Palau
2.5 Palau Waterways

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
Passenger Vessels
< 20 Passengers

 

1

  
 

Number of
Passenger Vessels
< 50 Passengers

2

  
 
 

Number of
Passenger Vessels
< 100 Passengers

   

Number of
Passenger Vessels
> 100 Passengers

   

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
  Main port to other major Ports on small passenger f
erry

(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:

Narrowest:

Broadest:

Narrowest:

Broadest:

Narrowest:

  
 

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
will affect routes and access to outer islands.

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
chartered ferry

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         
E 134.4951418061

  
 
 

 

  
 

Marina

  
 

Airai

  
 

N 07.3638163123  
E 134.5063445585

  
 
  

Dock former pontoon bridge point

  
 

Koror

  
 

N 07.3621295487           
E 134.5030414666

  
 
  

Marina Airai

  
 

Airai

  
 

N 07.3622190958           
E 134.5065146616

  
 
  

Uchulangos Dock

  
 

Airai State

  
 

N 07.3583163677
E 134.5621971109

  
 
 

Melekeok Jetty
 

  
 

Melekeok

  
 

N 07.4903251725
E 134.6393878387

  
 
  
 

 

  

Urung Dock

  
 

Ngaraard State

  
 

N 07.6435730125
E 134.6295913434

  
 
 

Oketol Dick
 

  
 

Ngarchelong State

  
 

N 07.6881249781
E 134.6256399385

  
 

 

Ngardamau Dock

  
 

Ngaramau State

  
 

N 07.6090198730
E 134.5620373419

  
 
     
 

Bkulangriil Dock

  
 

Ngaremlengul State

  
 

N 07.5244909041
E 134.4992759990

  
 
  

IboBang Dock
 

  
 

Ngatpang State

  
 

N 07.4935464562           
E 134.5239051249

  
 
  
  Kamesang Dock

 

  
 

Ngatpang State

  
 

N 07.4959210009           
E 134.4853664324

  
 
  

Miked Dock

  
 
  Ngatpang State
  
 

N 07.4879092058           
E 134.4804220902

  
 

 

Ngiwal Jetty

  
 

Ngiwal State

  
 

N 07.5574301295           
E 134.6373509723

  
 
  

Imekang Dock and Ramp

  
 

Nqiwal State

  
 

N 07.5372600827           
E 134.6251354554

  
 
  

 

  

Ngkeklau Dock

  
 

Ngaraad State

  
 

N 07.6232645593           
E 134.6430113583

  
 
  

Ollei Dock

  
 

Ngarchelong

  
 

N 07.7190099497           
E 134.6084570522

  
 
  


 

2. Koror

Name of Landing

State

Dock/Landing point coordinates  

Location Photo

Malakal Port

  
 

Koror

  
 

N 07.3307855837         
E 134.4571717903

  
 

 

Neco Marina

  
 

Koror

  
 

N 07.3370206875        
E 134.4576048111

  
 

  

Peleliu and Angaur Ferry Dock

  
 

Koror

  
 

N 07.3335150808         
E 134.4574183364

  
 
  

Mariculture Dock

  
 

Koror

  
 

N 07.3289295826         
E 134.4500183240

  
 
  

Marine Surveillance Dock

  
 

Koror

  
 

N 07.3294121911         
E 134.4498537854

  
 
  

T Dock

  
 

Koror

  
 

N 07.3514236571         
E 134.4791737298

  
 
  

M Dock

  
 

Koror

  
 

N 07.3384710658         
E 134.4670733554

  
 
  

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         
E 134.7158251703

  
 
   

4. Peleliu 

Name of Landing

State

Dock/Landing point coordinates

Location Photo

Peleliu Dock and Ramp

  
 

Peleliu

  
 

N 07.0489585939       
E 134.2667523249

  
 
  

 

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         
E 132.2236839141

  
 
  

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         
E 131.1245027263

  
 

 

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