Waterways and Inter-Island Overview
As with many North Pacific countries, the remote, outer island geographic nature means inter-island shipping or transport is the predominant form of people and freight movement between the islands. Palau itself is made up of 9 inhabited islands. With the majority of the population living on Babeldoab, the main Island of Palau. The states of Peleliu, Angaur and Kayangel all lie within 100 km of Koror. Only Peleliu and Angaur have their own ferry boats for regular inter-island services. The Islands of Hatohobi and Sonsorol in the South-West are the furthest inhabited outer islands and are serviced every 3 months by their states, who charter a local dive vessel. Local private dive companies operate a large variety of boats, from small 10-person skiffs to larger dive vessels.
Climatic conditions are the main limiting factor and bottleneck for the islands. Any high winds will affect ocean swell outside the lagoon, making seagoing voyages difficult in small boats.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List
Company Information
The vessels operating between Koror, Peleliu and Angaur are owned and operated by their respective state governments. Koror state does not own any large nationally-available ferry or cargo vessels. The Hotohobie and Sonsorol state governments charter vessels for supply to their respective islands.
Due to the large tourism industry in Palau being based around diving, there are a large number and variety of dive vessels available for charter. This can range from smaller 22-seater passenger tenders to larger vessels with cabins and cargo area able to accommodate up to 50 people.
Sarangel and Sons, a major family-owned company with construction, wholesaling and retailing operations, operate their own tug and barge for transport of construction materials and equipment to the outer islands. This tug/barge configuration is available for chartering.
For more information on waterway company contact details, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List
Passenger Carrying Capacity |
||
---|---|---|
Peleliu State |
Angaur State |
|
Number of |
1 |
|
Number of |
2 |
|
Number of |
||
Number of |
Passenger Carrying Capacity |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Sorangel And Sons |
Peleliu State |
Angaur State |
|
Boats |
|||
Number of Boats |
2 |
||
Tonnage / Volume Carrying Capacity (mt / m3) |
50 m |
20 mt | |
Barges |
|||
Number of Barges |
1 |
||
Tonnage / Volume Carrying Capacity (mt / m3) |
200 |
||
Tugs |
|||
Number of Tugs |
1 |
||
Tonnage / Volume Carrying Capacity (mt / m3) |
Vessel Pictures
Peleliu State Ferry Nippon Maru II Odesangel Dil RoRo Ferry –Peleliu State
Regina IV Angaur State Ferry Traditional Raft for lagoon fishing
Travel Time Matrix
Travel Time from (Hours) |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Koror |
Peleliu |
Angaur |
Kayangel |
Hatohobi |
|
Koror |
2-3 hrs |
3 hrs |
2-3 hrs |
28 hrs (patrol boat) |
|
Peleliu |
2-3 hrs |
1 hr |
3-4 hrs |
26 hrs |
|
Angaur |
3 hrs |
1 hr |
3-4 hrs |
26 hrs |
|
Kayangel |
2-3 hrs |
3-4 hrs |
3-4 hrs |
30 hrs |
|
Hatotobi |
28 hrs (patrol boat) |
26 hrs |
26 hrs |
30 hrs |
Key Routes
Key Route Information Domestic / International |
|
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
From: Koror To: Peleliu |
From: Koror To: Angaur |
From: Koror To: Kayangel |
From: Koror To: Hatohobi |
|
Total Distance (km) |
70 |
70 |
550 |
|
Width (m) |
Broadest: |
Broadest: |
Broadest: |
|
River Flow (m³ / second) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Seasonal Effects |
During high wind period between November and April creating high
seas |
|||
Maximum Weight and Size of Vessels |
|
|||
Regular Traffic Passenger / Cargo |
State Ferry daily |
State Ferry 3 x week |
Small charter Vessels only |
Every 3 months Government |
Companies Operating Along the Route |
N/A |
|
||
Security Concerns |
None |
None |
None |
|
Main Ports |
Direct |
Direct |
Direct |
Direct |
Port Information
Key Port Information |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Koror (Domestic) |
Peleliu (Domestic) |
Angaur (Domestic) | |
Location |
Malakal |
Peleliu |
Angaur |
Contact Information |
Peleliu Transport Authority |
Angaur Transport Authority |
|
Connections with other Transport Means |
Road/International Airport |
Road |
Road |
Storage Capacity (m2 and m3) |
None |
None |
None |
Handling Equipment |
None |
None | |
Customs Clearance Available |
No |
No |
No |
Other Comments |
Outer Islands Ports and Docks
1. Babeldoab Island |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Name of Landing |
State |
Dock/Landing point coordinates |
Location Photo |
Bkurrengel Dock
|
Aimelak State |
N 07.4400303086 E 134.4723263749 |
|
Kamasang Dock
|
Aimelak State
|
N
07.4164972147 |
|
Marina |
Airai |
N 07.3638163123 |
|
Dock former pontoon bridge point |
Koror |
N
07.3621295487 |
|
Marina Airai |
Airai |
N
07.3622190958 |
|
Uchulangos Dock |
Airai State |
N 07.3583163677 |
|
Melekeok Jetty |
Melekeok |
N 07.4903251725 |
|
Urung Dock |
Ngaraard State |
N 07.6435730125 |
|
Oketol Dick |
Ngarchelong State |
N 07.6881249781 |
|
Ngardamau Dock |
Ngaramau State |
N 07.6090198730 |
|
Bkulangriil Dock |
Ngaremlengul State |
N 07.5244909041 |
|
IboBang Dock |
Ngatpang State |
N
07.4935464562 |
|
Kamesang Dock
|
Ngatpang State |
N
07.4959210009 |
|
Miked Dock |
Ngatpang State |
N
07.4879092058 |
|
Ngiwal Jetty |
Ngiwal State |
N
07.5574301295 |
|
Imekang Dock and Ramp |
Nqiwal State |
N
07.5372600827 |
|
Ngkeklau Dock |
Ngaraad State |
N
07.6232645593 |
|
Ollei Dock |
Ngarchelong |
N
07.7190099497 |
2. Koror |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Name of Landing |
State |
Dock/Landing point coordinates |
Location Photo |
Malakal Port |
Koror |
N
07.3307855837 |
|
Neco Marina |
Koror |
N
07.3370206875 |
|
Peleliu and Angaur Ferry Dock |
Koror |
N
07.3335150808 |
|
Mariculture Dock |
Koror |
N
07.3289295826 |
|
Marine Surveillance Dock |
Koror |
N
07.3294121911 |
|
T Dock |
Koror |
N
07.3514236571 |
|
M Dock |
Koror |
N
07.3384710658 |
|
Ngermid Dock |
Koror |
N
07.3350835793
E 134.5019124329 |
|
3. Kayangel |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Name of Landing |
State |
Dock/Landing point coordinates |
Location Photo |
Kayangel Dock |
Kayangel |
N
08.0821548140 |
4. Peleliu |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Name of Landing |
State |
Dock/Landing point coordinates |
Location Photo |
Peleliu Dock and Ramp |
Peleliu |
N 07.0489585939 |
|
South Peleliu Dock |
Peleliu |
N 6.985580 E 134.222047 |
5. Angaur |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Name of Landing |
State |
Dock/Landing point coordinates |
Location Photo |
Angaur Dock |
Angaur |
N
06.9094317696
E 134.1428102277 |
6. Sonsorol |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Name of Landing |
State |
Dock/Landing point coordinates |
Location Photo |
Beach Landing |
Sonsorol |
N
05.3245899580 |
|
Beach Landing |
Sonsorol |
N 4.653874 E 131.948283 |
|
7. Hatohobi |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Name of Landing |
State |
Dock/Landing point coordinates |
Location Photo |
Beach Landing |
Hatohobei |
N
03.0057058928 |
|