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PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS

Hueneme

USNTDUnited States34°08.5′N 119°11.9′WUpdated Nov 2025Open in the Ports tool

PILOTPilot boards at Port Hueneme.
KEY DATAUTC−8 · IALA B
REPORTINGVessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.
INSPECTIONSUS Coast Guard port.

Pilot

updated Sep 2013
1
Blue: Hueneme. Magenta: where the pilot boards (numbered as the list). Drawn by NaviBoss for planning, not for navigation.
  1. Port Hueneme Pilot boards34°06.7′N 119°14.5′W

Pilotage is compulsory for merchant vessels over 300gt, and for all vessels over LOA 84m, and is available throughout 24 hours. The pilot boarding position is close on the entrance leading line about 1.5nm SSW of the entrance.

Key data

updated Feb 2024
LOCAL TIMEUTC−8Clocks go to UTC−7 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−8 on 7 Nov 2027.worked out from the port's time zone
WATER DENSITY1025.
LOAD LINE ZONENorth Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Mar 1 to June 30 and Nov 1 to Nov 30, Summer Jul 1 to Oct 31 and Dec 1 to Feb 28/29.
IALA REGIONBRed to starboard when entering.from the country
MAX SIZELOA 244.6m, beam 38m, draught 10m, 73,296DWT.

Size limits

LOA 244.6m, beam 38m, draught 10m, 73,296DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

North Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Mar 1 to June 30 and Nov 1 to Nov 30, Summer Jul 1 to Oct 31 and Dec 1 to Feb 28/29.

Tides

Average rise and fall of tide is about 1.5m, extreme tides are 2.13m. The harbour is not affected by tidal streams or current. Mean Low Water is + 0.46m.

Max draft per terminal

TerminalMax draughtMax LOABerths
North Terminal—245 m2
Oxnard Harbor District—225 m4
South Terminal—210 m3

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

Approach

updated Feb 2024

Approach

The port is approached on the alignment of leading lights and entered through a small cutting protected by two jetties. The entrance channel has a depth of 10.4m.

Anchorages

If there is a delay in entering port for any reason, the best anchorage area is considered to be 1.8nm offshore which has a sandy bottom. Anchorage areas are considered good either E or W of the Hueneme Canyon which extends seaward from the entrance channel. Masters should inform the Port Hueneme Wharfinger of the vessel's anchored position. The Wharfinger will relay the position to the USCG and the US Navy.

Restrictions

The length of the entrance channel is 700m. The narrowest width of the channel entrance is 100m between Buoys No 5 and No 6. All traffic entering or departing the port is controlled by the Port Hueneme Wharfinger or Navy Control No 1. Only one way traffic is permitted in the channel for major vessels.

Entering Port: Self propelled craft may normally enter or clear port at any time of day or night. The port pilots determine whether lighters will enter or leave at night, taking into consideration such factors as the load, visibility, wind/sea conditions, etc. Vessels should report to the Port Hueneme Wharfinger on VHF Ch 16 or 14 prior to entering port or getting underway.

A speed limit of 5.0kts is in force in the port.

Tugs

Tug services for the Port of Hueneme are available commercially. Requests for tug services should be made to the wharfinger of the Oxnard Harbour District, through the ship's agent. Tugs are available on a 24 hour basis. There are two Brusco tugs: 1 x twin screw, 2,400hp and 1 x Z drive tractor tug, 3,800hp. The number of tugs to be used on any movement is determined by the port pilot in charge of the movement. Tugs are not available for deep sea towing, except in the case of emergency to save life or property.

Charts and publications

BA 4908, 4910. Admiralty Pilot NP8, NP286(5).

Reporting before arrival

updated Aug 2010

ETA and pre-arrival notices

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

Communications

VHF: The USCG station at Channel Islands monitors the following frequencies: 2182 kHZ (International Distress), Ch 16 for initial call up, 2694 kHZ, Ch 12, 21A, and 22A for general administrative calls. The Port Hueneme Wharfinger monitors Ch 16 and 14 (Ch 16 for call up and 14 for port administration). The US Navy monitors 2150 kHZ, Ch 16, and uses Ch 16 for port administration. The Port Hueneme Commercial and Military Pilots use Ch 65A as do the commercial tugboats.

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

A US Customs Officer is available in the US Customs Office in the Oxnard Harbour District Administrative Building as authorised by the Los Angeles District. The Customs Officer can be reached on Tel: +1 805 488 8574.

Ships entering direct from foreign countries are required to have an immigration officer present to check passports, etc. The US Bureau of Immigration and Naturalisation Service, US Border Patrol maintains an office for this service in Oxnard, California, and will be present upon request of the agent. Contact: Tel: +1 805 482 8997.

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 Aug 2010

Repairs

Minor repairs may be made in port. Machine shops in Ventura, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme have qualified staff for normal voyage repair work.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Fresh water is available at all berths.

There are hydrants along the wharf and delivery to ship is effected by hose. Water is hard, and not suitable for boilers.

Contact wharfinger on duty for delivery of water. Boiler fuel water is available locally by road tanker.

Bunkering: Bunker fuel, marine diesel, and No 1 and No 2 motor diesel are available, delivered directly to the vessel from a pipeline connected to all berths and the channel entrance wharf. The pipeline pumps at a rate of 900bbls/hr on intermediate fuel oil (IFO) and 500bbls/hr on motor diesel and MDO. Fuel can also be delivered by road tanker direct to ship's tanks from a local source.

Medical

Medical Centre, Port Hueneme or St John's Hospital, Oxnard, California. Temporary visa must be obtained from Department of Immigration and Transportation if a crewman or passenger is to remain after the ship sails.

Crew change

Facilities are available at Ventura County Airport.

Transport

Nearest airport: Ventura County Airport, 6km.

Nearest railway: Ventura County Railroad located at the port connects with the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

About Hueneme

updated Nov 2025

Where it is

Hueneme is situated 52nm NW of Los Angeles and 34nm SE of Santa Barbara.

The port

Oxnard Harbour District, Port of Hueneme, the only deep water port (10.6m at MLLW) between Los Angeles and San Francisco, is shared between commercial and military facilities. The Oxnard Harbour District, a political subdivision of the State of California encompassing the cities of Oxnard, Hueneme and some unincorporated areas, and governed by five Harbour Commissioners elected at-large, is responsible for the administration of the commercial port.

It is a multi-port with flexible facilities and fast vessel turn around. Port rail service is provided by the Ventura County Railroad interconnecting to the Union Pacific Railway.

Highway access is available via US Highway 101 and Pacific Coast Highway 1 providing quick truck dispatch from all port facilities.

Main cargoes moving through the port include automobiles, bananas, citrus, fruit, paper, steel, wood pulp and a variety of other general cargo. It also serves as the major support facility for the offshore oil industry in the Santa Barbara Channel and California coastal area. The port is home to an active commercial fishing industry.

Traffic

Approx 2,400,000t of cargo, 210,000TEU and 370 vessels handled annually.

Questions about Hueneme

Where does the pilot board at Hueneme?

The pilot boards at Port Hueneme, 34°06.7′N 119°14.5′W.

What time zone is Hueneme in?

Local time at Hueneme is UTC−8. Clocks go to UTC−7 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−8 on 7 Nov 2027.

What is the water density at Hueneme?

1025.

Which load line zone is Hueneme in?

North Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Mar 1 to June 30 and Nov 1 to Nov 30, Summer Jul 1 to Oct 31 and Dec 1 to Feb 28/29.

Who carries out Port State Control at Hueneme?

Port State Control at Hueneme: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Hueneme?

The UN/LOCODE of Hueneme is USNTD.

Tips from seafarers

What crews who called at Hueneme 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.

Read and add tips for Hueneme →

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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.