Cordova

1. Simpson Bay Pilot boards60°35.0′N 146°00.0′W

Size limits

Max draught 7.6m.

Largest vessel handled: LOA 121.9m, draught 7.6m.

Water density

1010.

Load line zone

North Pacific Winter Seasonal Zone, Winter Oct 16 to Apr 15, Summer Apr 16 to Oct 15.

Tides

Range 5.8m.

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

Approach

Main channel: From a position in mid channel N of Salmo Point (60°37'N 145°46'W) the track leads ENE passing (with positions given from North Island Rock Light No 10, (60°37.6'N 145°43.0'W):

SSE of Light No 9 (framework tower, port hand daymark) (1.25nm WNW) exhibited on the mainland coast, and:

NNW of North Island (0.3nm WSW) a long narrow wooded island 33m in height.

Then the track leads E towards Shepard Point (1.25nm ENE), a sandpit on which stand the ruins of a former cannery, some tanks and a wharf, passing:

N of North Island Rock Light No 10 (pile, starboard hand daymark) exhibited on North Island Rock a drying rock surrounded by deep water. Then:

N of the NE extremity of an extensive shoal bank (0.6nm ESE) extending E and SSE from SE side of North Island. The NE extremity of the bank is marked by No 12 Lightbuoy (starboard hand) moored 250m NNE.

Then the track leads SSW passing ESE of No 12 Lightbuoy which also marks the NW side of the entrance to the buoyed channel leading SSW between the SE edge of the bank and the mainland coast. The channel has a least width of 300m between No 14 Buoy (starboard hand) (0.95nm SSE) moored on the SE edge of the bank, and No 15 Lightbuoy (port hand) moored on the edge of drying flats extending 300m offshore from the mouth of Humpback Creek, No 16 Lightbuoy (starboard hand), moored 0.2nm ENE from the S extremity of the shoal bank (2nm S), marks the NW side of the S entrance to this channel.

Then the track leads SW, passing (with positions given from Spike Island Light (60°32.8'N 145°46.6'W):

NW of the pier at Orca (2.5nm NE), and:

SE of the drying banks (2.25nm NNE) extending 0.6nm S from Observation Island. Observation Island is 128m in height and wooded and the drying banks lie on the N part of a narrow shoal ridge, with depths of 5.5m or less over it, which extends 2nm SSW from the S side of the island to almost join with a similar shoal ridge extending NE in mid channel from the extensive drying banks to the SW of Spike Island. Then:

SE of the E extremity of a large shoal patch (1.75nm NNE), with a least depth of 0.3m over it, marked by No 18 Lightbuoy (starboard hand).

Then the track leads SSW to the piers at Cordova, passing at least 0.25nm ESE from "OI" Lightbuoy at the S end of western channel.

Western channel: From a position 0.25nm NE from Western Channel Light No 2 (60°37'N 145°46'W) the track leads S, passing (with positions given from the light):

W of Observation Island (0.9nm SE), then:

E of Knot Point (1.5nm S) a 129m high wooded promontory.

Then into a narrow buoyed channel (2nm S) between shoals with depths of less than 0.9m over them lying on each side, passing:

Close W of No 3 Lightbuoy (port hand) (2nm S), then:

E of No 4 Lightbuoy (starboard hand) (2.25nm S), then:

Close E of "OI" Lightbuoy (preferred channel to port) (3nm S) moored on the NW side of the S end of the shoal ridge extending SSW from Observation Island.

Then the track continues S, crossing the ridge which at this point is approx 0.2nm in width and has a least depth of 4.6m, to join the main channel just N of Cordova.

Orca channel: From a position 0.25nm NE from Western Channel Light No 2 (60°37'N 145°46'W) the track leads SE, passing (with positions given from the light):

SW of North Rock (1nm ESE) a 4.6m high rock lying 0.5nm S from the SW end of North Island, and:

NE of South Rock (1nm SE) a drying rock lying 250m off the coast of Observation Island, then:

NE of an above water rock (1.25nm SE) lying close off the NE point of Observation Island.

Then SW of No 16 Lightbuoy (1.75nm SE) to join the main channel.

Anchorages

Good anchorage may be made in the main channel off the mud flats 0.8nm NE of Spike Island (60°33'N 145°47'W), in depths of approx 15m, or in constricted anchorage 0.1nm NW from Spike Island in a depth of 12m. Anchorage may also be made approx 0.5nm NW from Spike Island, in a depth of approx 7.0m, sand bottom, avoiding the cable area which extends N in this vicinity. To reach this anchorage it is necessary to cross the S end of the shoal ridge marked by "OI" Lightbuoy. A log booming area lies 1.25nm N of Spike Island.

Tugs

Tugs are limited in availability, arrangements should be made well in advance.

Charts and publications

BA 4980, 4979, 1499. Admiralty Pilot NP4, NP286(5).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Notice of ETA at Cape Hinchinbrook (60°14'N 146°39'W) should be sent 72 and 24 hours in advance, and any subsequent amendments of more than 3 hours.

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

Communications

VHF: Ch 19, 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 vessel each crew member must have a valid US 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, for all types of marine repairs.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available.

Fuel: Available.

Medical

Cordova Community Medical Center, 1.1km.

Transport

Nearest airport: Cordova Municipal Airport located at Cordova, AK, 2.8km and Merle K (Mudhole) Smith Airport located at Cordova, AK, 18.5km..

Nearest railway: Whittier, Alaska.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

Cordova is situated on the southern coast of Alaska at the head of the Orca Inlet, 280km E of Anchorage.

The port

Cordova is a small town located near the mouth of the Copper River. No roads connect Cordova to other Alaskan towns, so a plan or ferry is required to travel there. Facilities for the handling of general cargo, containers, Ro-Ro traffic and petroleum products.

Traffic

Approx 30,000t of cargo and 319,004 passengers handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Cordova?

The pilot boards at Simpson Bay, 60°35.0′N 146°00.0′W.

What time zone is Cordova in?

Local time at Cordova is UTC−9. Clocks go to UTC−8 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−9 on 7 Nov 2027.

What is the water density at Cordova?

1010.

Which load line zone is Cordova in?

North Pacific Winter Seasonal Zone, Winter Oct 16 to Apr 15, Summer Apr 16 to Oct 15.

Who carries out Port State Control at Cordova?

Port State Control at Cordova: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Cordova?

The UN/LOCODE of Cordova is USCDV.

What crews who called at Cordova 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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