Repsol YPF

About us

General Characteristics

Located on the southwest coast of Portugal (Latitude: 37º 57’ North, Longitude: 08º 52’ West) at 58 nautical miles south from Lisbon, the Port of Sines is a deepwater port, wide open to the sea, offering natural rocky bottoms with no need to dredging.

The port’s construction started in 1973, having thus begun operating in October 1978.

Offering unique facilities, the Port of Sines is one of the few deepwater ports, equipped with shelter and berthing maritime infrastructures, being thus able to receive very large vessels.
The main maritime infrastructures, which shelter the jetties from the waves coming from N – NW and SW, are respectively the West (with 2000 meters and N/S orientation) and the East (with 2200 meters and a NO/SE orientation) Breakwaters. The Port of Sines terminals are equipped with a computerized command and control system, aiming, not only to manage the terminals, but also to prevent accidents.

Environmental protection

Within the port’s area, environmental control aims to manage the slops, as well as to control the quality of the water and to prevent any kind of pollution, according to the current legislation. 
The port offers facilities such as slops and ballast water treatment plants, as well as a park aiming to transitorily storage the slops.

The quality of the water is controlled according to the Chemical and Microbiological Analysis Plan. The Port of Sines has been promoting the development of characterizing / monitoring studies on its sea environments since 1997, in order to control their quality.

Security

The terminals where dangerous cargoes are handled, offering risks of fires and/or explosions, are provided with the adequate fixed means to fight these possible casualties. 

Whenever it is needed, APS,SA has proper means to reinforce the above mentioned ones, namely fire – fighting vehicles equipped with water and water/foam monitors of a significant capacity. 
The tugs are equipped and prepared to fight any kind of fire, which might take place on any vessel as well. 

Should any spillage occur within the port’s waters, there are several equipment available to fight it, namely floating containment booms, three launches specialized on the reception of hydrocarbons, as well as other mobile or portable reception systems, tanks for temporary storage, transfer pumps, sorbents, etc. Tug boats are equipped with a system to apply dispersants, if needed.

Summary of port services (To be required by Agents before arrival)

• Bunkers can be supplied direct to vessels berthed at petrochemical terminals also at other terminals.
• Fresh water is available at all terminals and in emergency cases also for vessels at anchor or at sea.
• Slops and residues reception is available att all terminals
• Nitrogen and flare for purging and gassing up operations (Only at petrochemical terminals)
• Mooring the ships master is responsible for the mooring pan of his vessel. Mooring services are available for berthing, unberthing and shifting alongside as well as for ship-to shore access. Mooring boats can also be used for crew transport, inspections and oil speel response.
• Pilotage is provided by the Port of Sines Authority. All vessels must have a pilot on board for navigation or /or manouvering inside the porty and within the habour limits. All vessels bound for Sines should report theis stimated time of arrival (ETA) and should reach the pilotage area within 3 hours of ETA to avoid risking cancellation of the pilotage services. For emergencies manouvers, piolotage must be requested through the port supervisor.
• Ship Agents The Port contains about a dozen ship Agents who are appointed on behalf of the owners or charterers.
• Cargo Surveys Local Surveyors are available to inspect bulk carriers and tankers in the port of Sines on behalf of cargo operators /receivers.
• Shiprepair Maintenance and repair services are available. All onboard repairs within the port area are regulated by the Port Authority. 

Integrated Quality, Environmental and Safety Policy

The Port of Sines attained its Quality Certification, in accordance with the requirements of NP EN ISO 9001:2000, on December 5, 2005. Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Limited issued the certification, being applicable to the “Handling of Vessels on Port” (including Pilotage) 
The Port of Sines’ Quality, Environmental and Safety and Occupational Health integrated policy (NP EN ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:1999), is determinant in the assuring of the clients full satisfaction, as well as in the assertion of the port’s leadership and innovation position within the national port sector