Buffalo

Size limits

There is a maximum allowable draught of 8.0m through the St Lawrence Seaway and Welland Canal. Vessel length and beam limitations also apply.

Water density

1000.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

Controlling depth of water 8.2m.

Anchorages

The Buffalo outer harbour area affords good anchorage ground except that the bottom S of the middle gap is soft clay. There are 22 large mooring rings on 975m of the old breakwater adjoining the N harbour entrance and 25 mooring rings on 548m of the S breakwater adjoining the S harbour entrance. Vessels are permitted to moor to the breakwater with manila or synthetic lines, but not with wire rope or chain.

Vessels are requested not to anchor N of Berthing Areas 11 to 24, inclusive, until such time as vessel traffic to the International Salt Co Pier and Niagara Frontier Port Authority Seaway Piers at the foot of Michigan Avenue has terminated for the season and then only by permission from the District Engineer, US Army Engineer District, Buffalo.

Anchorage is permitted in berthing areas S of Berthing Area 24 with no restriction as to length of vessel. The berthing areas are marked by large orange numbers on the harbour face of the breakwaters.

Federally designated anchorage areas established for Buffalo Harbor are described below:

Explosives Anchorage "A": Inside the S section of the main breakwater, 213m in width, starting at a point 152m S'ly from the S end of the N section and extending approx 153°, 914m parallel to the line of the S section of the main breakwater.

Black Rock Channel opposite foot of Porter Avenue Buffalo: An anchorage area extending NW'ly between Black Rock Channel and Bird Island Pier opposite the foot of Porter Avenue, bounded as follows:

Beginning at Triangulation Mark N-5 on Bird Island Pier, then 61°, approx 91m to a point 15m W of the W'ly limit of Black Rock Channel, then NW'ly along an arc of a circle parallel to and 15m W of the W'ly limit of the channel to a point approx 109m S of Bird Island Pier Light No 17, then 276°, approx 41m to Bird Island Pier, then SW'ly and S'ly along the pier a distance of approx 413m to the point of origin.

Tugs

Tug 1 x 1,250hp is available from Great Lakes Towing Co.

Mooring

Mooring lines: Uniform thickness throughout, fitted with an eye not less than 2.4m in length and of sufficient strength to check the vessel.

Anchors: Vessels over 110m must have an operational stern anchor. Orange anchor marking buoys of an approved type, fitted with 22m of suitable line, must be secured to all anchors.

Charts and publications

BA 4793. Admiralty Pilot NP68, NP286(5).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.

Communications

VHF: Ch 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 28 (coast radio channel). Frequencies used are 156.55, 156.6, 156.65, 156.7, and 156.8 MHz.

Documents

Please see country information for details of documentation requirements.

Health

No action initiated unless there is illness onboard.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificates: Please see country information.

Customs and immigration

Immigration: For crew not to be detained onboard, each crew member must have a visa in their passport or Seaman's Book.

Notices and regulations

Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.

Port State Control here: US Coast Guard.

Foreign ships are examined by the US Coast Guard. File the Advance Notice of Arrival 96 hours ahead (33 CFR 160).

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: United States Coast Guard, Office of Compliance. Address: 2100 Second St, SW, Washington DC, 20593, USA. Tel: +1 202 267 2978. Fax: +1 202 267 4858. Email: [email protected]. For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www2.imo.org/ISPSCode.

Repairs

Available but limited.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available from barges or road tankers.

Fuel: Available.

Medical

Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, 9.9km.

Transport

Nearest airport: Buffalo Niagara International Airport located at Buffalo, 20km and Niagara Falls International Airport located at Niagara Falls, 32km.

Nearest railway: SBRR serves the harbour area, Buffalo Depew Station, 17.8km.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Buffalo is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Erie. The lake discharges into the Niagara River at the northeast corner of this bay.

The port

Buffalo is the first port inbound after transiting the Welland Canal. Containerised, bulk, liquid and general cargo can all be handled at the port.

Major commodities include potash, coke, iron ore, stone, grain, salt, coal, machinery and foundry sand. The port of Buffalo is owned and operated by Gateway Metroport. The harbor entrance is usually blocked with ice from January to March or April.

Traffic

Approx 338,100t of cargo handled annually.

What time zone is Buffalo in?

Local time at Buffalo is UTC−5. Clocks go to UTC−4 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−5 on 7 Nov 2027.

What is the water density at Buffalo?

1000.

Who carries out Port State Control at Buffalo?

Port State Control at Buffalo: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Buffalo?

The UN/LOCODE of Buffalo is USBUF.

What crews who called at Buffalo say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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