Port Update

Charleston, SC

July 01, 2025

Notices

PORT LIMITS/INFORMATION
------------------------
Maximum Depths - (Fresh)
Harbor Entrance – 52’00
Main Channel – 54’00
 
BERTH LIMITS/INFORMATION: (UPDATED  05/14/25)
-------------------------
Current maximum drafts allowed at berths:
 
Inner anchorage - Max Draft 30’00 feet FW - Max LOA 750 FT
Amalie Oil – Depth alongside 28.3’ MLW, MAX DRAFT TBC (05/14/25)
Buckeye ( formerly Hess ) – Charleston is 30’06 Depth MLW currently, will decrease by .5’ every month on the 5th - -  MLW Max LOA 750’ Max DWT 70,000 MT UP to 3 x 10 INCH HOSES (4/25/25)
Delfin - Max Draft - 38'00 Max LOA 690'
ODJFELL Terminal – DEPTH ALONGSIDE – 37’00 - Max Draft – Terminal does not advise any Maximum draft restriction, we will advise 36’06 as USCG requires 6” UKC alongside berths - Max LOA 700' - 1 x 8 inch HOSE 1 x 6 inch VAPOR HOSE (UPDATED 04/29/24)
Chem Marine - Max Draft - 38'00 MLW
Kinder Morgan - berth 1 – 40’00 - all vessel arrivals require tide
Kinder Morgan - berth 2 - 40'00
Kinder Morgan - berth 4 - Max DRAFT 40'00, tide needed for anything deeper than 38'00 UP TO 2 x 8 INCH HOSES, Max DWT 74400, Max LOA 748.1, Max BM 105.6, Max BCM 371.8  
              new regulations – NO CARS ON DOCKS
Kinder Morgan North - Max draft 32'00"
Ineos Cooper River - max draft we are taking to Ineos now is 29’06 on a tide appointment. Depth alongside is 32'00  
Wando Terminal - Max draft 45'00 MLW - tide needed for anything deeper Than 43'01" Max BM No restriction
North Charleston Terminal - Max draft 45'00 MLW - Max BM No restriction
COLUMBUS STREET TERMINAL  - CST - Max draft 45'00 MLW - Max BM No restrictions
Veterans Terminal 35' MLW tidal restricted Nucor - Max draft 25'00 (movements daylight & tidal restricted), Max LOA 550', Max Beam 52'
Pier J Max Draft 38’00 FT
 
Air draft under the Don Holt Bridge 155 ft per pilots
 
Per pilots - restrictions for Tanker movements:
Drafts of 38'00 or less may transit at anytime Drafts of 38'01 to 40'00 -window:  Start in 1 Hour before low water until 2 hours before high water Drafts of 40'01 to 41'00 - window: start in 2 hours after low water until 2 hours before high water Drafts of 41'01 to 42'00 - window:  start in 3 hours after low water until 3 hours before high water
 
The Captain of the Port is going to be releasing a statement that will require vessels to take 2 tug tethered escorts (inbound and outbound) calling on Nucor, Ineos and Nexans for ships greater than 10,000 GT and greater than 25’ draft.  All ATBs which fall under these parameters will require a 1 tug escort (both inbound and outbound).  Currently all arrivals are being evaluated by Sector Charleston to determine which vessels will need an escort according to the above parameters.  We will share the Captain of the Port order as soon as it is released.  The escort is required between the most seaward portion of Range Charlie (Buoy R “70”) and the north end of Pier X-ray.  We are reacting to this news as is everyone else and recognize that this is a new procedure and will affect operations at the above terminals as well as tug availability throughout the harbor.  This information will be part of a forthcoming COTP order and ultimately codified in the US Coast Pilot.  We will continue to keep everyone informed as conflicts arise and make proposals as how to best serve you and our customers.  Pre-planning maneuvers is obviously in everyone’s best interest so please feel free to communicate any news you may feel is important to ship traffic with our office so we can adequately respond appropriately.
 
========================================================================================================
TANKER VESSEL TRAFFIC:   IN –PATUXENT, HAFNIA CATERINA, ATB GULF RELIANCE
 
DUE – STENA IMAGE, CHEM BARCELONA, ATB BROWNSVILLE, ATB GALVESTON
========================================================================================================
FEDERAL, STATE & LOCAL FILING REQUIREMENTS:
 
96 Hours - advance notice of arrival required by USCG
48 Hours - advance receipt of crew list by Immigration for any vessel arriving from a foreign port, or arriving coast wise with detained crew.
24 Hours (minimum) - Foreign cargo must have manifest submitted to Customs & Border Patrol AMS.  Bond must be filed for Foreign flag vessels or U.S. flag arriving with foreign cargo aboard.  24 Hours - advance notice to Pilots
24 Hours - advance fax of crew list and approved visitors required by Terminal.
72 Hours - post port call, the Port Authority requires bill of lading figures for all bulk cargo.
 
Port Security - All persons doing business within Port Authority property must have security pass from SCPA.  All persons wanting unescorted access to any vessel must have a valid TWIC.
 
=============================================================================================================================================================================
CURRENT ARTICLES:   -  NONE
=============================================================================================================================================================================
CURRENT EVENTS:  NONE
=============================================================================================================================================================================
FUTURE EVENTS:  08/28/25 – 0900 - MASC Nav/Ops Meeting - Thursday, August 28·8:00 – 9:00am
08/28/25 – 0930 - Harbor Safety Meeting - Thursday, August 28·9:30 – 10:30am  200 Ports Authority Drive
 
=============================================================================================================================================================================
SECURITY LEVEL: MARSEC 1
=====================================================================================================================
HURRICANE ALERT:  4/SEASONAL –  NO TROPICAL FORCE WINDS EXPECTED WITHIN 48 HOURS - 1. Near the Southeastern U.S.:  A frontal boundary is expected to stall and weaken off the southeast U.S. coast late this week.  An area of low pressure could develop from the weakening front by the weekend over the Atlantic waters off the southeast U.S., over Florida, or over the eastern Gulf.  Some gradual tropical or subtropical development could occur
thereafter as the low drifts and moves little.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days...low...30 percent.
 
=====================================================================================================================

Tides / Currents

CHARLESTON TIDES:
 
Day        High      Tide  Height   Sunrise    Moon  Time      % Moon
           /Low      Time    Feet    Sunset                    Visible
 
JULY 2025
 
Tu   1     High  12:59 AM     5.3   6:15 AM     Set 12:19 AM      30
     1      Low   7:23 AM     0.4   8:32 PM    Rise 12:30 PM
     1     High   1:45 PM     4.9
     1      Low   7:44 PM     0.9
 
W    2     High   1:43 AM     4.9   6:16 AM     Set 12:43 AM      39
     2      Low   8:07 AM     0.5   8:32 PM    Rise  1:26 PM
     2     High   2:35 PM     5.0
     2      Low   8:39 PM     1.0
 
Th   3     High   2:29 AM     4.7   6:16 AM     Set  1:08 AM      49
     3      Low   8:51 AM     0.5   8:32 PM    Rise  2:21 PM
     3     High   3:25 PM     5.1
     3      Low   9:35 PM     1.1
 
F    4     High   3:17 AM     4.5   6:17 AM     Set  1:33 AM      58
     4      Low   9:35 AM     0.6   8:32 PM    Rise  3:17 PM
     4     High   4:14 PM     5.2
     4      Low  10:30 PM     1.1
 
Sa   5     High   4:07 AM     4.4   6:17 AM     Set  2:01 AM      68
     5      Low  10:21 AM     0.6   8:31 PM    Rise  4:14 PM
     5     High   5:03 PM     5.4
     5      Low  11:22 PM     1.0
 
Su   6     High   4:58 AM     4.3   6:18 AM     Set  2:33 AM      76
     6      Low  11:08 AM     0.5   8:31 PM    Rise  5:13 PM
     6     High   5:51 PM     5.5
 
M    7      Low  12:12 AM     0.9   6:18 AM     Set  3:10 AM      84
     7     High   5:48 AM     4.3   8:31 PM    Rise  6:12 PM
     7      Low  11:55 AM     0.5
     7     High   6:38 PM     5.6
 
Tu   8      Low  12:59 AM     0.7   6:19 AM     Set  3:55 AM      90
     8     High   6:37 AM     4.4   8:31 PM    Rise  7:10 PM
     8      Low  12:42 PM     0.4
     8     High   7:24 PM     5.8
 
W    9      Low   1:44 AM     0.6   6:19 AM     Set  4:46 AM      95
     9     High   7:24 AM     4.4   8:31 PM    Rise  8:03 PM
     9      Low   1:27 PM     0.3
     9     High   8:08 PM     5.9
 
Th  10      Low   2:27 AM     0.4   6:20 AM     Set  5:45 AM      98
    10     High   8:10 AM     4.5   8:30 PM    Rise  8:51 PM
    10      Low   2:11 PM     0.2
    10     High   8:50 PM     5.9
 
F   11      Low   3:08 AM     0.3   6:20 AM     Set  6:48 AM      99
    11     High   8:53 AM     4.6   8:30 PM    Rise  9:33 PM
    11      Low   2:55 PM     0.1
    11     High   9:30 PM     6.0
 
Sa  12      Low   3:50 AM     0.2   6:21 AM     Set  7:54 AM      99
    12     High   9:36 AM     4.7   8:30 PM    Rise 10:09 PM
    12      Low   3:39 PM     0.1
    12     High  10:10 PM     6.0
 
Su  13      Low   4:31 AM     0.1   6:22 AM     Set  8:59 AM      96
    13     High  10:20 AM     4.8   8:29 PM    Rise 10:41 PM
    13      Low   4:26 PM     0.1
    13     High  10:50 PM     5.9
 
M   14      Low   5:13 AM     0.0   6:22 AM     Set 10:04 AM      91
    14     High  11:06 AM     5.0   8:29 PM    Rise 11:10 PM
    14      Low   5:15 PM     0.2
    14     High  11:32 PM     5.8
 
Tu  15      Low   5:56 AM    -0.1   6:23 AM     Set 11:08 AM      83
    15     High  11:55 AM     5.2   8:29 PM    Rise 11:39 PM
    15      Low   6:08 PM     0.3
 
W   16     High  12:17 AM     5.6   6:23 AM     Set 12:13 PM      74
    16      Low   6:42 AM    -0.2   8:28 PM
    16     High  12:48 PM     5.4
    16      Low   7:05 PM     0.5
 
Th  17     High   1:07 AM     5.4   6:24 AM    Rise 12:08 AM      64
    17      Low   7:32 AM    -0.2   8:28 PM     Set  1:19 PM
    17     High   1:45 PM     5.6
    17      Low   8:08 PM     0.6
 
F   18     High   2:03 AM     5.1   6:25 AM    Rise 12:39 AM      53
    18      Low   8:25 AM    -0.2   8:27 PM     Set  2:28 PM
    18     High   2:46 PM     5.8
    18      Low   9:14 PM     0.6
 
Sa  19     High   3:03 AM     4.9   6:25 AM    Rise  1:14 AM      42
    19      Low   9:22 AM    -0.3   8:27 PM     Set  3:39 PM
    19     High   3:48 PM     6.0
    19      Low  10:22 PM     0.6
 
Su  20     High   4:06 AM     4.8   6:26 AM    Rise  1:56 AM      30
    20      Low  10:23 AM    -0.3   8:26 PM     Set  4:51 PM
    20     High   4:52 PM     6.1
    20      Low  11:27 PM     0.5
 
M   21     High   5:11 AM     4.8   6:27 AM    Rise  2:46 AM      20
    21      Low  11:24 AM    -0.4   8:26 PM     Set  6:01 PM
    21     High   5:54 PM     6.3
 
Tu  22      Low  12:27 AM     0.3   6:27 AM    Rise  3:45 AM      12
    22     High   6:14 AM     4.8   8:25 PM     Set  7:04 PM
    22      Low  12:23 PM    -0.4
    22     High   6:54 PM     6.4
 
W   23      Low   1:24 AM     0.2   6:28 AM    Rise  4:51 AM      5
    23     High   7:14 AM     4.9   8:24 PM     Set  7:58 PM
    23      Low   1:20 PM    -0.5
    23     High   7:50 PM     6.4
 
Th  24      Low   2:16 AM     0.1   6:28 AM    Rise  6:01 AM      1
    24     High   8:11 AM     5.0   8:24 PM     Set  8:43 PM
    24      Low   2:14 PM    -0.4
    24     High   8:42 PM     6.4
 
F   25      Low   3:06 AM     0.0   6:29 AM    Rise  7:10 AM      0
    25     High   9:05 AM     5.1   8:23 PM     Set  9:20 PM
    25      Low   3:05 PM    -0.3
    25     High   9:30 PM     6.3
 
Sa  26      Low   3:52 AM     0.0   6:30 AM    Rise  8:16 AM      1
    26     High   9:55 AM     5.2   8:22 PM     Set  9:51 PM
    26      Low   3:54 PM    -0.1
    26     High  10:14 PM     6.1
 
Su  27      Low   4:36 AM     0.1   6:30 AM    Rise  9:18 AM      4
    27     High  10:44 AM     5.2   8:22 PM     Set 10:19 PM
    27      Low   4:42 PM     0.1
    27     High  10:56 PM     5.8
 
M   28      Low   5:18 AM     0.2   6:31 AM    Rise 10:18 AM      9
    28     High  11:30 AM     5.2   8:21 PM     Set 10:44 PM
    28      Low   5:29 PM     0.4
    28     High  11:36 PM     5.5
 
Tu  29      Low   5:57 AM     0.3   6:32 AM    Rise 11:15 AM      16
    29     High  12:16 PM     5.2   8:20 PM     Set 11:09 PM
    29      Low   6:17 PM     0.7
 
W   30     High  12:16 AM     5.2   6:33 AM    Rise 12:11 PM      24
    30      Low   6:36 AM     0.5   8:19 PM     Set 11:34 PM
    30     High   1:02 PM     5.1
    30      Low   7:05 PM     1.0
 
Th  31     High  12:58 AM     4.9   6:33 AM    Rise  1:07 PM      33
    31      Low   7:14 AM     0.7   8:19 PM
    31     High   1:48 PM     5.1
    31      Low   7:56 PM     1.2
 
AUGUST 2025
 
F    1     High   1:42 AM     4.6   6:34 AM     Set 12:01 AM      42
     1      Low   7:55 AM     0.8   8:18 PM    Rise  2:04 PM
     1     High   2:37 PM     5.2
     1      Low   8:50 PM     1.3
 
Sa   2     High   2:30 AM     4.4   6:35 AM     Set 12:32 AM      52
     2      Low   8:41 AM     0.8   8:17 PM    Rise  3:02 PM
     2     High   3:28 PM     5.2
     2      Low   9:46 PM     1.4
 
Su   3     High   3:23 AM     4.3   6:35 AM     Set  1:07 AM      61
     3      Low   9:32 AM     0.9   8:16 PM    Rise  4:01 PM
     3     High   4:21 PM     5.3
     3      Low  10:42 PM     1.3
 
M    4     High   4:17 AM     4.3   6:36 AM     Set  1:48 AM      70
     4      Low  10:25 AM     0.8   8:15 PM    Rise  4:59 PM
     4     High   5:14 PM     5.5
     4      Low  11:35 PM     1.2
 
Tu   5     High   5:11 AM     4.4   6:37 AM     Set  2:36 AM      78
     5      Low  11:19 AM     0.7   8:14 PM    Rise  5:54 PM
     5     High   6:05 PM     5.6
 
W    6      Low  12:25 AM     1.0   6:37 AM     Set  3:32 AM      86
     6     High   6:04 AM     4.5   8:14 PM    Rise  6:45 PM
     6      Low  12:11 PM     0.5
     6     High   6:54 PM     5.8
 
Th   7      Low   1:11 AM     0.7   6:38 AM     Set  4:34 AM      92
     7     High   6:54 AM     4.7   8:13 PM    Rise  7:29 PM
     7      Low   1:01 PM     0.3
     7     High   7:40 PM     6.0
 
F    8      Low   1:56 AM     0.5   6:39 AM     Set  5:39 AM      97
     8     High   7:42 AM     4.9   8:12 PM    Rise  8:08 PM
     8      Low   1:49 PM     0.1
     8     High   8:23 PM     6.2
 
Sa   9      Low   2:39 AM     0.2   6:39 AM     Set  6:46 AM      99
     9     High   8:28 AM     5.1   8:11 PM    Rise  8:42 PM
     9      Low   2:36 PM     0.0
     9     High   9:05 PM     6.3
 
Su  10      Low   3:20 AM     0.0   6:40 AM     Set  7:53 AM      99
    10     High   9:13 AM     5.4   8:10 PM    Rise  9:13 PM
    10      Low   3:23 PM     0.0
    10     High   9:46 PM     6.2
 
M   11      Low   4:02 AM    -0.1   6:41 AM     Set  8:59 AM      97
    11     High   9:59 AM     5.6   8:09 PM    Rise  9:42 PM
    11      Low   4:12 PM     0.0
    11     High  10:27 PM     6.1
 
Tu  12      Low   4:45 AM    -0.2   6:41 AM     Set 10:05 AM      93
    12     High  10:46 AM     5.8   8:08 PM    Rise 10:11 PM
    12      Low   5:02 PM     0.1
    12     High  11:11 PM     5.9
 
W   13      Low   5:29 AM    -0.3   6:42 AM     Set 11:12 AM      86
    13     High  11:36 AM     5.9   8:07 PM    Rise 10:42 PM
    13      Low   5:56 PM     0.3
    13     High  11:58 PM     5.6
 
Th  14      Low   6:16 AM    -0.2   6:43 AM     Set 12:20 PM      77
    14     High  12:30 PM     6.0   8:06 PM    Rise 11:16 PM
    14      Low   6:54 PM     0.5

Weather / Marine Zone Forecast

MARINE WEATHER - Detailed Forecast
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
 
TodaySSW wind 16 to 19 kt, with gusts as high as 26 kt. Sunny. Seas around 4 ft.
TonightSSW wind 17 to 19 kt, with gusts as high as 26 kt. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after midnight. Seas 4 to 5 ft.
WednesdaySW wind around 15 kt. A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2pm and 5pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 5pm. Seas around 4 ft.
Wednesday NightSW wind 9 to 14 kt. Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Seas 3 to 4 ft.
ThursdayW wind around 7 kt becoming S in the afternoon. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Seas around 3 ft.
Thursday NightSSW wind 5 to 7 kt becoming WSW after midnight. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Seas 2 to 3 ft.
Independence DayNNE wind 7 to 10 kt becoming E in the afternoon. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Seas around 2 ft.
Friday NightESE wind around 9 kt. Mostly clear. Seas 2 to 3 ft.
SaturdayE wind 11 to 13 kt. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Seas around 3 ft.

Disclaimer: For quality assurance purposes please note well that while the information contained in this website is regularly vetted for accuracy it is not intended to replace the local knowledge or expertise pertaining to port conditions of our marine operations personnel.

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