Ship chandlers & ship supply at Ras Tanura SARTA

The Port of Ras Tanura, on the Arabian Gulf in the Eastern Province, is formed by three Saudi Aramco terminals: Ras Tanura Terminal, Juaymah Crude (SPM) Terminal and Juaymah LPG Terminal. Aramco publishes the rules, facilities and services for all of them in its Ports & Terminals book.^[1,4]

—Ras Tanura Terminal: the North Pier has six berths (6 to 11) for products only; a complex of Sea Islands about a mile north-east of it loads crude (Sea Island #1 is abandoned in place); the four-berth South Pier is mothballed.^[1]

—Grades: Arabian Extra Light, Light, Medium and Heavy crude and gas condensate; fuel oil, white diesel, kerosene and naphtha as products.^[1]

—Juaymah Crude Terminal: six single-point moorings 1–4 miles north-east of an oil platform lying 18 miles NNW of Ras Tanura and 7 miles offshore, loading crude and bunker fuel into deep-draught tankers — maximum arrival draught 21.3 m normally, up to 26 m under special routing.^[2]

—Draughts at Ras Tanura Terminal: arrival up to 16.30 m plus tide (18.00 m maximum); sailing from the Sea Islands up to 19.50 m plus tide (21.00 m absolute) through the deep-water departure channel, with 1.5 m under-keel clearance.^[1]

—September 2026: with the East–West pipeline to Yanbu running at low rates after attacks, Kpler data showed six VLCCs loading about 12 million barrels at Ras Tanura on 21 September.^[5]

Ships not berthed on arrival wait in the Northern Holding Anchorage — about 30 square miles in 25–46 m of water. The Tanker Anchorage 1.6 miles east of the Sea Islands is the final holding area for ships with immediate berthing prospects or awaiting documents, for draughts up to 17.5 m and normally no more than 10 ships at a time.^[1]

—Anchors only with Ras Tanura Port Control’s permission and in designated positions; VHF contact within 100 miles of the port, with ETA, draughts, cargo requirement and ISPS status.^[1]

—Bunkers: Saudi Aramco fuel oil is available at berths in the port. Non-Aramco bunkering services exist, but ships using them may not bunker within the port’s operating area.^[1]

—Fresh water: drinking and boiler water are not available at Ras Tanura; in an emergency, agents may be able to arrange small quantities by barge — arrive with enough on board.^[1]

—Waste: no garbage may be dumped, garbage incineration and soot blowing are prohibited inside port limits, and all MARPOL reception is arranged through the ship’s agent.^[1,3]

—A Saudi shipping agent before entering Saudi territorial waters. The agents Aramco lists for Ras Tanura are locally licensed for maritime support, chandlery and bunker services, and handle provisions, repairs, medical care and crew changes.^[3,1]

—ETA messages at 72, 48 and 24 hours; less than 24 hours’ notice can add to laytime or delay berthing.^[3]

—Your own gangway at the North Pier (the Sea Islands provide shore gangways); no crew ashore before pratique, and shore leave only through the agent.^[1,3]

—Ship Assistance Fees: owners, operators and charterers reimburse Saudi Aramco for all applicable Ras Tanura fees.^[1]

—Provisions and stores delivered through a licensed agent during the loading window: post a requirement and chandlers serving Ras Tanura answer with sealed bids — suppliers never see the vessel’s name until award. If you are licensed to supply tankers here, be the first supplier in.