Port Update
Charleston, SC
July 21, 2025
Notices
PORT LIMITS/INFORMATION
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Maximum Depths - (Fresh)
Harbor Entrance – 52’00
Main Channel – 54’00
BERTH LIMITS/INFORMATION: (UPDATED 07/11/25)
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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 40’00 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 (07/11/25)
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.
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TANKER VESSEL TRAFFIC: IN – NONE
DUE – ATB BROWNSVILLE
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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.
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CURRENT ARTICLES: - NONE
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CURRENT EVENTS: 07/24/25 – MASC - July 24, 2025 - 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM (EDT) - Maritime Association of SC - 4500 Leeds Avenue, suite 229W, North Charleston, South Carolina
Maritime Association of South CarolinaPhone: +1 8649924338Contact Person: Valerie TorresEmail: vtorres@maritimesc.org - MASC OFFICE - 4500 LEEDS AVENUE, SUITE 229W - NORTH CHARLESTON
MASC Business & Nav/Ops meetings (8 am-9 am) - serve as the Maritime Association's monthly membership meeting, inviting all members to network. This meeting includes Association briefings, Federal and State Agency reports, and a brief industry presentation on various topics. The meeting closes with public comments and/or announcements. This is a great place to get to know your community and happenings in and around the port.
07/24/25 - Harbor Safety Meeting 9:30am-10:30am - The Charleston Area Harbor Safety Committee (HSC) provides a public forum to address Marine Transportation System (MTS) issues with particular emphasis on navigation safety-related matters involving the ports and waterways of Charleston, South Carolina, and nearby regions. As a vehicle facilitating communications between and among public and private sector entities, the Committee draws upon regional expertise and insight to address such issues as vessel traffic management, anchorage management, communications, security, significant/heavy weather preparations, maritime traffic disruption/restoration, process improvements, and any other related topics dealing with the MTS.
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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
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SECURITY LEVEL: MARSEC 1
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HURRICANE ALERT: 4/SEASONAL – 200 PM EDT Mon Jul 21 2025 - For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of America: 1. Central Tropical Atlantic (AL94): Recent satellite-derived wind data indicate that a weak area of low
pressure associated with a tropical wave has become less organized today. Although the wave is still producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms, environmental conditions are not expected to be conducive for development during the next few days while the wave moves westward at around 15 mph.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...10 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days...low...10 percent.
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Tides / Currents
CHARLESTON TIDES:
Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
/Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
JULY 2025
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
F 15 High 12:50 AM 5.3 6:44 AM Set 1:31 PM 66
15 Low 7:08 AM -0.1 8:04 PM Rise 11:55 PM
15 High 1:28 PM 6.0
15 Low 7:56 PM 0.7
Sa 16 High 1:48 AM 5.1 6:44 AM Set 2:42 PM 55
16 Low 8:04 AM 0.0 8:03 PM
16 High 2:31 PM 6.0
16 Low 9:02 PM 0.9
Su 17 High 2:51 AM 4.9 6:45 AM Rise 12:41 AM 44
17 Low 9:05 AM 0.1 8:02 PM Set 3:51 PM
17 High 3:37 PM 6.0
17 Low 10:10 PM 0.9
M 18 High 3:58 AM 4.8 6:46 AM Rise 1:35 AM 33
18 Low 10:09 AM 0.1 8:01 PM Set 4:56 PM
18 High 4:44 PM 6.1
18 Low 11:14 PM 0.8
Tu 19 High 5:04 AM 4.9 6:46 AM Rise 2:38 AM 22
19 Low 11:13 AM 0.1 8:00 PM Set 5:52 PM
19 High 5:46 PM 6.2
W 20 Low 12:13 AM 0.7 6:47 AM Rise 3:45 AM 14
20 High 6:06 AM 5.0 7:59 PM Set 6:39 PM
20 Low 12:12 PM 0.0
20 High 6:44 PM 6.3
Th 21 Low 1:07 AM 0.5 6:48 AM Rise 4:53 AM 7
21 High 7:03 AM 5.2 7:58 PM Set 7:18 PM
21 Low 1:08 PM -0.1
21 High 7:35 PM 6.3
F 22 Low 1:55 AM 0.3 6:48 AM Rise 6:00 AM 2
22 High 7:56 AM 5.4 7:57 PM Set 7:50 PM
22 Low 1:59 PM -0.1
22 High 8:21 PM 6.3
Sa 23 Low 2:40 AM 0.3 6:49 AM Rise 7:03 AM 0
23 High 8:44 AM 5.5 7:55 PM Set 8:19 PM
23 Low 2:47 PM 0.0
23 High 9:03 PM 6.2
Su 24 Low 3:22 AM 0.2 6:50 AM Rise 8:04 AM 0
24 High 9:30 AM 5.6 7:54 PM Set 8:45 PM
24 Low 3:33 PM 0.2
24 High 9:43 PM 6.0
M 25 Low 4:01 AM 0.3 6:50 AM Rise 9:02 AM 2
25 High 10:12 AM 5.6 7:53 PM Set 9:10 PM
25 Low 4:17 PM 0.4
25 High 10:20 PM 5.7
Tu 26 Low 4:37 AM 0.4 6:51 AM Rise 9:59 AM 6
26 High 10:53 AM 5.6 7:52 PM Set 9:35 PM
26 Low 5:00 PM 0.7
26 High 10:57 PM 5.4
W 27 Low 5:12 AM 0.6 6:52 AM Rise 10:56 AM 11
27 High 11:34 AM 5.5 7:51 PM Set 10:02 PM
27 Low 5:43 PM 0.9
27 High 11:34 PM 5.2
Th 28 Low 5:46 AM 0.8 6:52 AM Rise 11:53 AM 18
28 High 12:15 PM 5.4 7:49 PM Set 10:31 PM
28 Low 6:27 PM 1.2
F 29 High 12:14 AM 4.9 6:53 AM Rise 12:51 PM 26
29 Low 6:22 AM 0.9 7:48 PM Set 11:04 PM
29 High 12:59 PM 5.4
29 Low 7:14 PM 1.4
Sa 30 High 12:57 AM 4.7 6:53 AM Rise 1:50 PM 35
30 Low 7:02 AM 1.1 7:47 PM Set 11:42 PM
30 High 1:47 PM 5.3
30 Low 8:05 PM 1.6
Su 31 High 1:46 AM 4.5 6:54 AM Rise 2:48 PM 44
31 Low 7:50 AM 1.2 7:45 PM
31 High 2:41 PM 5.3
31 Low 9:01 PM 1.6
Weather / Marine Zone Forecast
MARINE WEATHER - 3NM NE Capers Reef MR
Marine Zone Forecast
This AfternoonSW winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Wave detail: SW 2 ft at 5 seconds and SE 1 foot at 8 seconds. A slight chance of showers and tstms late.
TonightSW winds 5 to 10 kt, becoming W after midnight. Seas 2 ft. Wave detail: SW 2 ft at 5 seconds and SE 1 foot at 8 seconds. A slight chance of showers and tstms in the evening.
TueNE winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Wave detail: E 1 foot at 2 seconds and S 1 foot at 4 seconds. A chance of showers and tstms in the morning, then showers and tstms likely in the afternoon.
Tue NightNE winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave detail: E 2 ft at 3 seconds and S 1 foot at 5 seconds. Showers. Tstms likely, mainly in the evening.
WedE winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave detail: NE 2 ft at 4 seconds and S 2 ft at 7 seconds. Showers. A chance of tstms in the morning, then tstms likely in the afternoon.
Wed NightSE winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave detail: E 2 ft at 6 seconds. Showers likely with a chance of tstms.
ThuS winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Showers likely with a chance of tstms.
Thu NightS winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. A chance of showers and tstms.
FriSW winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. A chance of showers and tstms.
Fri NightSW winds 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. A slight chance of showers and tstms.
winds and seas higher in and near tstms.
