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Port of Taranto (Italy) - Port Information (ID: 35562)
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TARANTO.htm Taranto Italy Italy Taranto Port Information Selections Port Map Geographic Location Harbor as Haven Currents and Tides Visibility Hazardous Conditions Spring Summer Autumn Winter Protective or Mitigating Measures Moving to a new Anchorage Sortie or Remain in Port Scheduling Harbor Protection Local Hazardous Weather Conditions Wind Chill Table Heat Index Table Return To Ports List Untitled Document Geographic Location Geographic Location Coordinates: 40deg/24min N 17deg/12min E Location: Near the head of the Gulf of Taranto. Port of Taranto: Near the arch of the boot of Italy - about 65 n mi north of the mouth of the Gulf of Taranto. West side of gulf dominated by mountains of the Appennino Calabrese which are visible from a considerable distance. An inner harbor (Mare Piccolo) and an outer harbor (Mare Grande), connected by a canal, make up the port of Taranto. The port is nearly a closed harbor except for the entrance to the southwest. The outer harbor is large (about 3 by 4 n mi). The port is primarily an Italian Navy base. The Italian Navy's principal southern base is in Mare Piccolo. Many alongside berths are available at the Italian Navy piers. Harbor as Haven Harbor as Haven Well protected from the effects of all sea/swell action except from the southwesterly wind-driven sea and swell which enters outer harbor through relatively wide entrance. Inner harbor completely surrounded by land. Terrain is flat and no significant funneling of winds occur. Western half of outer harbor is open to elements except for the breakwaters and San Pietro Island (located 1 nmi north of entrance). Island bearing 280 deg distance 1 n mi from US Navy anchorages. High winds can raise winds waves of 3 ft (1 m) in outer harbor. Strong southeasterly winds in combination with southwesterly swell (propagating through entrance) causes cross swell hazardous to boating and other operations for anchored ships. Holding conditions generally good. However, 40+ kt winds cause anchor dragging for ships with large sail area and/or shallow draft. Conditions on east side of outer harbor usually less hazardous than on west side. Entry to the inner harbor through canal should be approached with caution. Strong cross-currents are experienced in the final 1000 yards of approach. Flat terrain surrounding inner harbor provides little protection from high winds and canal transit not recommended during high winds. Currents and Tides Currents and Tides Currents: Generally weak and wind driven. Currents in and near the canal are irregular both in strength and direction. Tides: Tidal range is slight, about 1 ft. Rising water level of 1 to 2 ft often precedes arrival of strong southeasterly winds. Visibility Visibility During spring/early summer southeasterly winds often bring rain and fog. Early morning visibility will be reduced to near zero two or three times each year. Normal Mediterranean summertime haze conditions are to be expected. Slant range visibilities are most affected during hours of sunlight. Hazardous Conditions: Spring Hazardous Conditions: Spring Spring is a relatively long transition season and is characterized by the occurrence of North African cyclones that develop over the rapidly heating Sahara. Cyclones typically move northeastward across the Mediterranean bringing Scirocco conditions to the Ionian Sea and Gulf of Taranto area. As warm air moves over the water, it picks up moisture bringing low stratus, fog, drizzle and poor visibilities. Inversions over the water can cause anomalous radar and radio propagations. Also, strong wind shear will accompany inversion producing turbulence above the inversion. Strongest spring wind events occur as short periods of southwesterlies, lasting less than a day. Wind driven sea and swell enter the outer harbor through the southwest facing entrance. Hazardous Conditions: Summer Hazardous Conditions: Summer Sirocco events continue through June, resulting in hot and muggyconditions in the Taranto area. Weak high pressure with settled, warm, dry weather and light winds is the rule during summer. A light south to southwest sea breeze occurs daily. Thunderstorms occur over the higher terrain. The harbor area normally experiences only moderate northerly winds from these storms. Visibility is slightly restricted due to the typical Mediterranean haze. Hazardous Conditions: Autumn Hazardous Conditions: Autumn Autumn usually lasts only for the month of October and is characterized by an abrupt change from settled summer-type weather to stormy winter-type weather. Long term records show sharp changes on or about 20 October. Prevailing winds shift to the offshore northerly directions. Hazardous Conditions: Winter Hazardous Conditions: Winter Strong southerly Sirocco winds cause most of the bad weather conditions at Taranto. Four to five winter events will result in 40+ kt winds with high southerly swell. Swell refracts into outer harbor through the southwest entrance. When combined with southeasterly wind waves, a 90 deg cross wave train occurs. Two patterns likely to cause a Sirocco are: cyclone forming over North Africa and tracking northward such that Taranto remains in the warm sector; a cold front approaching from western Mediterranean extending southward into North Africa placing Taranto in the warm air ahead of the front. The prevailing winter winds are northerly over the Taranto area. The most frequent strong wind events are associated with the Bora outbreaks of northeast wind off the Adriatic Sea. Wind blows over flat terrain east of Taranto and typically arrives with sudden onset of 25+ kt. Northerly winds tend to be strongest duringdaytime, weakest at night. Mistral winds can occur but only the strongest events will reach Taranto with any force. 40 kt northwesterlies have been experienced in association with a Mistral. Primary features necessary are strong eastern Atlantic blocking and a deep 500 mb trough over the central Mediterranean thatextends into northern Africa. With this pattern, Genoa lows will movesoutheastward into the Ionian sea and following their passage to the east,Mistral conditions can occur. Extended periods of a week or more of bad weather will be experienced in Taranto when a Genoa low stalls west of southern Italy and a series of secondary lows form over the Ionian Sea. Typically, rainy and squally weather occurs with winds switching from southerly ahead of each low to northerly as it passes. Protective/Mitigating Measures: Moving to a New Anchorage Protective/Mitigating Measures: Moving to a New Anchorage Note that highly variable and strong cross currents occur in the last 1000 yds of approach to and within the canal. Strong winds will compound this problem. Med moored vessels in the inner harbor should consider moving to alongside berths when strong wind events are likely. West side of outer harbor more exposed to elements than east side and moving to east side may give more protection. Protective/Mitigating Measures: Sortie/Remain in Port Protective/Mitigating Measures: Sortie/Remain in Port Ships with large sail area and/or shallow draft may be subject to anchor dragging. If remaining at anchorage second anchor may be needed. Strong winter-time northerly winds may persist for up to five days. However, winds drop off to near calm at night and into early morning. Note the tendency for northeasterlies to commence with sudden onset of 25+ kt around mid-morning. Scheduling wind critical operations/movements in early morning will reduce exposure. Protective/Mitigating Measures: Scheduling Protective/Mitigating Measures: Scheduling There is no scheduling available for this port. Harbor Protection Harbor Protection Wind and Weather The nearly closed harbor of Taranto is well protected from most wave conditions. The west side of the outer harbor is fully exposed to windand the elements; the east side is better protected while the innerharbor is surrounded by flat land where no funneling of wind occurs. Strong southeasterlies (40+ kt) cause major disruptions in the outerharbor, especially in winter. Ships with large sail areas and/or shallowdraft can drag anchor. Southerly swell refracts through the entrance,causing a 90 degree cross wave train with southeast wind and waves. Southwesterly winds (30+ kt), most likely in spring, result in wind driven swell and seas propagating into the outer harbor through the entrance. In winter, northeasterlies flow across the low, flat terrain to the east and have a tendency to arrive with a sudden onset of 25+ kt winds. This onset most likely in morning hours,while calming at night. Overcast stratus, fog and rain accompany southeast (Scirocco) winds in spring bringing low visibilities. In summer the Scirocco brings hot,muggy weather to Taranto. Waves Wind waves (3 to 4 ft) occur in the outer harbor with 40+ kt winds. Deep water waves enter the outer harbor through the entrance as southwesterly swell; 6 to 7 ft in strong winds. Wave heights usually lower on east side of the outer harbor. Local Hazardous Weather Conditions Local Hazardous Weather Conditions Southerly (Sirocco) Winds Occurs when Taranto is in the warm sector of a cyclone. True Sirocco has southerly winds extending out of North Africa; however, any strong southerly wind is referred to locally as a Sirocco. Synoptic indicators include: a deep 500-mb trough extending southward over North Africa with trough line west of the Taranto area, plus being located in the warm sector of an approaching cyclone that has formed over NorthAfrica or whose circulation extends from over North Africa. Local indicators include: rising water levels in the harbor, anamolously rising warm air temperatures and increasing clouds from the south. Once Sirocco starts, an indication of strong turbulence above the low level inversion is a 'pumping' action that shows in the pressure trace. Northeasterly (Bora) Winds: Bora winds reach Taranto as northeasterly flow across the land to east from off the Adriatic. For strong Bora to reach Taranto, there is a need for a typical stronghigh over Europe in conjunction with a winter cyclone passing eastward across the Ionian Sea. Local indicator is formation of clouds over the low hills around the inner harbor. Clouds persist during the Bora event. North to West (Mistral) Winds: Occasionally strong Mistral winds will reach Taranto; however, there is a need for a large amplitude 500-mb flow supporting the Mistral. Complete description of a Mistral can be found in severe weather guides for Marseille or Toulon, France. Location: Near the head of the Gulf of Taranto. Port of Taranto (Italy) - Port Information