Port Update

Wilmington, NC

September 15, 2025

Notices

WILMINGTON, NC
 
PORT LIMITS/INFORMATION (CONFIRMED 07/24/25)
------------------------
Maximum Depths - (Fresh)
Harbor Entrance - CHANNEL IS 42 FEET FRESH WATER BUT TO BE SAFE WE SAY 41 FEET FRESH WATER DUE TWO SPOTS IN  CHANNEL AT 41 FEET
Main Channel - 41.0 ft POWER LINES ARE NOW 212 FEET, LOCATED ABT 22 NMILES UP RIVER ON WAY TO WILMINGTON HARBOR
Max Air Draft – 212’00 - 22 MILES UP CAPE FEAR RIVER TO WILMINGTON NC HARBOR
 
BERTH LIMITS/INFORMATION:
-------------------------
Current maximum drafts allowed at berths:
 
ADM Terminal 34 ft Max Draft,  675 Max LOA Gold Bond Terminal Max Draft 34 ft Max LOA 600 ft
KINDER MORGAN RIVERROAD MAX DRAFT 38 FEET
ERGON ASPHALT/ AXION/CHEMSERVE WILMINGTON/ Koch / Amoco / Mobil Oil Terminal Max Draft 37 ft Max LOA 700 ft
Apex Terminal Max Draft 37’00 Ft Max ANYTIME LOA 800’ (ANY VESSEL 675 OR MORE MUST CHECK WITH TERMINAL FIRST)
KINDER MORGAN WOODBINE/ MAX DWT 43500 -  MAX LOA 750 FEET – MAX DRAFT 38 FEET IN MAX DRAFT (VESSEL WITH DRAFT OF MORE THAN 34 FEET SHOULD ARRIVE OFF BERTH ONE(1) HR. BEFORE HIGH WATER) - STARBOARD SIDE TO
Chemserve  - 37 ft Max -  LOA 700’ - DISCHARGE RATE FOR UAN SOLUTION –500 LIQUID S/T PER HR 1 EIGHT INCH HOSE  
Colonial Terminal Max Draft 35’00 ft Max LOA 700 ft
COLONIAL (CTI WILMINGTON SOUTH DOCK) – MAX LOA 725’ / MAX BEAM 120’ / MAX DRAFT – 26’00-27’00 CALL EACH TIME
South Wilmington Terminal (Exxon) – Max draft 38’00; Max LOA 800’
Carolina Marine Terminal – Max draft 38’00 ; Max LOA 675’, Airdraft 48’, Max beam 106’ (updated 04/25/25)
PORT DOCK 1 - MAX DRAFT ON ARRIVAL 41 FEET FRESH WATER ON HIGH TIDE MAX DRAFT ON DEPARTURE 40 FEET FRESH WATER ON HIGH TIDE WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA MAX PANAMA SIZE VESSEL – 1150’ x 150’
KMI 6TH STREET CLOSED - NO TRANSIT PASSED CAPE FEAR M. BRIDGE - FOR RIVER TRAFFIC LIKE SHIPS ONLY SMALL CRAFTS
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PILOT MESSAGE FOR ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE:  "Please have any engine or shaft power limiting devices (EPL’s) overridden or bypassed prior to arrival/departure.  Any vessel that is incapable of attaining posted engine RPM’s because of any engine deficiency or engine power limiting devices that cannot be overridden may be restricted to daylight transit, fair tide, escort assistance or additional pilotage.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VESSELS IN:  NONE
 
VESSELS DUE: PALANCA RIO, ATB SEAPOWER
==============================================================================================================
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 NCSPA.  All persons wanting unescorted access to any vessel must have a valid TWIC.
 
NEW STATE/CBP REQUIREMENT FOR CREW GUARDS AT GANGWAY – ***Effective immediately all arriving vessels into the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina will double the Vessels Gangway watch for the vessels entire stay, 24/7. At no time will the Gangway be left unattended.  At all times there will be a minimum of two Crewmembers at the Security Podium, with an operational radio, and visual of the Gangway.   The piers to be included are any pier within the Cape Fear Region, just not the Port of Wilmington.  Inform the Ship’s Captain that a roving crewmember (s) may be required in addition to doubling the watch, and/or raising the Gangway unless its ships work only.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Articles: NONE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT EVENTS:   NONE
============================================================================================================================================================================
FUTURE EVENTS:  NONE
=================================================================================================================
SECURITY LEVEL: MARSEC 1
=================================================================================================================
HURRICANE ALERT LEVEL: 4/SEASONAL - A tropical wave over the central tropical Atlantic is producing a 
large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The 
disturbance will begin to move into a more favorable environment for 
development in the next couple of days, and a tropical depression is 
likely to form by the middle to latter part of this week as the 
system moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph over the central 
tropical Atlantic.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...medium...40 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days...high...80 percent.

Tides / Currents

TIDES:  WILMINGTON, NC
Day        High      Tide  Height   Sunrise    Moon  Time      % Moon
                     /Low      Time    Feet    Sunset                    Visible
 
SEPTEMBER 2025
M   15     High   4:30 AM     4.1   6:55 AM    Rise 12:17 AM      46
    15      Low  11:04 AM     0.3   7:18 PM     Set  3:45 PM
    15     High   5:14 PM     4.7
 
Tu  16      Low  12:07 AM     0.6   6:56 AM    Rise  1:23 AM      35
    16     High   5:33 AM     4.1   7:17 PM     Set  4:33 PM
    16      Low  12:09 PM     0.3
    16     High   6:16 PM     4.7
 
W   17      Low   1:05 AM     0.5   6:57 AM    Rise  2:31 AM      25
    17     High   6:34 AM     4.2   7:15 PM     Set  5:13 PM
    17      Low   1:10 PM     0.2
    17     High   7:14 PM     4.8
 
Th  18      Low   2:00 AM     0.3   6:57 AM    Rise  3:38 AM      16
    18     High   7:32 AM     4.3   7:14 PM     Set  5:46 PM
    18      Low   2:07 PM     0.2
    18     High   8:07 PM     4.8
 
F   19      Low   2:50 AM     0.2   6:58 AM    Rise  4:42 AM      9
    19     High   8:27 AM     4.5   7:12 PM     Set  6:15 PM
    19      Low   3:00 PM     0.1
    19     High   8:54 PM     4.9
 
Sa  20      Low   3:37 AM     0.1   6:59 AM    Rise  5:44 AM      4
    20     High   9:16 AM     4.7   7:11 PM     Set  6:40 PM
    20      Low   3:50 PM     0.2
    20     High   9:38 PM     4.8
 
Su  21      Low   4:21 AM     0.1   7:00 AM    Rise  6:43 AM      1
    21     High  10:02 AM     4.8   7:10 PM     Set  7:04 PM
    21      Low   4:37 PM     0.2
    21     High  10:19 PM     4.8
 
M   22      Low   5:02 AM     0.2   7:00 AM    Rise  7:41 AM      0
    22     High  10:45 AM     4.8   7:08 PM     Set  7:28 PM
    22      Low   5:21 PM     0.3
    22     High  10:58 PM     4.6
 
Tu  23      Low   5:39 AM     0.3   7:01 AM    Rise  8:39 AM      0
    23     High  11:25 AM     4.8   7:07 PM     Set  7:53 PM
    23      Low   6:03 PM     0.4
    23     High  11:36 PM     4.5
 
W   24      Low   6:13 AM     0.4   7:02 AM    Rise  9:37 AM      3
    24     High  12:04 PM     4.7   7:05 PM     Set  8:20 PM
    24      Low   6:43 PM     0.6
Th  25     High  12:13 AM     4.3   7:02 AM    Rise 10:36 AM      7
    25      Low   6:44 AM     0.5   7:04 PM     Set  8:51 PM
    25     High  12:42 PM     4.6
    25      Low   7:22 PM     0.7
 
F   26     High  12:51 AM     4.1   7:03 AM    Rise 11:35 AM      13
    26      Low   7:11 AM     0.6   7:03 PM     Set  9:27 PM
    26     High   1:20 PM     4.5
    26      Low   8:01 PM     0.8
 
Sa  27     High   1:28 AM     3.9   7:04 AM    Rise 12:34 PM      20
    27      Low   7:39 AM     0.6   7:01 PM     Set 10:08 PM
    27     High   1:58 PM     4.4
    27      Low   8:43 PM     1.0
 
Su  28     High   2:10 AM     3.8   7:05 AM    Rise  1:31 PM      28
    28      Low   8:13 AM     0.7   7:00 PM     Set 10:56 PM
    28     High   2:42 PM     4.3
    28      Low   9:31 PM     1.1
 
M   29     High   2:58 AM     3.7   7:05 AM    Rise  2:24 PM      37
    29      Low   8:59 AM     0.7   6:59 PM     Set 11:51 PM
    29     High   3:36 PM     4.2
    29      Low  10:28 PM     1.1
 
Tu  30     High   3:53 AM     3.7   7:06 AM    Rise  3:11 PM      47
    30      Low   9:59 AM     0.7   6:57 PM
    30     High   4:35 PM     4.3
    30      Low  11:28 PM     1.0
 
OCTOBER 2025
 
W    1     High   4:52 AM     3.8   7:07 AM     Set 12:51 AM      57
     1      Low  11:12 AM     0.7   6:56 PM    Rise  3:52 PM
     1     High   5:34 PM     4.4
 
Th   2      Low  12:25 AM     0.9   7:07 AM     Set  1:56 AM      66
     2     High   5:51 AM     3.9   6:54 PM    Rise  4:29 PM
     2      Low  12:22 PM     0.6
     2     High   6:30 PM     4.5
 
F    3      Low   1:19 AM     0.7   7:08 AM     Set  3:02 AM      76
     3     High   6:48 AM     4.1   6:53 PM    Rise  5:01 PM
     3      Low   1:26 PM     0.4
     3     High   7:23 PM     4.7
 
Sa   4      Low   2:09 AM     0.5   7:09 AM     Set  4:09 AM      84
     4     High   7:42 AM     4.5   6:52 PM    Rise  5:31 PM
     4      Low   2:25 PM     0.3
     4     High   8:13 PM     4.8
 
Su   5      Low   2:57 AM     0.3   7:10 AM     Set  5:17 AM      91
     5     High   8:32 AM     4.8   6:50 PM    Rise  6:00 PM
     5      Low   3:21 PM     0.2
     5     High   8:59 PM     4.9
 
M    6      Low   3:45 AM     0.1   7:10 AM     Set  6:27 AM      97
     6     High   9:20 AM     5.1   6:49 PM    Rise  6:30 PM
     6      Low   4:16 PM     0.1
     6     High   9:44 PM     5.0
 
Tu   7      Low   4:31 AM     0.0   7:11 AM     Set  7:38 AM      99
     7     High  10:06 AM     5.3   6:48 PM    Rise  7:01 PM
     7      Low   5:09 PM     0.1
     7     High  10:29 PM     4.9
 
W    8      Low   5:18 AM    -0.1   7:12 AM     Set  8:52 AM      99
     8     High  10:53 AM     5.4   6:46 PM    Rise  7:38 PM
     8      Low   6:02 PM     0.1
     8     High  11:16 PM     4.8
 
Th   9      Low   6:05 AM    -0.1   7:13 AM     Set 10:08 AM      96
     9     High  11:44 AM     5.4   6:45 PM    Rise  8:20 PM
     9      Low   6:54 PM     0.2
 
F   10     High  12:08 AM     4.6   7:14 AM     Set 11:24 AM      90
    10      Low   6:54 AM     0.0   6:44 PM    Rise  9:10 PM
    10     High  12:40 PM     5.2
    10      Low   7:48 PM     0.4
 
Sa  11     High   1:06 AM     4.4   7:14 AM     Set 12:36 PM      82
    11      Low   7:45 AM     0.1   6:42 PM    Rise 10:09 PM
    11     High   1:45 PM     5.1
    11      Low   8:45 PM     0.5
 
Su  12     High   2:11 AM     4.2   7:15 AM     Set  1:39 PM      72
    12      Low   8:41 AM     0.3   6:41 PM    Rise 11:15 PM
    12     High   2:52 PM     4.9
    12      Low   9:45 PM     0.6
 
M   13     High   3:16 AM     4.1   7:16 AM     Set  2:32 PM      61
    13      Low   9:43 AM     0.4   6:40 PM
    13     High   3:57 PM     4.7
    13      Low  10:46 PM     0.6
 
Tu  14     High   4:19 AM     4.1   7:17 AM    Rise 12:23 AM      50
    14      Low  10:49 AM     0.4   6:39 PM     Set  3:14 PM
    14     High   4:58 PM     4.7
    14      Low  11:45 PM     0.5
 
W   15     High   5:20 AM     4.2   7:18 AM    Rise  1:31 AM      39
    15      Low  11:52 AM     0.4   6:37 PM     Set  3:49 PM
    15     High   5:55 PM     4.6
 
Th  16      Low  12:41 AM     0.4   7:18 AM    Rise  2:36 AM      29
    16     High   6:19 AM     4.3   6:36 PM     Set  4:19 PM
    16      Low  12:51 PM     0.4
    16     High   6:49 PM     4.6
 
F   17      Low   1:32 AM     0.2   7:19 AM    Rise  3:38 AM      20
    17     High   7:14 AM     4.5   6:35 PM     Set  4:45 PM
    17      Low   1:47 PM     0.3
    17     High   7:39 PM     4.6
 
Sa  18      Low   2:20 AM     0.1   7:20 AM    Rise  4:37 AM      13
    18     High   8:06 AM     4.6   6:34 PM     Set  5:09 PM
    18      Low   2:38 PM     0.2
    18     High   8:26 PM     4.6
 
Su  19      Low   3:05 AM     0.1   7:21 AM    Rise  5:34 AM      7
    19     High   8:54 AM     4.8   6:32 PM     Set  5:32 PM
    19      Low   3:27 PM     0.2
    19     High   9:09 PM     4.6
 
M   20      Low   3:47 AM     0.1   7:22 AM    Rise  6:31 AM      2
    20     High   9:37 AM     4.9   6:31 PM     Set  5:57 PM
    20      Low   4:13 PM     0.3
    20     High   9:50 PM     4.5
 
Tu  21      Low   4:27 AM     0.2   7:22 AM    Rise  7:29 AM      0
    21     High  10:18 AM     4.9   6:30 PM     Set  6:23 PM
    21      Low   4:57 PM     0.3
    21     High  10:29 PM     4.4
 
W   22      Low   5:04 AM     0.3   7:23 AM    Rise  8:27 AM      0
    22     High  10:57 AM     4.9   6:29 PM     Set  6:52 PM
    22      Low   5:38 PM     0.4
    22     High  11:06 PM     4.3
 
Th  23      Low   5:37 AM     0.4   7:24 AM    Rise  9:26 AM      1
    23     High  11:33 AM     4.8   6:28 PM     Set  7:26 PM
    23      Low   6:18 PM     0.5
    23     High  11:42 PM     4.1
 
F   24      Low   6:08 AM     0.5   7:25 AM    Rise 10:25 AM      4
    24     High  12:05 PM     4.6   6:27 PM     Set  8:05 PM
    24      Low   6:56 PM     0.7
 
Sa  25     High  12:14 AM     4.0   7:26 AM    Rise 11:23 AM      9
    25      Low   6:36 AM     0.5   6:26 PM     Set  8:51 PM
    25     High  12:33 PM     4.5
    25      Low   7:33 PM     0.8
 
Su  26     High  12:42 AM     3.8   7:27 AM    Rise 12:17 PM      15
    26      Low   7:05 AM     0.6   6:25 PM     Set  9:43 PM
    26     High  12:56 PM     4.4
    26      Low   8:12 PM     0.9
 
M   27     High   1:13 AM     3.7   7:28 AM    Rise  1:05 PM      22
    27      Low   7:41 AM     0.6   6:24 PM     Set 10:41 PM
    27     High   1:34 PM     4.3
    27      Low   8:56 PM     0.9
 
Tu  28     High   1:58 AM     3.7   7:29 AM    Rise  1:48 PM      31
    28      Low   8:27 AM     0.6   6:22 PM     Set 11:42 PM
    28     High   2:29 PM     4.3
    28      Low   9:48 PM     0.9
 
W   29     High   2:57 AM     3.7   7:29 AM    Rise  2:25 PM      40
    29      Low   9:25 AM     0.6   6:21 PM
    29     High   3:35 PM     4.3
    29      Low  10:45 PM     0.8
 
Th  30     High   4:03 AM     3.8   7:30 AM     Set 12:45 AM      50
    30      Low  10:37 AM     0.6   6:20 PM    Rise  2:58 PM
    30     High   4:41 PM     4.4
    30      Low  11:43 PM     0.7
 
F   31     High   5:09 AM     4.0   7:31 AM     Set  1:50 AM      60
    31      Low  11:53 AM     0.6   6:19 PM    Rise  3:27 PM
    31     High   5:43 PM     4.5

Weather / Marine Zone Forecast

MARINE WEATHER:  1028 AM EDT Mon Sep 15 2025
 
 .SYNOPSIS FOR MID ATLC WATERS...A low pressure centered offshore
of the North Carolina coast will move NW today, reaching just
offshore Cape Hatteras by late tonight. The low will continue to
meander just offshore or inland the Mid-Atlantic coast Tue
through Wed, while pulling a warm front slowly N across the area
today through Wed, with the front lifting N of the area by Wed
night. The low will begin moving more E and NE by late Wed and
Wed night off the Delmarva or New Jersey coast, then continue
moving E to NE Thu and Thu night across the N waters while
dissipating. High pressure will build E offshore the central and
S portions Thu night into Fri night, while a cold front moves
across the N portions late Fri into Fri night.

Disclaimer: For quality assurance purposes please note well that while the information contained in this website is regularly vetted for accuracy it is not intended to replace the local knowledge or expertise pertaining to port conditions of our marine operations personnel.

Access our team on the go

There are two ways to ensure you can always reach us.

Phone with Moran Shipping mobile app
Mobile App

Download our mobile app to search our corporate directory and contact us.

Apple App Store logoGoggle Play Store logo
Print Directory

Download and print out our foldable portable directory for quick access.

News Bulletin

Sign up to receive updates about port conditions, important notices, and other news.