Key West

1. Key West Southern Pilot boards24°26.0′N 081°48.0′W
2. Key West Northern Pilot boards24°39.7′N 081°53.9′W

Size limits

LOA 319m, Beam 39m, Draught 9.7m, 48,641DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range 1.5m. At Key West the in going stream flows N and the out going stream flows S at the following strengths:

Entrance to Main Ship Channel, 0.5kts.

Channel W of Fort Taylor, in going 1kts, out going 0.75kts.

Key West Bright Turning Basin 0.75kts.

NW Channel 0.5-1.25kts.

The strength of the tidal stream is influenced by the wind. It is reported that the tidal stream usually sets W.

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

Approach

The harbour is entered through breaks in the reef by 3 channels with depths of 4.0-10.4m and by a number of minor channels.

The principal channel for approaching Key West is the Main Channel, which approaches from the S and is the only deep draught approach to the port.

From the Gulf of Mexico the port is approached by the medium draught NW Channel and the SW by the SW Channel.

Main Channel Range: From the vicinity of pilot boarding place (24°27.0'N 081°48.0'W) the alignment 356° of lightbeacons:

Front light (red rectangle, white stripe on framework tower on piles) (0.6nm SSE of Fort Taylor).

Rear light (as for front light) (0.7nm from front light). Leads N along Main Channel Range for 3.5nm to No 7 and No 8 Lightbuoys (port and starboard hand) passing:

Between No 5 (port hand) and No 6 (starboard hand) Lightbuoys which mark the Western Triangle and Eastern Triangle Shoals, respectively.

Northwest Channel: From the vicinity of Smith Shoal Light (6 sided pyramidal framework tower on piles) (24°43.0'N 081°54.0'W), standing on Smith Shoal, a small coral bank with a least depth of 3.3m over it the alignment 166° of leading lights:

Front light (red triangle and red rectangle , white stripe on pile) (24°38.0'N 081°54.0'W).

Rear light (red rectangle and white stripe on a pyramidal tower on piles) (0.4nm from front light).

Leads SSE through the entrance of the NW Channel. Submerged training walls lie on either side of the entrance and only the outer part of the E training wall shows above LW. The NW end of this training wall is marked by a light beacon (white notice board on piles).

The channel, which is marked by lights and beacons, then leads in a SE direction for 7.0nm to its junction with the Main Ship Channel.

Caution: Attention is drawn to the dangerous wreck, marked by a mooring buoy close E, which lies 2nm WSW of the Smith Shoal Light and to the dangerous wreck (24°39.4'N 081°54.0'W) which lies 0.2nm E of the leading line.

SW Channel: The entrance is marked by a lightbuoy (safe water), it is a convenient approach to Key West from the SW and leads NE for 10nm to the outer anchorage and the Main Ship Channel. The channel, which has been swept to a depth of 7.0m is marked by buoys.

Local knowledge is required to navigate this channel at night.

Anchorages

An extensive outer anchorage, with depths of 8-12.0m is centred 2.0nm SW of Fort Taylor between the S legs of Main Ship Channel and the reefs to the W. This anchorage is safe except in very bad weather conditions and is one of the best for large vessels S of Chesapeake Bay.

Tugs

1 x 1000hp and 1 x 1600hp tugs are available, 24 hours notice required.

Charts and publications

BA 2863. Admiralty Pilot NP70, NP286(5).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

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

Communications

VHF: Ch 16 and 12.

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, each crew member must have a visa in their passport or Seaman's Book.

Notices and regulations

Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.

Regulations concerning entry: The following regulations apply to entry by the Main Ship Channel:

Not more than 1 vessel shall be in the reach between Lightbuoys No 23 and No 25. Vessels in this reach have right of way over vessels leaving the Trumen Annex Basin (24°33.2'N 081°48.5'W).

The reach of the channel from Lightbuoys No 14 and No 15 shall be kept clear except for vessels able to proceed to their berth without delay. If a vessel is unable to proceed it shall pull aside to the W and lie in safe water. No passing is permitted in this reach of the channel.

Speed limit of 5kts is in force in the channel outside the Trumen Annex Basin 182m either side of the basin entrance.

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.

Repairs

Small repair available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Bunkering: Available.

Fresh water: Available.

Medical

Depoo Hospital, 5.3km.

Transport

Nearest airport: Key West International Airport located at Key West, FL, 6.9km.

Working hours

Normally 0800-1700hrs. Overtime by arrangement.

Where it is

Key West is situated at the end of a string of islands off the southern tip of Florida.

The port

One of the leading industries is commercial fishing, the port handles cruise operations and serves as a naval base. The harbour proper lies in front of the city of Key West. Key West is a customs port of entry.

Where does the pilot board at Key West?

The pilot boards at Key West Southern, 24°26.0′N 081°48.0′W. Key West has 2 pilot boarding places.

What time zone is Key West in?

Local time at Key West is UTC−5. Clocks go to UTC−4 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−5 on 7 Nov 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Key West?

The deepest berth listed is at Key West Bight Ferry Terminal: 9.70 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Key West?

1025.

Which load line zone is Key West in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Key West?

Port State Control at Key West: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Key West?

The UN/LOCODE of Key West is USEYW.

What crews who called at Key West 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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