PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Eureka
Pilot
updated May 2010Compulsory for foreign flag vessels. Arrangements for pilots are usually made by the agent or by telephone, also by Westfall Stevedore Co on VHF Ch 10, by fax and telegraph. Vessels should send ETA, draught and operational status of the engines within 24 hours and 4 hours of arrival. Pilots board vessels between 0.5-1nm W of Humboldt Bay Entrance Lightbuoy, or 1.5nm W of Humboldt Bay Entrance Jetties from a tug with a black hull and a red and white deckhouse. Pilots require 24 hours notice of arrival.
Key data
updated Sep 2023Size limits
LOA 216m, beam 32.26m, draught 10.6m, 49,999DWT.
Water density
1026.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Range 1.4m. Mean spring range about 2.2m; mean neap range about 1.0m.
Tidal streams follow the general line of the channels. In the main channel, average rate is less than 2kts, and maximum rate does not exceed 3kts. Between the entrance jetties, average rate is approx 2kts, and maximum rate about 4kts, although this may reach 5.5kts in storm conditions .
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simpson Timber Co. | — | 200 m | 1 |
| Pacific Affiliates Inc. | — | 216 m | 1 |
| Port of Humboldt Bay | — | — | 1 |
| Security National | 10.60 m | 92 m | 2 |
| Sierra Pacific Eureka | 10.60 m | 107 m | 1 |
| Humboldt Bay Forest Products | — | 30 m | 1 |
| Oak Harbor Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Pacific Flake Sea Salt Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Taylor Mariculture Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Chevron Terminal | — | 61 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Jun 2023Approach
The project depths for Humboldt Bay include, Bar Channel 14.6m, Entrance Channel 14.6m, North Bay Channel 11.6m, Eureka Channel - Outer Reach 11.6m, Eureka Channel - Inner Reach 7.9m, Samoa Channel and Turning Basin 11.6m, Fields Landing Channel and Turning Basin 7.9m.
Note: Dredging is carried out regularly to maintain depths over the bar, however for the latest controlling depths the port authorities should be contacted.
Anchorages
Available in open sea 1.8nm W of the harbour.
The recommended anchorage for vessels is 1nm SW of the sea buoy in 27m of water. Anchorage inside the bay is restricted depending on weather conditions and on vessel length and draught.
Restrictions
Movement restrictions: In summer months vessels usually enter on both ingoing and outgoing tides; in winter entry is usually made on the first or last of the ingoing tide, or the first of the outgoing tide. Departure is made on the ingoing tide only, regardless of the time of year. Deep draught vessels enter, or depart, on the last of the ingoing tide from November to the end of March; night movements depend on conditions on the bar before dark.
Vertical Clearance: A fixed bridge crosses Humboldt Bay from the N side of Eureka to a point just N of Samoa, on the Samoa Peninsula (1.25nm NW). Clearances of the fixed spans are 12.2m from Eureka to Woodley Island; then 9.1m to Indian Island; then 13.7m to Samoa Peninsula.
Submarine cables and pipelines are laid in many places throughout the bay. Pipelines and cables additional to those charted may exist and may not have been buried, or may have become exposed. Extreme caution should be exercised when operating in depths of water comparable to the draught of the vessel.
Tugs
Tugboat service is provided by Crowley Maritime Services, Knutson Towboat Co., Brusco Tug & Barge and Mark's Tugboat Co.
Charts and publications
BA 4916, 2531. Admiralty Pilot NP8, NP286(5).
Reporting before arrival
updated Sep 2013ETA and pre-arrival notices
ETA should be given 24 and 4 hours before arrival.
Communications
VHF: Ch 16.
Pilot Office and Vessel Ch 16; 13, 18A, 77.
Stevedores Ch 10.
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.
Unless otherwise directed, immigration 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.
Inspections
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.
Port services
updated Sep 2023Repairs
No facilities for large vessels. Small craft repairs are effected at Fields Landing Wharf; lift capacity 150t. Slipway at Dock A at Eureka can handle vessels LOA 33.5m, 7.3m beam, 3.7m draught and displacement 300t.
Dry docks
Small craft repairs at Fields Landing Boat Yard.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: Medium Diesel Oil (MDO) is supplied by L & M Renner Union Oil Suppliers. No facilities available for bunkering large vessels.
Stores: Available.
Medical
Nearest hospital: Providence St. Joseph Hospital Eureka (4km).
Transport
Nearest airport: California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (23km).
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours.
About Eureka
updated May 2010Where it is
Eureka is located within Humboldt Bay in northern California.
The port
Eureka is the principal town in the Humboldt Bay area and is located 6km N of the harbour entrance.
The main commodities exported from Eureka are forest products handled from 5 active berths, shipped to the orient, northern Europe and various ports in the Mediterranean.
Traffic
Approx 1,500,000t of cargo handled annually.
Questions about Eureka
What are the pilot arrangements at Eureka?
Compulsory for foreign flag vessels.
What time zone is Eureka in?
Local time at Eureka is UTC−8. Clocks go to UTC−7 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−8 on 7 Nov 2027.
What is the maximum draft at Eureka?
The deepest berth listed is at Security National: 10.60 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Eureka?
1026.
Which load line zone is Eureka in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Eureka?
Port State Control at Eureka: US Coast Guard.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Eureka?
The UN/LOCODE of Eureka is USEKA.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Eureka 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.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.