The shipping platform

Location: La Skhirra is approx 160nm SSE of Tunis in the Gulf of Gabes. General overview: La Skhira is one of the six major seaports of Tunisia; it is specialized in handling Algerian and Tunisian petroleum exports. The port is also a pipeline terminal for Al-Dūlāb oil field, in western Tunisia. The terminal is used exclusively for the export of crude oil and some phosphoric acid. Two loading berths are situated on each side of the terminal platform. For safe manoeuvring tankers are recommended to arrive with up to 30% ballast of summer deadweight. Any vessel arriving or departing from loading berths is obliged to use two or three tugs according to deadweight. Traffic figures: Approx 8,400,000t of cargo handled annually. Load line zone: Summer. Max size: LOA: 300 m, draught: 15.2 m, 160,000 DWT. The largest vessel handled: "Cypress King", 164,545 DWT tanker, draught: 15.2 m.