Delaware City

Size limits

Draught 9.3m, LOA 281.33m, Beam 49m, 164,028DWT.

Water density

1000.

Load line zone

Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Seasonal Area for ships of 100m or less in length, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Range 1.6m. Tidal streams reach 2kts between Delware City and Pea Patch Island.

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

Approach

Delaware River has a channel depth of 12.0m to Fairless, PA and 9.0m to Morrisville, NJ.

Traffic schemes and VTS

There is a Traffic Separation Scheme in place in the approaches to Delaware Bay. This comprises two one-way lanes: The East TSS approach and the SE TSS approach and a two-way route.

Both areas are monitored 24 hours.

Vessel Reporting System (VRS)

Participation:

The following vessels are asked to participate in the Delaware River and Bay VRS:

(a) All powered vessels of LOA 40m or more

(b) All vessels of LOA 8m or more whilst towing

(c) All vessels certified to carry 50 passengers or more for hire, whilst working, except when doing so on a published schedule

(d) All dredgers or floating plant employed in the vicinity of the main channels or anchorages if likely to affect the navigation of other vessels. Unmanned or intermittently manned floating plant being under the control of a dredger

Procedure:

Participating vessels within the VRS area should monitor VHF Ch 14 at all times and respond promptly when hailed

Vessels operating in the vicinity of the main channels or sea lanes within the VRS area, but not participating in the VRS, are asked to:

(a) Monitor VHF Ch 13 and respond promptly when called

(b) Contact Delaware Maritime Exchange when required, to obtain details of large vessels operating within the area

(c) Not impede the navigation of large vessels using the sea lanes, channels and anchorages

Reporting:

VRS participants are required to report the following information to Delaware Maritime Exchange:

1. Sailing plan (check in) to be submitted before entering or getting under way within the VRS and should include:

(a) Vessel's name

(b) Location

(c) Destination, including any intended additional callings and and/or anchorages

(d) Tow configuration (number of laden/unladen barges)

(e) Nature of cargo

2. Sailing Plan Deviation to be submitted in the event of any change to intended destination.

3. Position report including name of vessel and position when passing the following Reporting Points:

(a) Off Harbor or Refuge Lt station (in-bound only)

(b) Marcus Hook Range

(c) Mifflin Range

(d) Any other location which may be directed by Delaware Maritime Exchange

(4) Final report (check out)

Check in and check out points:

Delaware Maritime Exchange area:

(a) Brown Shoal Lt Bn (38°55.35'N 75°06.05'W) when passing from Pilot Traffic Tower to Delaware Maritime Exchange systems

(b) Biddle Point (39°33.26'N 75°37.06'W) navigating Eastbound on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal

(c) Reedy Point (39°33.65'N 75°33.89'W) navigating Westbound at the entrance to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal

Pilot Traffic Tower area:

(a) Inbound at McCrie Shoal Gong Lt Buoy 2MS (38°50.60'N 74°50.28'W)

(b) Inbound on entering the Five Fathom sea lane

(c) Inbound on entering the Delaware sea lane

Anchorage Intentions and Reports:

All vessels intending to anchor anywhere within the Delaware Bay or River are required to notify Delaware Maritime Exchange prior to arrival at the intended anchorage, including the anchorage position, ETA and reason for anchoring.

Vessels are further required to notify Delaware Maritime Exchange of any changes to anchorage intentions, including changes to ETA.

Vessels reporting anchorage intentions will be notified by Delaware Maritime Exchange of:

(a) Any other vessels in the anchorages along with their ETD

(b) Any other vessels en-route the anchorage

(c) Current limitations affecting the intended anchorage

(d) Any other potential conflicts with the intention to anchor

All vessels anchored with in the Delaware Bay and River area are required to:

(a) Continuously monitor VHF Ch 14 and 16

(b) Report to Delaware Maritime Exchange, any change to vessel's intended ETD from the anchorage

(c) Ensure that the vessel's AIS transponder is switched on, fully operational and transmitting correctly while underway and at anchor.

Vessels leaving an anchorage are required to submit a Sailing Plan to Delaware Maritime Exchange

Final Report:

Participants are required to submit a report with name of vessel and position as follows:

(a) On arriving at destination within the VRS

(b) On departing from the VRS area

All communications must be made in English.

Anchorages

There are federally designated anchorages available.

Restrictions

Ice: Due to lack of ice buoys in the area from Delair Rail Bridge to Trenton NJ it is recommended that daylight only navigation takes place in the upper Delaware River.

The PORTS program for calculating max draught is in use at this port.

North Atlantic right whales: From1st November to 30th April a Seasonal Management Area is established at the entrance to Delaware Bay. A maximum speed restriction of 10kts is imposed in this vicinity during this period to reduce the danger of ship strikes on North Atlantic right whales.

Charts and publications

BA 2603, 2604; NOAA 12312, 12314. Admiralty Pilot NP69.

ETA and pre-arrival notices

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

Communications

VHF: Ch 16 and 14.

Port: Delaware River Port Authority:

Tel: +1 856 968 2044, Fax: +1 856 968 2056, Website: http://www.drpa.org

Pilot office:

Tel: +1 215 465 8340, Fax: +1 215 465 3970, Telex: +255 5101002653 DELPILOTS PHA

Email: [email protected]

Pilot station:

VHF: Ch 14, 16, 13

Tel: +1 302 645 8538, Fax: +1 302 645 7822

Maritime Exchange:

Call: Delaware Maritime Exchange

VHF: Ch 14, 13, 16

Tel: +1 215 925 1524

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.

Quarantine: The federal quarantine station for Delaware River ports, is situated at Marcus Hook (39°49.0'N 075°25.0'W). Quarantine is enforced in accordance with regulations of United States Health Service. Unless otherwise directed, vessels subject to inspection by quarantine, customs, immigrations and agricultural quarantine officials, are normally boarded by the relevant officials on arrival at their berths.

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.

Where it is

Delaware City is on the W bank of Delaware River approx 90nm upstream from the Cape May Lighthouse.

The port

Delaware City is one of the "Ports of Philadelphia" within the Delaware River Port Area. The port operated by PBF Energy handles crude and petroleum product.

What are the pilot arrangements at Delaware City?

Dock pilot boards from one of the two tugs required for berthing or leaving.

What time zone is Delaware City in?

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

What is the maximum draft at Delaware City?

The deepest berth listed is at Delaware City Refining Terminal: 9.30 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Delaware City?

1000.

Which load line zone is Delaware City in?

Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Seasonal Area for ships of 100m or less in length, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Delaware City?

Port State Control at Delaware City: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Delaware City?

The UN/LOCODE of Delaware City is USDCI.

What crews who called at Delaware City 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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