Port Update
Charleston, SC
December 19, 2025
Notices
PORT LIMITS/INFORMATION
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Maximum Depths - (Fresh)
Harbor Entrance – 52’00
Main Channel – 54’00
BERTH LIMITS/INFORMATION: (CONFIRMED 10/22/25)
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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
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
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
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 – HAFNIA VIRIDIAN
DUE – ATTACHED AND CHEM SIRIUS, CHEM RANGER
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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: NONE
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FUTURE EVENTS: 02/26/26 – MASC – NIGHT AT THE HARBOR - Night at the Harbor - Feb 26, 2026 (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM) Where Trinity Hall Race Street 34 Charleston, South Carolina
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SECURITY LEVEL: MARSEC 1
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HURRICANE ALERT: 5/OFF SEASON
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RIGHT WHALE SEASON – SPEED RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE NOW THROUGH APRIL 30, 2026
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Tides / Currents
CHARLESTON TIDES:
Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
/Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
DECEMBER 2025
F 19 Low 12:48 AM 0.2 7:17 AM Rise 7:09 AM 1
19 High 7:22 AM 5.8 5:17 PM Set 4:47 PM
19 Low 1:39 PM 0.4
19 High 7:25 PM 4.6
Sa 20 Low 1:26 AM 0.2 7:18 AM Rise 8:01 AM 0
20 High 8:01 AM 5.7 5:17 PM Set 5:42 PM
20 Low 2:18 PM 0.3
20 High 8:03 PM 4.6
Su 21 Low 2:04 AM 0.2 7:18 AM Rise 8:48 AM 0
21 High 8:39 AM 5.7 5:18 PM Set 6:41 PM
21 Low 2:55 PM 0.4
21 High 8:40 PM 4.6
M 22 Low 2:42 AM 0.2 7:19 AM Rise 9:29 AM 2
22 High 9:14 AM 5.6 5:18 PM Set 7:42 PM
22 Low 3:33 PM 0.4
22 High 9:17 PM 4.6
Tu 23 Low 3:21 AM 0.2 7:19 AM Rise 10:04 AM 6
23 High 9:50 AM 5.5 5:19 PM Set 8:44 PM
23 Low 4:12 PM 0.3
23 High 9:55 PM 4.6
W 24 Low 4:03 AM 0.3 7:20 AM Rise 10:36 AM 12
24 High 10:27 AM 5.4 5:19 PM Set 9:45 PM
24 Low 4:53 PM 0.3
24 High 10:38 PM 4.6
Th 25 Low 4:50 AM 0.4 7:20 AM Rise 11:04 AM 19
25 High 11:08 AM 5.3 5:20 PM Set 10:46 PM
25 Low 5:37 PM 0.2
25 High 11:27 PM 4.8
F 26 Low 5:43 AM 0.5 7:20 AM Rise 11:32 AM 28
26 High 11:55 AM 5.2 5:21 PM Set 11:48 PM
26 Low 6:24 PM 0.2
Sa 27 High 12:23 AM 5.0 7:21 AM Rise 12:00 PM 38
27 Low 6:44 AM 0.5 5:21 PM
27 High 12:49 PM 5.0
27 Low 7:17 PM 0.0
Su 28 High 1:23 AM 5.2 7:21 AM Set 12:52 AM 49
28 Low 7:51 AM 0.6 5:22 PM Rise 12:29 PM
28 High 1:49 PM 4.9
28 Low 8:13 PM -0.1
M 29 High 2:27 AM 5.5 7:21 AM Set 1:59 AM 60
29 Low 9:01 AM 0.5 5:23 PM Rise 1:03 PM
29 High 2:53 PM 4.8
29 Low 9:13 PM -0.3
Tu 30 High 3:32 AM 5.8 7:22 AM Set 3:10 AM 71
30 Low 10:08 AM 0.3 5:23 PM Rise 1:42 PM
30 High 3:57 PM 4.8
30 Low 10:13 PM -0.5
W 31 High 4:36 AM 6.1 7:22 AM Set 4:24 AM 81
31 Low 11:12 AM 0.0 5:24 PM Rise 2:30 PM
31 High 5:00 PM 4.9
31 Low 11:12 PM -0.7
JANUARY 2026
Th 1 High 5:39 AM 6.3 7:22 AM Set 5:38 AM 89
1 Low 12:11 PM -0.2 5:25 PM Rise 3:28 PM
1 High 6:02 PM 5.0
F 2 Low 12:10 AM -0.9 7:22 AM Set 6:47 AM 95
2 High 6:38 AM 6.5 5:25 PM Rise 4:35 PM
2 Low 1:06 PM -0.4
2 High 7:00 PM 5.1
Sa 3 Low 1:06 AM -1.1 7:22 AM Set 7:48 AM 99
3 High 7:34 AM 6.6 5:26 PM Rise 5:47 PM
3 Low 1:58 PM -0.5
3 High 7:55 PM 5.2
Su 4 Low 1:59 AM -1.1 7:23 AM Set 8:38 AM 99
4 High 8:26 AM 6.5 5:27 PM Rise 7:00 PM
4 Low 2:48 PM -0.5
4 High 8:48 PM 5.3
M 5 Low 2:51 AM -1.0 7:23 AM Set 9:19 AM 97
5 High 9:16 AM 6.3 5:28 PM Rise 8:11 PM
5 Low 3:36 PM -0.5
5 High 9:40 PM 5.2
Tu 6 Low 3:43 AM -0.7 7:23 AM Set 9:54 AM 92
6 High 10:04 AM 6.0 5:29 PM Rise 9:17 PM
6 Low 4:23 PM -0.3
6 High 10:32 PM 5.2
W 7 Low 4:34 AM -0.4 7:23 AM Set 10:23 AM 86
7 High 10:49 AM 5.6 5:29 PM Rise 10:18 PM
7 Low 5:09 PM -0.1
7 High 11:23 PM 5.1
Th 8 Low 5:25 AM 0.0 7:23 AM Set 10:50 AM 77
8 High 11:35 AM 5.2 5:30 PM Rise 11:17 PM
8 Low 5:54 PM 0.1
F 9 High 12:14 AM 5.0 7:23 AM Set 11:15 AM 68
9 Low 6:19 AM 0.4 5:31 PM
9 High 12:20 PM 4.9
9 Low 6:40 PM 0.3
Sa 10 High 1:06 AM 4.9 7:23 AM Rise 12:15 AM 59
10 Low 7:15 AM 0.7 5:32 PM Set 11:41 AM
10 High 1:08 PM 4.5
10 Low 7:27 PM 0.4
Su 11 High 1:59 AM 4.9 7:23 AM Rise 1:12 AM 49
11 Low 8:13 AM 0.8 5:33 PM Set 12:08 PM
11 High 1:59 PM 4.3
11 Low 8:16 PM 0.5
M 12 High 2:53 AM 4.9 7:23 AM Rise 2:09 AM 39
12 Low 9:10 AM 0.9 5:34 PM Set 12:39 PM
12 High 2:52 PM 4.1
12 Low 9:08 PM 0.6
Tu 13 High 3:46 AM 5.0 7:22 AM Rise 3:07 AM 30
13 Low 10:06 AM 0.8 5:35 PM Set 1:13 PM
13 High 3:46 PM 4.1
13 Low 9:59 PM 0.5
W 14 High 4:38 AM 5.1 7:22 AM Rise 4:05 AM 22
14 Low 10:57 AM 0.7 5:36 PM Set 1:54 PM
14 High 4:38 PM 4.2
14 Low 10:49 PM 0.4
Th 15 High 5:27 AM 5.2 7:22 AM Rise 5:02 AM 15
15 Low 11:45 AM 0.5 5:36 PM Set 2:40 PM
15 High 5:28 PM 4.3
15 Low 11:36 PM 0.2
F 16 High 6:14 AM 5.4 7:22 AM Rise 5:56 AM 9
16 Low 12:29 PM 0.4 5:37 PM Set 3:33 PM
16 High 6:15 PM 4.4
Sa 17 Low 12:20 AM 0.1 7:22 AM Rise 6:45 AM 4
17 High 6:57 AM 5.5 5:38 PM Set 4:32 PM
17 Low 1:10 PM 0.2
17 High 6:58 PM 4.5
Su 18 Low 1:02 AM -0.1 7:21 AM Rise 7:28 AM 1
18 High 7:37 AM 5.6 5:39 PM Set 5:33 PM
18 Low 1:49 PM 0.1
18 High 7:38 PM 4.6
M 19 Low 1:43 AM -0.2 7:21 AM Rise 8:05 AM 0
19 High 8:15 AM 5.6 5:40 PM Set 6:36 PM
19 Low 2:27 PM 0.0
19 High 8:16 PM 4.7
Tu 20 Low 2:23 AM -0.2 7:21 AM Rise 8:39 AM 0
20 High 8:50 AM 5.6 5:41 PM Set 7:39 PM
20 Low 3:04 PM -0.1
20 High 8:54 PM 4.8
W 21 Low 3:04 AM -0.2 7:20 AM Rise 9:08 AM 3
21 High 9:24 AM 5.5 5:42 PM Set 8:41 PM
21 Low 3:42 PM -0.2
21 High 9:32 PM 4.9
Th 22 Low 3:47 AM -0.1 7:20 AM Rise 9:36 AM 8
22 High 10:00 AM 5.4 5:43 PM Set 9:43 PM
22 Low 4:21 PM -0.3
22 High 10:14 PM 5.1
F 23 Low 4:34 AM 0.0 7:19 AM Rise 10:04 AM 15
23 High 10:40 AM 5.2 5:44 PM Set 10:46 PM
23 Low 5:03 PM -0.3
23 High 11:01 PM 5.2
Sa 24 Low 5:26 AM 0.1 7:19 AM Rise 10:32 AM 23
24 High 11:26 AM 4.9 5:45 PM Set 11:50 PM
24 Low 5:50 PM -0.2
24 High 11:55 PM 5.3
Su 25 Low 6:25 AM 0.3 7:18 AM Rise 11:03 AM 33
25 High 12:19 PM 4.7 5:46 PM
25 Low 6:43 PM -0.2
M 26 High 12:56 AM 5.3 7:18 AM Set 12:58 AM 44
26 Low 7:32 AM 0.5 5:47 PM Rise 11:39 AM
26 High 1:21 PM 4.5
26 Low 7:43 PM -0.2
Tu 27 High 2:03 AM 5.4 7:17 AM Set 2:09 AM 56
27 Low 8:43 AM 0.5 5:48 PM Rise 12:22 PM
27 High 2:31 PM 4.4
27 Low 8:49 PM -0.2
W 28 High 3:15 AM 5.5 7:17 AM Set 3:20 AM 67
28 Low 9:53 AM 0.4 5:49 PM Rise 1:14 PM
28 High 3:42 PM 4.4
28 Low 9:55 PM -0.4
Th 29 High 4:25 AM 5.7 7:16 AM Set 4:30 AM 77
29 Low 10:58 AM 0.1 5:50 PM Rise 2:15 PM
29 High 4:50 PM 4.6
29 Low 10:59 PM -0.6
F 30 High 5:30 AM 5.9 7:16 AM Set 5:33 AM 86
30 Low 11:57 AM -0.1 5:50 PM Rise 3:24 PM
30 High 5:53 PM 4.8
30 Low 11:59 PM -0.8
Sa 31 High 6:28 AM 6.1 7:15 AM Set 6:26 AM 93
31 Low 12:50 PM -0.4 5:51 PM Rise 4:36 PM
31 High 6:49 PM 5.1
Weather / Marine Zone Forecast
MARINE WEATHER - 926 AM EST Fri Dec 19 2025
.SYNOPSIS FOR MID ATLC WATERS...A strong cold front will move E
over the waters today and tonight, before a series of low
pressure troughs or secondary cold fronts moves SE across the N
waters Sat into Sat night. High pressure will briefly build over
the waters Sat, then shift E of the area Sat night. A weak warm
front will lift over the waters Sat. Another cold front will
pass SE through the area Sun and Sun night, before a series of
low pressure troughs or secondary cold fronts move SE over the N
waters Sun night through Mon. Another high will build E over the
region Mon night, then shift over the S waters Tue and Tue night
as a cold front moves SE over the waters.
$$
ANZ835-200345-
Cape Fear to 31N to 1000 FM-
926 AM EST Fri Dec 19 2025
GALE WARNING
TODAY
W winds 25 to 35 kt, diminishing to 20 to 30 kt. Seas
9 to 15 ft. Numerous showers and scattered tstms.
TONIGHT
NW winds 15 to 25 kt, becoming N 10 to 20 kt. Seas
8 to 13 ft.
SAT
NE winds 5 to 15 kt, becoming E to SE 5 to 10 kt. Seas
5 to 8 ft.
SAT NIGHT
S winds less than 10 kt, becoming SW 10 to 20 kt.
Seas 3 to 5 ft.
SUN
W winds 10 to 20 kt, becoming NW. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
SUN NIGHT
N to NE winds 20 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
MON
NE winds 20 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft.
MON NIGHT
E winds 15 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
TUE
E winds 10 to 20 kt, becoming S to SE 5 to 10 kt. Seas
5 to 9 ft.
TUE NIGHT
S to SW winds 5 to 15 kt, becoming W 10 to 20 kt.
Seas 3 to 6 ft.
