Chicago

Size limits

Draught 8.2m, LOA 259m, beam 28.0m, 38,289DWT.

Water density

1000.

Tides

Range, nil.

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

Approach

The main entrance to the outer basin from the lake is through a 177m wide opening in the S'ly extension of the outer breakwater. Small vessels may enter from the N through a 157m entrance between the shore and the shore arm extension or through the 121m entrance between the arm extension and the exterior breakwater. There is unrestricted access for small craft from the S. The outer basin has an area of approx 392ha with depths ranging from 2.7-8.8m. Access to the N section of the inner basin is provided by the Chicago Harbor Lock through the controlling works and to the S section by an opening 229m wide in the inner breakwater. The N section of the inner basin covers approx 19ha with depths of 1.5-6.4m and the S section covers approx 71ha with depths of 2.0-9.0m.

The Chicago River extends W'ly from the inner end of the entrance channel at Rush Street for a distance of 0.9km where it diverges into N and S branches.

The N branch of the Chicago River extends in a NW'ly direction through the city of Chicago, dividing at Goose Island into the river on the W side and the N branch canal on the E side, converging again at the turning basin just S of North Avenue, then continuing from North Avenue to Addison Street, which is considered to be the head of navigation.

The S branch of the Chicago River extends SE'ly to the S branch turning basin near Ashland Avenue, where it divides into the W and S forks. The S fork is navigable to 33rd Street. The W fork continues as the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The S branch and the W fork are a part of the Illinois Waterway project.

Construction of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal connecting the S branch of the Chicago River with the Des Plaines River at Lockport reversed the direction of flow of the main and S branches of the Chicago River so that they now flow away from the lake.

Calumet Harbor, is located at the mouth of the Calumet River approx 12.5nm S from Chicago Harbor. A breakwater protects the river entrance. Calumet is an important refuge harbour on the S end of Lake Michigan, capable of providing shelter for a large number of vessels during severe storms.

The Calumet River connects Lake Michigan and Calumet Harbor at Lake Calumet at Turning Basin No 5 approx 6nm from the entrance and with the Little Calumet River by way of the Thomas J O'Brien Lock and controlling works located just S of Turning Basin No 5.

The navigable portion of the Little Calumet River extends W approx 6nm from the lock to its juncture with the E end of the Calumet-Sag Channel.

The Calumet-Sag Channel extends W'ly from this point approx 16nm to its junction with the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (Cal-Sag junction) which then extends N'ly approx 17nm to the S branch of the Chicago River in Chicago, and S'ly approx 12nm to the Lockport Lock.

The Calumet River S of Turning Basin No 5, the Little Calumet River, Calumet-Sag Channel, and Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal are parts of the Illinois Waterway project.

Widening of the Calumet-Sag Channel has reversed the direction of flow of the Calumet and the Little Rivers so that they now flow away from the lake except in times of heavy rains, floods or sudden fluctuations in water level.

Anchorages

Anchorage "A" (Exterior Breakwater): SW of a line parallel with and 45m SW of the exterior breakwater; W of a line parallel with and 45m W of the S extension of the exterior breakwater; NE of a line parallel with and 457m SW of the exterior breakwater and E of line parallel with the S extension of the exterior breakwater and 152m eastward of the E face of the filtration plant.

Note: This area is reserved for commercial vessels operated for profit. Floats or buoys for marking anchors or moorings in place, and fixed mooring piles or stakes are prohibited in this area.

Anchorage "B" (S Arm): W of a line parallel with and 45m W of the S arm of the exterior breakwater; N of a line perpendicular to the S arm at its sound end; E of a line parallel with the S arm, approx 670m away and in line with the E face of the Municipal Pier, and S of a line perpendicular to the S arm 213m from its N end.

Note: This area is reserved for commercial vessels operated for profit. Floats or buoys for marking anchors or mooring in place and fixed mooring piles or stakes are prohibited in this area.

Anchorage "C" (Shore arm): S of a line parallel with and 45m S of the shore arm of the exterior breakwater; W of a line parallel with the S extension of the exterior breakwater, 30m westward of the E end of the shore arm; NW of a line perpendicular to Lake Shore Drive revetment and 91m NW of the NW corner of the filtration plant, and E of a line parallel with and 182m lakeward of the Lake Shore Drive revetment.

Note: Commercial vessels operated for profit and measuring 50GT or more are forbidden to anchor in this area. Temporary floats or buoys for marking anchors or moorings in place will be allowed on this area. Fixed mooring piles or stakes are prohibited.

Anchorage "D" (Chicago Lock S): Beginning at a point 10.8m S (4.8m S of the S face of the SE guide wall) and 8.5m W of the SE Guide Wall Light, then, W'ly and parallel to the guide wall 243m to a point that is 4.8m S of the S face of the SE guidewall, then S'ly 24m to a point that is 29m S of the S face of the SE guidewall, then, E'ly 243m to a point that is 29m S of the S face of the SE guidewall, then N'ly 24m to the starting point.

Note: This area is reserved for commercial vessels operated for profit. Mooring facilities are available adjacent to the lakeside guidewalls of the Chicago Lock in anchorages "D" and "E". All vessels using anchorages "D" and "E" shall moor against pile clusters adjacent to the respective anchorage.

Anchorage "E" (Chicago Lock N): Beginning at a point 47m N (4.8m N of the N face of the NE guidewall) and 179m W of the SE guidewall Light, then, W'ly and parallel to the guidewall 182m to a point that is 4.8m N of the N face of the NE guidewall, then, N'ly 24m to a point that is 29m N of the N face of the NE guidewall, then, E'ly 182m to a point that is N of the N face of the NE guidewall, then, S'ly 24m to the starting point.

Note: This area is reserved for commercial vessels operating for profit. (See note for anchorage "D" for regulations concerning this anchorage).

Calumet Harbor's outer basin provides good anchorage in mud and sand bottom. Due to the large number of vessels using this important shelter during severe weather, it is important that anchorage space within the harbor is utilised in an orderly manner. Accordingly, it is requested that vessels do not anchor closer than 304m to any part of the breakwaters unless no other anchorage space is available. If it is necessary to anchor closer than 304m to the breakwaters, vessels should anchor in such a manner as not to unreasonably obstruct the free passage and progress of other vessels through the harbour.

Restrictions

For ocean going vessels the port operates between early April and early December. Barge traffic operates throughout the year.

There are 76 bridges which cross the Chicago River, its navigable branches and canals; 24 bridges cross the Calumet River and its branches; 27 cross the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and 30 cross the Calumet-Sag Channel.

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 4794.

ETA and pre-arrival notices

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

Communications

VHF: Ch 11, 12, 13, 14, 16.

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.

Medical

South Chicago.

Transport

Nearest airport: O'Hare International, 50km. Midway Airport, 25km.

Nearest railway: Chicago: Rail Link; Norfolk & Western; EJE; Chicago Short Line.

Working hours

Normally 0800-1200hrs and 1300-1700hrs. Overtime available.

Where it is

The port of Chicago is located on the SW shore of Lake Michigan in Illinois.

The port

Chicago Harbor consists of Chicago River, including main branch, N branch and S branch; Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal; Calumet-Sag Channel; Little Calumet River; Lake Calumet; Calumet River and Calumet Harbor (S Chicago Harbor). All piers in the port have excellent rail service and storage facilities.

Chicago Harbor is located at the mouth of the Chicago River, approx 22nm from the southern edge of Lake Michigan. The Chicago Harbor Lock and the controlling works, giving access to the N inner basin and the entrance to Chicago River, just E of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Outer and inner breakwaters from the protected areas in Lake Michigan extending from a N'ly point opposite Oak Street, to a S'ly point opposite 11th Street, a distance of about 3.6km. There are outer and an inner basins protected by their respective breakwaters, with the inner basin divided into a N and S section by the controlling works wall at Randolph Street.

The port handles steel, ore, sugar, grain, petrochemicals, cement, non-ferrous metals, stone, coke and scrap; of which iron, steel, liquid bulk and general cargoes are imported and the main exports are grain and steel.

Traffic

Approx 17,000,000t of cargo handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Chicago?

Pilots are available.

What time zone is Chicago in?

Local time at Chicago is UTC−6. Clocks go to UTC−5 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−6 on 7 Nov 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Chicago?

The deepest berth listed is at KCBX South Terminal: 8.20 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Chicago?

1000.

Who carries out Port State Control at Chicago?

Port State Control at Chicago: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Chicago?

The UN/LOCODE of Chicago is USCHI.

What crews who called at Chicago 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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