PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Honolulu
Pilot
updated Sep 2014- Mamala Bay Pilot boards21°15.8′N 157°52.8′W
Compulsory for all foreign trade vessels and tankers, and should be ordered through the agent. Pilots board vessels at 21°16.2'N 157°53.4'W (on the leading line, 1nm seaward of Lightbuoy "H").
Pilotage area: All water within a line drawn 278° from Diamond Heal Light, to the intersection of a line drawn 180° from the seaward edge of the reef runway (21°18.20'N 157°55.60'W).
The pilot boat is a launch, 12.5m long, black hull, yellow superstructure with HAWAII PILOTS in white on the cabin sides. The pilot lookout is at Aloha Tower (21°18.42'N 157°51.96'W).
Key data
updated Oct 2021Size limits
Draught 11.3m, LOA 346.98m, beam 48.0m, 158,902DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
North Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Apr 1 to Oct 31, Summer Nov 1 to Mar 31.
Tides
Mean maximum range 0.6m; minimum range 0.2m.
Honolulu occasionally experiences Tsunami's. Warning is given by the US authorities to the Master of a vessel in harbour through their agents.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Island Naval Station | — | — | 7 |
| Pearl City U.S.N Base | — | — | 6 |
| Sand Island Container Terminal | 11.30 m | 294 m | 5 |
| State of Hawaii | 11.00 m | 347 m | 47 |
| U.S. Coast Guard Base | — | — | 5 |
| Honolulu Marine Terminal | 10.36 m | 106 m | 1 |
| Pacific Shipyards International, LLC | 9.70 m | 204 m | 1 |
| Inter-Island Cargo Terminal | — | — | 12 |
| Pearl Harbor Naval Station | 8.30 m | 229 m | 62 |
| HC&D | — | — | 1 |
| Kapalama Container Terminal | — | — | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Oct 2021Approach
The Main Channel, also known as "Fort Armstrong Channel" at the E end of the harbour, has a project depth of 13.7m. The Main Harbour Basin and connecting channels have a project depth of 12.2m, and emergency turning basin a depth of 10.7m. Kapalama Basin has a Project Depth of 12.1m.
Note: For controlling depths the authorities should be consulted for up to date information, as depths in the outer quarters of the channels may be considerably less than the depths given.
Port limits
The harbour extends between Honolulu Harbor Entrance Light (21°17.9'N 157°52.3'W) and the E side of Keehi Lagoon, 2nm NW.
Anchorages
Vessels are not allowed to approach the anchorage without pilot.
Except during strong Kona Sl'y winds, anchorage for deep draught vessels exists outside the harbour, in Mamala Bay off Sand Island and W of the Main, or Fort Armstrong, Channel. Anchorage is not permitted inside the harbour due to the limited swinging room. The bottom consists of sand and coral.
The anchorage is located outside of an area 548m on either side of an underwater sewer outfall line.
An explosives anchorage lies 1.3nm W of the Kalihi Channel entrance.
Anchorage regulations: Anchorage A should only be used if B, C and D anchorages are full. No bunkering operations or vessel transfer of oil is allowed within anchorage A.
Restrictions
Entry at any time is subject to harbour control signals; 14 hours notice of arrival is obligatory.
Speed limit in the harbour is 10kts for boats and 5kts for all other vessels.
Bridges: The John H Slattery highway bridge spans the inner end of Kalihi Channel, between Kapalama Basin and the emergency turning basin. The bridge has fixed spans, 42m wide, with a vertical clearance of 4.3m.
Tugs
Over 30 tugs are available, up to 4,500bhp, ranging from inner-harbour ship assist tugs to inter-island tugs and ocean going tugs serving the US West Coast and various Pacific islands.
Charts and publications
BA 1308, 1309, 1510. Admiralty Pilot NP62, NP286(5).
Reporting before arrival
updated Sep 2018ETA and pre-arrival notices
Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.
Vessels are required to give 24hrs advance notice of arrival by telephone or email. Information requested includes gross tonnage, draught and LOA. One hour prior to arrival, vessels should contact Honolulu Pilot on VHF Ch 12. All vessels should obtain clearance 24hrs in advance from the Harbour Control before entry or departure.
Communications
All vessels should keep a Listening Watch on VHF Ch 12 whilst within the port area.
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
For crew not to be detained onboard the vessel all seamen must have a valid US visa in their passport or Seaman's Book.
Notices and regulations
Tankers and vessels towing tanker barges must not enter US inland waters until boarded by a pilot.
The Harbour Master designates the time of departure and channel to be used. The normal priority for sailing is US government vessels, passenger ships, tankers, vessels carrying dangerous cargoes and freighters.
The Masters of vessels not expected to be ready to sail at the designated time are required to take all possible precautions to minimise damage.
Anchorage Regulations: Anchoring must be positioned inside the anchorage areas. The anchorages are general anchorages for commercial vessels. Anchorage A should only be used when Anchorages B, C and D are full.
No bunkering operations or vessel transfer of oil in bulk of any kind is permitted within Anchorage A.
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 2026Repairs
Hawaii's $555 million Kapalama Container Terminal project at Honolulu Harbor is entering its final stage with the arrival of three massive electric-powered gantry cranes for Pasha Hawaii. The new 84-acre terminal, developed through a public-private partnership between the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and Pasha, is designed to relieve congestion at existing cargo facilities, increase the harbor's cargo-handling capacity by about 40%, and improve logistics efficiency for a state that receives roughly 80% of its consumer goods by ship. The project is also expected to reduce truck traffic around the harbor by approximately 50,000 trips per year. Construction began in 2018 and faced multiple delays due to bid protests and pandemic-related impacts, but the terminal is now targeted for completion by the end of 2026.
The maintenance dredging at Honolulu Harbor, Hawaii's principal seaport, has been successfully completed. The two-month project removed 10,533 cubic yards of material, which was transported to Kalaeloa for dewatering before being hauled to a landfill.
As Hawaii relies on its harbors for over 98% of imported goods, Honolulu Harbor plays a critical role in the state's supply chain. It serves as the central hub for containerized goods, which are initially received at the harbor and then distributed to neighboring islands. This dredging effort ensures the harbor remains operational and capable of supporting Hawaiiâs vital shipping and trade needs.
Repair facilities available at Pier 41 (subject to relocation following building of new container terminal).
Dry docks
*Reportedly Floating Dry Dock 1, "Kapilipono" (114m long, 32m wide and 6,000DWT) is no longer in commission.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available at most piers.
Bunkering: Available by barge, road tanker and pipeline.
Stores: Various ship's requirements obtainable from local ship chandlers.
Medical
Queen's Medical Centre.
Transport
Nearest airport: Honolulu International (9km).
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours.
About Honolulu
updated Feb 2022Where it is
Honolulu, located on the island of Oahu, in Mamala Bay, and is the capital and main port of the Hawaiian Islands.
The port
A major portion of cargo handled at the port is for meeting the requirements of hotels and restaurants servicing the needs of tourists and US military personnel.
The island is home to the US Naval base of Pearl Harbor, located 9nm WNW of Honolulu. Restrictions are in operation in this area. Permission to enter is required in advance from the Commander, Navy Region Hawaii 96860.
Work has began on the new Kapalama Container Terminal for which several port businesses and berths are being relocated. The project is expected to take up to four years to complete. Good bunkering and repair facilities are available.
Traffic
Approx 10,000,000t of cargo, 1,500,000TEU, 4,100 vessels and over 1,000,000 passengers handled annually.
Questions about Honolulu
Where does the pilot board at Honolulu?
The pilot boards at Mamala Bay, 21°15.8′N 157°52.8′W.
What time zone is Honolulu in?
Local time at Honolulu is UTC−10. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Honolulu?
The deepest berth listed is at Sand Island Container Terminal: 11.30 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Honolulu?
1025.
Which load line zone is Honolulu in?
North Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Apr 1 to Oct 31, Summer Nov 1 to Mar 31.
Who carries out Port State Control at Honolulu?
Port State Control at Honolulu: US Coast Guard.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Honolulu?
The UN/LOCODE of Honolulu is USHNL.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Honolulu 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.