Port Update
Charleston, SC
February 26, 2026
Notices
PORT LIMITS/INFORMATION
------------------------
Maximum Depths - (Fresh)
Harbor Entrance – 52’00
Main Channel – 54’00
BERTH LIMITS/INFORMATION: (UPDATED 02/25/26)
-------------------------
-------------------------
Current maximum drafts allowed at berths:
Inner anchorage - Max Draft 30’00 feet FW - Max LOA 750 FT
Amalie Oil – Depth alongside 38’00 MLW, Max draft allowed – 36’00 TO 27’00 – Bunkers allowed via barge (UPDATED 2/17/26)
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 DWT – 49209, MAX AD 148’M MAX LOA 700’, MAX DISPLACEMENT 65000 MT, max draft we are taking to Ineos now is 29’06 on a tide appointment. Depth alongside is 32'00 – NEW TERMINAL BOOKLET ATTACHED
Wando Terminal - Max draft 45'00 MLW - tide needed for anything deeper Than 43'01" Max BM No restriction
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 – NONE
DUE – ATTACHED MALBEC LEGACY, EVA TOKYO
=====================================================================================================================================
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: 02/26/26 – MASC – Night at the Harbor When Feb 26, 2026 (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM) (EST) – Where Trinity Hall Race Street 34 Charleston, South Carolina
The Charleston Port and Seafarers Society plays a vital role in supporting the men and women who work tirelessly at our port and at sea. From providing practical assistance and advocacy to fostering a strong maritime community, our mission depends directly on the strength and commitment of our members.
By registering and actively supporting the Society, you help ensure:
• Continued assistance and resources for seafarers
• Strong representation for port-related interests
• The preservation and growth of our maritime community
• A united voice advocating for those who keep our port moving
If you have not yet registered, I strongly encourage you to do so at your earliest convenience. If you are already registered, please consider encouraging colleagues and peers to join as well.
Together, we can safeguard the future of our port community and continue making a meaningful difference.
03/05/26 – Propeller Club of Charleston Oyster Roast | 2026, When Thursday, March 5, 2026 (5:00 PM - 9:00 PM) (EST) Where Passenger Cruise Terminal 196 Concord St Charleston, South Carolina Organizer Maritime Association of South Carolina +1 8649924338 Propeller Club of Charleston's Annual Oyster Roast Come join us for a night of fun featuring oysters, BBQ & live music at the best view in Charleston! Special thank you to Martin's BBQ & Mt. Pleasant Seafood as well as MIX Bar Service!
============================================================================================================================================================================
FUTURE EVENTS: 04/28/26 – MASC - When Apr 28, 2026 (8:30 AM - 3:00 PM) (EDT) Where City of Charleston Municipal Golf Course 2110 Maybank Hwy Charleston, South Carolina
Registration for the MASC Spring Golf Tournament is officially OPEN—and spots are already moving fast! This event sells out every single year, so don’t wait. Secure your team’s spot for April 28th at the Muni before it’s gone! 8:30- 9:15am registration 9:30 Shotgun
=============================================================================================================================================================================
SECURITY LEVEL: MARSEC 1
=====================================================================================================================
HURRICANE ALERT: 5/OFF SEASON
=====================================================================================================================
RIGHT WHALE SEASON – SPEED RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE NOW THROUGH APRIL 30, 2026
=====================================================================================================================
Tides / Currents
CHARLESTON TIDES:
Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
/Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
FEBRUARY
W 25 High 1:50 AM 5.4 6:52 AM Set 2:20 AM 52
25 Low 8:30 AM 0.5 6:14 PM Rise 12:05 PM
25 High 2:22 PM 4.3
25 Low 8:34 PM 0.0
Th 26 High 3:05 AM 5.4 6:51 AM Set 3:24 AM 63
26 Low 9:39 AM 0.5 6:14 PM Rise 1:09 PM
26 High 3:35 PM 4.4
26 Low 9:44 PM -0.1
F 27 High 4:16 AM 5.5 6:50 AM Set 4:19 AM 74
27 Low 10:43 AM 0.3 6:15 PM Rise 2:19 PM
27 High 4:43 PM 4.7
27 Low 10:49 PM -0.3
Sa 28 High 5:19 AM 5.7 6:48 AM Set 5:06 AM 83
28 Low 11:39 AM 0.0 6:16 PM Rise 3:29 PM
28 High 5:43 PM 5.0
28 Low 11:48 PM -0.6
MARCH 2026
Su 1 High 6:13 AM 5.8 6:47 AM Set 5:44 AM 91
1 Low 12:30 PM -0.3 6:17 PM Rise 4:37 PM
1 High 6:37 PM 5.3
M 2 Low 12:41 AM -0.7 6:46 AM Set 6:17 AM 96
2 High 7:02 AM 5.9 6:18 PM Rise 5:43 PM
2 Low 1:16 PM -0.4
2 High 7:25 PM 5.5
Tu 3 Low 1:30 AM -0.7 6:45 AM Set 6:47 AM 99
3 High 7:45 AM 5.9 6:18 PM Rise 6:45 PM
3 Low 1:58 PM -0.5
3 High 8:10 PM 5.7
W 4 Low 2:17 AM -0.7 6:44 AM Set 7:14 AM 99
4 High 8:25 AM 5.7 6:19 PM Rise 7:46 PM
4 Low 2:38 PM -0.4
4 High 8:52 PM 5.7
Th 5 Low 3:01 AM -0.5 6:42 AM Set 7:40 AM 98
5 High 9:03 AM 5.5 6:20 PM Rise 8:45 PM
5 Low 3:15 PM -0.3
5 High 9:31 PM 5.7
F 6 Low 3:44 AM -0.2 6:41 AM Set 8:07 AM 94
6 High 9:40 AM 5.2 6:21 PM Rise 9:44 PM
6 Low 3:50 PM -0.1
6 High 10:09 PM 5.5
Sa 7 Low 4:26 AM 0.1 6:40 AM Set 8:36 AM 89
7 High 10:17 AM 4.9 6:21 PM Rise 10:43 PM
7 Low 4:25 PM 0.2
7 High 10:48 PM 5.3
Su 8 Low 6:08 AM 0.4 7:39 AM Set 10:08 AM 82
8 High 11:55 AM 4.6 7:22 PM
8 Low 6:00 PM 0.4
M 9 High 12:29 AM 5.1 7:37 AM Rise 12:42 AM 74
9 Low 6:52 AM 0.7 7:23 PM Set 10:44 AM
9 High 12:37 PM 4.3
9 Low 6:39 PM 0.7
Tu 10 High 1:16 AM 4.9 7:36 AM Rise 1:40 AM 65
10 Low 7:41 AM 1.0 7:24 PM Set 11:25 AM
10 High 1:24 PM 4.1
10 Low 7:26 PM 0.9
W 11 High 2:10 AM 4.8 7:35 AM Rise 2:36 AM 56
11 Low 8:36 AM 1.1 7:25 PM Set 12:13 PM
11 High 2:19 PM 4.0
11 Low 8:22 PM 1.0
Th 12 High 3:11 AM 4.7 7:34 AM Rise 3:28 AM 47
12 Low 9:35 AM 1.2 7:25 PM Set 1:07 PM
12 High 3:20 PM 4.0
12 Low 9:26 PM 1.0
F 13 High 4:14 AM 4.7 7:32 AM Rise 4:16 AM 37
13 Low 10:34 AM 1.1 7:26 PM Set 2:05 PM
13 High 4:21 PM 4.1
13 Low 10:31 PM 0.8
Sa 14 High 5:13 AM 4.9 7:31 AM Rise 4:58 AM 28
14 Low 11:28 AM 0.8 7:27 PM Set 3:06 PM
14 High 5:20 PM 4.4
14 Low 11:31 PM 0.6
Su 15 High 6:05 AM 5.1 7:30 AM Rise 5:34 AM 20
15 Low 12:16 PM 0.5 7:28 PM Set 4:10 PM
15 High 6:12 PM 4.7
M 16 Low 12:24 AM 0.3 7:28 AM Rise 6:07 AM 12
16 High 6:52 AM 5.4 7:28 PM Set 5:13 PM
16 Low 1:01 PM 0.2
16 High 7:00 PM 5.1
Tu 17 Low 1:14 AM 0.0 7:27 AM Rise 6:37 AM 6
17 High 7:35 AM 5.5 7:29 PM Set 6:17 PM
17 Low 1:43 PM -0.2
17 High 7:45 PM 5.5
W 18 Low 2:01 AM -0.3 7:26 AM Rise 7:06 AM 2
18 High 8:17 AM 5.6 7:30 PM Set 7:22 PM
18 Low 2:24 PM -0.4
18 High 8:28 PM 5.8
Th 19 Low 2:48 AM -0.4 7:24 AM Rise 7:35 AM 0
19 High 8:57 AM 5.6 7:30 PM Set 8:29 PM
19 Low 3:05 PM -0.6
19 High 9:11 PM 6.1
F 20 Low 3:35 AM -0.5 7:23 AM Rise 8:06 AM 0
20 High 9:39 AM 5.5 7:31 PM Set 9:37 PM
20 Low 3:47 PM -0.7
20 High 9:54 PM 6.3
Sa 21 Low 4:23 AM -0.4 7:22 AM Rise 8:40 AM 3
21 High 10:22 AM 5.4 7:32 PM Set 10:48 PM
21 Low 4:31 PM -0.6
21 High 10:41 PM 6.3
Su 22 Low 5:13 AM -0.3 7:20 AM Rise 9:19 AM 9
22 High 11:09 AM 5.1 7:33 PM
22 Low 5:18 PM -0.5
22 High 11:31 PM 6.2
M 23 Low 6:06 AM 0.0 7:19 AM Set 12:01 AM 17
23 High 12:01 PM 4.9 7:33 PM Rise 10:05 AM
23 Low 6:10 PM -0.3
Tu 24 High 12:28 AM 6.0 7:18 AM Set 1:12 AM 26
24 Low 7:05 AM 0.3 7:34 PM Rise 10:59 AM
24 High 1:00 PM 4.7
24 Low 7:08 PM 0.0
W 25 High 1:32 AM 5.7 7:17 AM Set 2:18 AM 37
25 Low 8:09 AM 0.5 7:35 PM Rise 12:02 PM
25 High 2:07 PM 4.5
25 Low 8:14 PM 0.1
Th 26 High 2:43 AM 5.5 7:15 AM Set 3:16 AM 48
26 Low 9:16 AM 0.6 7:35 PM Rise 1:09 PM
26 High 3:19 PM 4.6
26 Low 9:24 PM 0.2
F 27 High 3:54 AM 5.5 7:14 AM Set 4:04 AM 60
27 Low 10:22 AM 0.5 7:36 PM Rise 2:19 PM
27 High 4:29 PM 4.7
27 Low 10:33 PM 0.2
Sa 28 High 5:00 AM 5.5 7:13 AM Set 4:45 AM 70
28 Low 11:23 AM 0.3 7:37 PM Rise 3:26 PM
28 High 5:32 PM 5.0
28 Low 11:37 PM 0.0
Su 29 High 5:59 AM 5.5 7:11 AM Set 5:19 AM 80
29 Low 12:16 PM 0.1 7:38 PM Rise 4:31 PM
29 High 6:29 PM 5.3
M 30 Low 12:33 AM -0.2 7:10 AM Set 5:48 AM 88
30 High 6:49 AM 5.6 7:38 PM Rise 5:33 PM
30 Low 1:03 PM -0.1
30 High 7:18 PM 5.6
Tu 31 Low 1:25 AM -0.3 7:09 AM Set 6:15 AM 94
31 High 7:35 AM 5.6 7:39 PM Rise 6:34 PM
31 Low 1:47 PM -0.2
31 High 8:03 PM 5.9
Weather / Marine Zone Forecast
MARINE WEATHER - Hazardous Weather Conditions
Small Craft Advisory until February 26, 07:00 PM EST
Last Update: 725 AM EST Thu Feb 26 2026
View Nearby Observations
5NM ESE Rattlesnake Shoal MR
Marine Zone Forecast
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...
TodaySW winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 30 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft, building to 5 to 7 ft this afternoon. Wave detail: S 6 ft at 6 seconds and E 1 foot at 11 seconds, becoming S 7 ft at 7 seconds and E 1 foot at 11 seconds. A slight chance of showers late.
TonightSW winds 15 to 20 kt, diminishing to 10 to 15 kt after midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft, subsiding to 4 to 5 ft after midnight. Wave detail: S 6 ft at 7 seconds, becoming S 4 ft at 7 seconds. Showers likely. A slight chance of tstms after midnight.
FriSW winds 5 to 10 kt, becoming E in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft, subsiding to 2 to 3 ft in the afternoon. Wave detail: S 3 ft at 6 seconds and SE 1 foot at 9 seconds, becoming S 2 ft at 6 seconds and SE 1 foot at 9 seconds. A slight chance of tstms. Showers.
Fri NightNE winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Wave detail: NE 2 ft at 5 seconds and S 2 ft at 5 seconds. A slight chance of tstms. Showers.
SatNE winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave detail: NE 2 ft at 5 seconds and S 1 foot at 5 seconds. A chance of showers, mainly in the morning.
Sat NightN winds 5 kt. Seas 2 ft. Wave detail: SE 2 ft at 6 seconds.
SunNE winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
Sun NightE winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft.
MonNE winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. A chance of showers.
Mon NightNE winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. A chance of showers.
winds and seas higher in and near tstms.
