PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Greater Baton Rouge
Pilot
updated Oct 2010Associated Branch Pilots station is located at Venice, approx 10nm above Pilottown; pilotage is provided 24 hours a day. Vessels should send an ETA with draught, DWT and available speed 24 hours prior to arrival off Southwest Pass Entrance Bell buoy SW or the MR-GO sea buoys. If the original ETA changes by more than 2 hours, an amended ETA is required 12 hours in advance of arrival, or if the arrival time is later than the original ETA, 12 hours prior to original ETA. Associated Branch Pilots' boats have white superstructure with either red or black hulls.
The Crescent River Port Pilots have an office in New Orleans that is manned 24 hours a day, year round. Vessels requiring a Crescent River Port Pilot shall provide an ETA at least 24 hours prior to arrival off Southwest Pass or the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Sea Buoys. If the original ETA changes by more than 2 hours, an amended ETA is required 12 hours in advance of arrival, or if the arrival time is later than the original ETA, 12 hours prior to original ETA. Vessels arriving without the required notice may be delayed if a pilot is not available in addition to the penalties specified in the tariff. Vessels may notify the Crescent pilots, 24 hours a day: Tel: +1 504 392 7598 or Telex: 673 7841. The river pilots board vessels off Pilottown about 2.3 miles above Head of Passes Light. The pilot station, on the E side of the river at Pilottown, maintains a lookout and is equipped to handle radio traffic on VHF Ch 09 and 67. The Crescent River Port Pilots have fast white motor boats with the names "Pilot, River Pilot, Port Pilot or Crespilot" in red on the sides. The Crescent River Port Pilots take vessels from Pilottown upriver to New Orleans and from Light 78 on the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet Canal to New Orleans. On the canal, pilots board vessels from a private launch at Light 78. (Please see 'Developments' under 'General' regarding the closure of MR-GO).
New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots are located in Metairie and available 24 hours. Vessels requiring a pilot shall provide an ETA at least 24 hours prior to arrival off Southwest Pass. If the original ETA changes by more than 2 hours, an amended ETA is required 12 hours in advance of arrival, or if the arrival time is later than the original ETA, 12 hours prior to original ETA.
Associated Federal Pilots and Docking Masters of Louisiana LLC are located at Metairie and available 24 hours. Vessels are requested to send ETA 12 hours prior to arrival off Southwest Pass.
Key data
updated Jun 2019Size limits
Harbour - Draught 14.3m, LOA 260.37m, beam 44.0m, 118,585DWT.
Offshore - LOA 230m, 81,804DWT.
Water density
1000.
Tides
The water level is tidal through Baton Rouge and beyond up to the 265 miles AHP. There is a bulletin board at Port Allen Lock, 228 miles AHP, showing the river stage above the normal low level along with a river depth gauge.
A second river depth gauge is situated at 175 miles AHP (Donaldsonville).
Seasonal, river level varies up to 4.9m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shintech Louisiana | — | 183 m | 1 |
| Placid Refining | — | — | 2 |
| Louis Dreyfus - Port Allen Export Elevator | — | 232 m | 2 |
| Impala Terminals (Burnside) | 14.30 m | 260 m | 5 |
| Mississippi River Deepwater Complex | 13.30 m | 252 m | 4 |
| Potash Corporation Geismar/Williams & PCS Nitrogen/General Electric | 13.00 m | 225 m | 1 |
| L&L Feeting/Getco/Cooper/TSmith Stevedoring | — | — | 1 |
| Central Farmers Industries - Donaldsonville | 12.80 m | 205 m | 3 |
| Kinder Morgan St. Gabriel Terminal | 12.80 m | 186 m | 1 |
| Westlake Chemical - Plaquemine Terminal | — | 184 m | 1 |
| BASF (Geismar) | 12.40 m | 186 m | 1 |
| ExxonMobil Anchorage Chemical Terminal (ACT) | — | 158 m | 1 |
| ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery (BRRF) | 12.20 m | 250 m | 5 |
| LBC Baton Rouge | 12.20 m | 259 m | 1 |
| Cooper Consolidated | — | 229 m | 4 |
All 39 terminals
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formosa Plastics Corp | — | — | 1 |
| Willow Glen Power Plant | — | — | 1 |
| IMTT - Geismar | 11.50 m | 213 m | 1 |
| Dow Chemical (Plaquemine) | 10.70 m | 251 m | 3 |
| Baker Hughes | 9.50 m | 186 m | 1 |
| Total CosMar Terminal | — | 183 m | 1 |
| Buzzi Unicem - Burnside Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| EnLink Midstream - Riverside Plant | 6.90 m | 154 m | 1 |
| Hexion | — | — | 2 |
| Pelican State Lime | — | — | 1 |
| Solvay - Baton Rouge Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Castrol Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Trinity Marine (Plant 48, Brusly) | — | — | 1 |
| A&Z Marine Shipyard | — | — | 2 |
| Genesis Energy - Baton Rouge Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Deltech Corporation | — | — | 1 |
| Ergon | — | — | 1 |
| South Louisiana Cement | — | — | 1 |
| Lhoist North America | — | — | 1 |
| SEACOR AMH (Port Allen Canal) | — | — | 1 |
| Thomas Pipe Yard Landing | — | — | 1 |
| Southern Scrap Xpress Recycling | — | — | 2 |
| 234 Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Waterloo Operations (Barber Brothers) Geismar | — | — | 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 2018Approach
The port is approached from the SE through New Orleans and entered passing Union (168 miles AHP). The main channel has project depths of 13.7m to 181 miles AHP, then 12.2m to 232 miles AHP and 3.7m from here up to Baton Rouge Harbor channel at 235.2 miles AHP.
Caution: The US Army Corps of Engineers advise (Feb 2011) that stretches between New Orleans and Baton Rouge - where most large commercial ships transit - might have to move to one way traffic.
River pilots have already limited some of that area to draughts of 11.3m and 12.2m, requiring bulkers to load light.
The annual rise and fall of the river level is made more extreme by floods. The highest level is usually during April and the lowest during in October. The maximum difference is 12.2m and the mean difference 6.4m.
Constant dredging is required to maintain fairways and channels along the river and advice should be sought from The District Office, Corps of Engineers, Pritanya Street, New Orleans for the latest controlling depths.
Cautions: Hazardous floating debris including logs may be encountered at all times along the river.
There are regular vehicle ferry crossings at 191 miles AHP (White Castle - Carville)and 208 miles AHP (Plaquemines - Sunshine).
Note: Water depths in the Mississippi River are continually subject to change. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operate their Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) service for calculating max real time draught. In an effort to prevent collisions and groundings, the waters from South Pass and Southwest Pass up to 233.9M AHP (the N boundary of Baton Rouge) have been designated a Regulated Navigation Area under US Department of Commerce, Code of Federal Regulations - Title 33.
Port limits
The limits extend from Union and Union (168.3 miles AHP) to Point Menoir (253 miles AHP).
Traffic schemes and VTS
For VTS Monitoring Areas, Mississippi River (see Communications Section).
Anchorages
Temporary anchorages may be assigned by the Commander of the local Coast Guard District.
Restrictions
Vessels are advised to use extreme caution when turning downstream. Strong currents associated with high water levels can cause excessive speeds in currents.
Horace Wilkinson (Baton Rouge I-10) Bridge has a min vertical clearance of 38m and a span of 152m, and the cables have 45m safe vertical clearance. Baton Rouge Railroad and Highway Bridge has a min vertical clearance of 19.0m and a span of 227.0m
Hazards: Include ferries crossing the river at White Castle (191 miles AHP) and Plaquemarine (208 miles AHP).
Charts and publications
BA 3384, 3851, 3382. Admiralty Pilot 69A, NP286(5).
US 11370, 11354, 11368, 11365, 11367, 11369 (depending on which approach is taken). US Coast Pilot 5.
Reporting before arrival
updated Aug 2016ETA and pre-arrival notices
Vessels should advise ETA at least 96 hours in advance via agent.
Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.
There is a pager for contacting duty personnel: Tel: +1 225 3776025.
Communications
VHF: Port Ch 77 (also monitored by Mississippi River Pilots).
Tel: +1 225 3421660
Fax: +1225 3421666
Website: www.portgbr.com
Hours: 0700 - 1700hrs.
Associated Branch Pilots:
VHF: Ch 16, 06, 09, 67
Tel: +1 504 831 6615 (Metairie office) +1 504 524 0844 (Venice office)
Fax: +1 504 831 4536 (Metairie office) +1 504 522 7929 (Venice office)
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.barpilot.com
VHF: Ch 09, 67
Crescent River Port Pilots' Association:
Tel: +1 504 392 8001
Fax: +1 504 392 7598
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.crescentpilots.com
New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association:
VHF: Ch 67
Tel: +1 504 219 2611
Fax: +1 504 455 2942
Website: http://www.neworleansbatonrougepilots.com
Associated Federal Pilots & Docking Masters of Louisiana LLC:
VHF: Ch 16, 06, 09, 67, 67A.
Tel: +1 504 456 0787
Fax: +1 504 456 0987
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.federalpilot.com
New Orleans Traffic (24 hours):
VHF: 05A, 11, 12.
Tel: +1 504 5892780, +1 504 5892811.
Email: [email protected]
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.
US Public Health Service quarantine regulations apply.
Customs and 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 Jun 2019Repairs
Small repairs possible locally. Nearest place for major repairs New Orleans (120nm).
Dry docks
Elmwood Marine and McKinney Fleet Wharf floating drydock 1,016t, length 576m; located at 228 miles AHP, SE bank. Floating crane.
A & Z Marine Shipyard used for outfitting and repairs, 209m length, depth 3.0m.
Plaquemine Point Shipyard and Cleaning Dock (Plaquemine).
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available.
Stores: Available.
Medical
There are a number of medical facilities in Baton Rouge city including Baton Rouge General (4km ) and Earl K Long and Our Lady of the Lake Medical Centers (9km).
Crew change
Available.
Transport
Nearest airport: Ryan Airport (BTR), 11km NNE with services to international airports in Houston, Dallas, Memphis, Charlotte and Atlanta.
Nearest railway: Three Class 1 railway companies serve Baton Rouge: Union Pacific Railroad, Illinois Central/Canadian National Railway and Kansas City Southern Railroad.
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours if required.
About Greater Baton Rouge
updated Feb 2022Where it is
The port of Greater Baton Rouge is the furthest inland deep water port on the Mississippi River, situated in the State of Louisiana. The Port's jurisdiction area extends on both sides of the River from Union (168.3 miles Above Head of Passes [AHP]) to Point Menoir (255 miles AHP).
The port
Cargoes include asphalt, barite, coal and coke, coffee, grain, forest products, molasses, ores, petroleum products, pipes, steel products, liquid bulk chemicals, LPG, sugar, talc and containerised cargo. Heavy lift and project consignments are also handled. Transhipment of cargo into barges, for carriage further up the Mississippi and into the U.S. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is also a prominent activity.
Traffic
Approx. 67,000,000t of cargo, 20,000 vessels and 900 passengers handled annually.
Questions about Greater Baton Rouge
What are the pilot arrangements at Greater Baton Rouge?
Associated Branch Pilots station is located at Venice, approx 10nm above Pilottown; pilotage is provided 24 hours a day.
What time zone is Greater Baton Rouge in?
Local time at Greater Baton Rouge 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 Greater Baton Rouge?
The deepest berth listed is at Impala Terminals (Burnside): 14.30 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Greater Baton Rouge?
1000.
Who carries out Port State Control at Greater Baton Rouge?
Port State Control at Greater Baton Rouge: US Coast Guard.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Greater Baton Rouge?
The UN/LOCODE of Greater Baton Rouge is USBTR.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Greater Baton Rouge 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.
Plan a route to Greater Baton Rouge →
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.