Escanaba

Size limits

LOA 233.79m, beam 24m, 35,019DWT.

Tides

Unlike ocean shorelines, where the main cause of water level change is from the gravitational forces of the sun and moon, tidal level fluctuations in the Great Lakes are mainly caused by wind and barometric pressure changes. Consequently the Great Lakes are considered to be non-tidal.

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

Approach

Escanaba is on the west side of Little Bay de Noc, 6nm Northeast of Ford River and 7nm Northwest of Peninsula Point. A lighted red brick cylindrical building in the city is prominent. Sand Point, marked by a private light, extends east from shore. Escanaba River flows into the harbour 2.5nm northwest of Sand Point.

The harbour has depths of 8.5m to 12.1m (28ft to 40ft) within a 0.4nm of the shoreline and give access to the largest Lakers. A new pier has been built, able to accommodate ocean-going vessels.

Vessels Northbound from ports at the S end of Lake Michigan to Escanaba, should set a course no more than 8nm off Wind Point.

Anchorages

Anchorage at Escanaba is available in the portion of the bay constituting the harbour, with natural depths of 9.1-12.1m at a distance of approx 609m from the shore.

Restrictions

Submerged piling, approx 0.3nm SE of Iron Ore Dock No 6.

Magnetic anomolies have been reported in the area, with differences from normal variation of up to 17°.

Tugs

Available.

Charts and publications

BA 4794. Admiralty Pilot NP286(5).

US14915. US Coast Pilot 6 (Great Lakes).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Should be sent from pilot embarkation point 36 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

Western Great Lakes Pilots Association: Tel: 715 392 5204 (Office); Fax: 715 392 1666.

(Postal Address: P.O. Box 248, 1111 Tower Avenue, Superior, WI 54880-0248).

Documents

Please see country information for details of documentation requirements.

Customs and immigration

Escanaba is a Customs Station.

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

Escanaba is situated on the West shore of Lake Michigan, on the West side of Little Bay de Noc, 6nm NE of Ford River and 7nm NW of Peninsula Point.

The port

Escanaba is a natural harbour with conditions permitting unobstructed use by the largest lake vessels; when the locks at Sault Ste.Marie, Michigan, then opened (usually in March) on Lake Superior and continued until these locks closed in January for the Winter. The port handles dry bulk, general cargo, cruise and passengers.

Traffic

Approx 1,000,000t of cargo handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Escanaba?

The waters of Lake Michigan and Great Lakes are undesignated waters.

What time zone is Escanaba in?

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

Who carries out Port State Control at Escanaba?

Port State Control at Escanaba: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Escanaba?

The UN/LOCODE of Escanaba is USESC.

What crews who called at Escanaba 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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