Port Update
Philadelphia, PA / Delaware River & Bay
January 28, 2026
Notices
Moran Shipping Agencies at Port Philadelphia & Wilmington, DE & Baltimore, MD
Port Security - MARSEC Level 1
Local Time – GMT - 5
The Maritime Exchange is forwarding the following USCG MSIB for your information.
The Maritime Exchange is forwarding the following USCG MSIB for your information.
MSIB 04-26 Change in Ice Condition
Ice Condition Three
The Captain of the Port, Sector Delaware Bay has set Ice Condition Three for all waters north of the Interstate 95 bridge in Bristol, PA.
The following restrictions are in effect, only steel hull vessels with a 1,500 minimum shaft horsepower and a main engine cooling system design that prevents blockage from ice, and that are part of a vessel convoy, may enter, operate in, or transit north of the Interstate 95 bridge in Bristol, PA. Vessels may only transit in Ice Condition Three during daylight hours.
Ice Condition Two
The Captain of the Port, Sector Delaware Bay has set Ice Condition Two for the Delaware River south of the Interstate 95 bridge in Bristol, PA.
The following restrictions are in effect, only steel hull vessels with 1,500 minimum shaft horsepower and a main engine cooling system design that prevents blockage from ice, may enter, operate in, or transit the Delaware River.
C&D Canal
Due to ice in the C&D Canal, the Maryland and Delaware pilots are no longer able to board ships at Chesapeake City. Therefore, until the ice subsides, for eastbound sailings from Baltimore or westbound sailings from Philadelphia/Wilmington and Arrivals at Cape Henlopen 6 hours’ notice will be required for movements. The extra notice is necessary to bring a Delaware Pilot down to Baltimore or send a Maryland Pilot to Philadelphia/Delaware prior to the ship`s departure or arrival.
If you have any questions regarding the contents of this bulletin, please contact the Waterways Management staff at (206) 815-6688, option 3.
Small Craft Advisory
URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
455 AM EST Wed Jan 28 2026
ANZ450>455-281500-
/O.CON.KPHI.SC.Y.0014.000000T0000Z-260128T1500Z/
/O.CON.KPHI.UP.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-260128T1500Z/
Coastal waters from Sandy Hook to Manasquan Inlet NJ out 20 nm-
Coastal waters from Manasquan Inlet to Little Egg Inlet NJ out
20 nm-
Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out
20 nm-
Coastal waters from Great Egg Inlet to Cape May NJ out 20 nm-
Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 nm-
Coastal waters from Cape Henlopen to Fenwick Island DE out 20 nm-
455 AM EST Wed Jan 28 2026
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS
MORNING...
...FREEZING SPRAY ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS
MORNING...
* WHAT...For the Small Craft Advisory, northwest winds 15 to 20
kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 3 to 5 ft. For the Freezing
Spray Advisory, moderate accumulation of freezing spray.
* WHERE...Portions of Atlantic coastal waters.
* WHEN...Until 10 AM EST this morning.
* IMPACTS...Operating a vessel in freezing spray is hazardous.
Freezing spray may render mechanical and electronic components
inoperative. Ice accretion on decks and superstructures may
result in some loss of stability. Conditions will be hazardous
to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Mariners should prepare for ice accumulation on their vessel and
consider altering plans to avoid or mitigate these hazardous
conditions.
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.
Freezing Spray Advisory
URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
455 AM EST Wed Jan 28 2026
ANZ450>455-281500-
/O.CON.KPHI.SC.Y.0014.000000T0000Z-260128T1500Z/
/O.CON.KPHI.UP.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-260128T1500Z/
Coastal waters from Sandy Hook to Manasquan Inlet NJ out 20 nm-
Coastal waters from Manasquan Inlet to Little Egg Inlet NJ out
20 nm-
Coastal waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out
20 nm-
Coastal waters from Great Egg Inlet to Cape May NJ out 20 nm-
Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 nm-
Coastal waters from Cape Henlopen to Fenwick Island DE out 20 nm-
455 AM EST Wed Jan 28 2026
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS
MORNING...
...FREEZING SPRAY ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS
MORNING...
* WHAT...For the Small Craft Advisory, northwest winds 15 to 20
kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 3 to 5 ft. For the Freezing
Spray Advisory, moderate accumulation of freezing spray.
* WHERE...Portions of Atlantic coastal waters.
* WHEN...Until 10 AM EST this morning.
* IMPACTS...Operating a vessel in freezing spray is hazardous.
Freezing spray may render mechanical and electronic components
inoperative. Ice accretion on decks and superstructures may
result in some loss of stability. Conditions will be hazardous
to small craft.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Mariners should prepare for ice accumulation on their vessel and
consider altering plans to avoid or mitigate these hazardous
conditions.
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.
Weather / Marine Zone Forecast
Marine Weather
ANZ400-282200-
402 AM EST Wed Jan 28 2026
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK NJ TO FENWICK
ISLAND DE AND FOR DELAWARE BAY...
High pressure well to the west will gradually build into the Middle
Altantic region through the end of the week. It will keep arctic air
across the region. Low pressure will develop off the East Coast on
Saturday. This low will strengthen while moving along the coast
Sunday.
ANZ454-282200- Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 nm-
402 AM EST Wed Jan 28 2026
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS MORNING
FREEZING SPRAY ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS
MORNING
TODAY
NW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt, becoming W
10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt this afternoon. Seas 3 to
5 ft, subsiding to 2 to 3 ft this afternoon. Wave Detail: NW 4 ft
at 5 seconds and E 1 foot at 10 seconds, becoming N 2 ft at
4 seconds and E 1 foot at 10 seconds. A chance of light freezing
spray early this morning.
TONIGHT
NW winds 10 to 15 kt, increasing to 15 to 20 kt after
midnight. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: N 3 ft at 4 seconds and E
1 foot at 10 seconds.
THU
NW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 3 to
4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 3 ft at 4 seconds and E 1 foot at
9 seconds. A chance of light freezing spray.
THU NIGHT
NW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas
3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 3 ft at 4 seconds and SE 1 foot at
10 seconds. A chance of light freezing spray.
FRI
NW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 2 to
3 ft. Wave Detail: N 2 ft at 4 seconds. A chance of light
freezing spray.
FRI NIGHT
NW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas
2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: N 2 ft at 4 seconds. A chance of light
freezing spray in the evening.
SAT
N winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. A chance of light
freezing spray. A chance of snow in the afternoon. Vsby 1 to
3 NM.
SAT NIGHT
N winds 25 to 30 kt, increasing to 35 to 40 kt after
midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft, building to 7 to 10 ft after midnight.
A chance of snow in the evening, then snow likely after midnight.
A chance of light freezing spray. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
SUN
N winds 35 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 12 ft, building to 10 to
14 ft in the afternoon. Snow likely, mainly in the morning. A
chance of light freezing spray. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
SUN NIGHT
NW winds 30 to 35 kt. Seas 10 to 14 ft, subsiding to
9 to 12 ft after midnight. A chance of snow in the evening. A
chance of light freezing spray. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
Airport Code – Port Philadelphia, PA (PHL)
Please reply to our Group Email Address phl@moranshipping.com on ALL messages to this office.
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