Port Update
Philadelphia, PA / Delaware River & Bay
January 29, 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.
MSIB 05-26 Winter Port Condition Two
The Captain ofthe Port (COTP), Sector Delaware Bay has set Winter Port Condition Two due to the formation of ice of appreciable thickness and coverage in the navigable waters of the Delaware Bay and River, Chesapeake and Delaware (C&D) Canal, Cape May Harbor and Canal, New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, and Delaware Shore.
Members of the port community should take adequate precautions and adhere to the seasonal ice procedures below:
• Vessel sea chests should be checked regularly for ice buildup and precautions should be taken to ensure that the sea chests are kept clear.
• Vessel moorings should be checked frequently to ensure the vessel is adequately moored.
• Vessels at anchor should maintain their engines on standby at all times and should ensure that proper bridge watches are stood at all times.
• Mariners are cautioned that buoys may become extinguished or dragged off station and minor lights and day beacons may become destroyed due to ice.
The COTP, Sector Delaware Bay may set ice conditions for any safety zone listed in the regulations described in Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 165.550, requiring vessels to meet those restrictions. Vessels must have the proper hull type and an adequate propulsion system meeting the minimum horsepower requirements imposed.
Mariners observing any ice conditions are asked to report them. Mariners can utilize the Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay Ice Reporting Form located on the unit’s Homeport website detailed below, or by contacting the Sector Delaware Bay Command Center on VHF radio channel 16 or call (215) 271-4807.
Small Craft Advisory
URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
1120 PM EST Wed Jan 28 2026
ANZ452>455-292315-
/O.EXT.KPHI.SC.Y.0015.260129T0500Z-260130T1100Z/
/O.EXT.KPHI.UP.Y.0004.260129T0500Z-260130T1100Z/
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-
1120 PM EST Wed Jan 28 2026
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...FREEZING SPRAY ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...For the Small Craft Advisory, northwest winds 15 to 20
kt with gusts up to 25 kt expected. For the Freezing Spray
Advisory, moderate accumulation of freezing spray expected.
* WHERE...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 and Coastal waters from Cape Henlopen to
Fenwick Island DE out 20 nm.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM EST Friday.
* 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
1120 PM EST Wed Jan 28 2026
ANZ452>455-292315-
/O.EXT.KPHI.SC.Y.0015.260129T0500Z-260130T1100Z/
/O.EXT.KPHI.UP.Y.0004.260129T0500Z-260130T1100Z/
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-
1120 PM EST Wed Jan 28 2026
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
...FREEZING SPRAY ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...For the Small Craft Advisory, northwest winds 15 to 20
kt with gusts up to 25 kt expected. For the Freezing Spray
Advisory, moderate accumulation of freezing spray expected.
* WHERE...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 and Coastal waters from Cape Henlopen to
Fenwick Island DE out 20 nm.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM EST Friday.
* 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
ANZ400-292200-
402 AM EST Thu Jan 29 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. High pressure returns early next week.
ANZ454-292200- Coastal waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 nm-
402 AM EST Thu Jan 29 2026
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
FREEZING SPRAY ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY
NW winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Seas 3 to
4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 4 ft at 4 seconds and E 1 foot at
9 seconds. Light freezing spray.
TONIGHT
NW winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Seas 3 to
4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 4 ft at 4 seconds. Light freezing spray in
the evening.
FRI
NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 2 to
3 ft. Wave Detail: N 2 ft at 4 seconds.
FRI NIGHT
NW winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: N
2 ft at 4 seconds.
SAT
N winds 15 to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: N 2 ft
at 3 seconds. A chance of snow in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT
N winds 25 to 30 kt, increasing to 30 to 35 kt after
midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft, building to 6 to 9 ft after midnight.
Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 3 seconds and SE 1 foot at 14 seconds,
becoming NE 9 ft at 7 seconds. Snow likely. A chance of freezing
spray. Vsby 1 to 3 NM, decreasing to 1 NM or less after midnight.
SUN
N winds 30 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. Snow likely, mainly
in the morning. Vsby 1 to 3 NM.
SUN NIGHT
NW winds 25 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft.
MON
NW winds 20 to 25 kt, diminishing to 15 to 20 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 6 to 9 ft, subsiding to 5 to 7 ft in the
afternoon.
MON NIGHT
NW winds 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft.
Airport Code – Port Philadelphia, PA (PHL)
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