- Maximum beam – 49 metres
- Maintained depth, below lowest astronomical tide – 14.2 metres
- Mean high spring tides – 2.4 metres
- Mean high neap tides – 1.3 metres
Swing Basins
Outer Harbor has two swing basins:
- Opposite the OH 2 Passenger Terminal – a diameter of 400 metres.
- Opposite OH 6 – a diameter of 505 metres
Outer Harbor 4 Fuel Berth
In April 2014, Flinders Ports and industry partner Caltex officially opened a brand new common-user fuel berth facility at Outer Harbor 4.
Capable of handling both medium range (MR) and long range (LR) fuel tankers, the facilities are fully compliant with Australian Standards and International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals (ISGOTT).
Ship limitations for vessels calling at the Outer Harbor 4 Fuel Berth:
- Maximum length overall – 300 metres
- Maximum beam – 36 metres
- Maximum vessel displacement 85,500 tonnes
Outer Harbor Berths 6 & 7 – Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal
Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal located at Outer Harbor Berths 6 and 7, is South Australia’s only container terminal facility and has a total quay length of 660 metres.
With seven direct shipping services linking South Australia to international markets, Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal is a well-equipped, modern facility which has a focus on safety and innovation.
Linked to the national rail network, the facility has three post-panamax cranes, 22 straddle carriers and a selection of forklifts and reachstackers. Visit Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal’s new website for more information.
