PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Long Beach
Pilot
- Long Beach Pilot boards33°41.7′N 118°11.0′W
- Long Beach Pilot boards33°40.7′N 118°11.0′W
Key data
updated Dec 2024Size limits
LOA 400m, beam 61.002m, draught 22.1m, 323,183DWT.
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.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pier T - Marathon Petroleum | 22.10 m | 339 m | 1 |
| Pier T - Total Terminals International (TTI) | 15.20 m | 400 m | 4 |
| Pier G - International Transportation Service | 14.80 m | 368 m | 4 |
| Pier G - Metro Ports | 14.70 m | 240 m | 2 |
| Pier B - Marathon Petroleum | 14.63 m | 252 m | 4 |
| Pier E - Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) | 14.40 m | 366 m | 4 |
| Pier J - Pacific Container Terminal | 14.00 m | 366 m | 8 |
| Pier A - SSA Marine | 13.10 m | 304 m | 7 |
| Pier F - Koch Carbon | — | 229 m | 1 |
| Pier B - Marathon Petroleum | 12.19 m | 250 m | 4 |
| Pier F - Mitsubishi Cement | — | 183 m | 1 |
| Pier T - SA Recycling | — | 229 m | 1 |
| Pier B - Petro-Diamond/Toyota Logistics/National Gypsum | 10.50 m | 229 m | 2 |
| Pier F - Cooper (SSA) | 9.80 m | 265 m | 2 |
| Pier S - Vopak Terminal Long Beach | 9.80 m | 189 m | 1 |
All 21 terminals
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pier D - CEMEX USA | 9.70 m | 187 m | 1 |
| Pier T - Weyerhaeuser/Fremont Forest | — | — | 1 |
| Pier F - Crescent Terminal (SSA) | 9.20 m | 230 m | 2 |
| Carnival Cruise Terminal - Long Beach | 8.70 m | 324 m | 1 |
| U.S Millitary Terminal | 7.10 m | 209 m | 5 |
| Pier D - Eagle Rock Aggregates | — | 245 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 Dec 2024Approach
A traffic separation scheme, which is an extension to Santa Barbara Channel scheme, is established in the S and W approaches to Los Angeles and Long Beach. The traffic separation scheme is IMO adopted and Rule 10 of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972, applies.
A Precautionary Area exists in the waters between the S and W approach traffic lanes and the Los Angeles/Long Beach breakwater. Special caution is necessary within this area due to the presence of large vessels manoeuvring to embark or disembark pilots, to enter or leave the traffic lanes and to enter or leave Commercial Anchorage G.
Long Beach Channel dredging has been completed and is maintained at a depth of 23.2m from 2nm outside the harbour entrance at Queens Gate to Middle Harbour and East Basin crude oil terminal. A part of Long Beach Channel is designated a restricted harbour entrance area within which outward bound traffic has priority and speed is restricted to 6kts. The area extends from a position in the channel 1.1nm NW of the entrance to a position 0.3nm NW of the entrance to Middle Harbor.
Long Beach Middle Harbor is entered between the SW corner of Pier "A" and the E end of Naval Base Mole, situated 300m SW.
Traffic schemes and VTS
Vessel speed limits:
These speed restrictions do not preclude the master or pilot from adjusting speed to avoid or mitigate unsafe conditions. Weather, vessel manoeuvring characteristics, traffic density, construction/dredging and other possible items should also be taken into account.
Tugs
Tugs are available from a number of private companies.
Charts and publications
BA 1081, 1063, 4910; NOAA 18746, 18749, 18751. Admiralty Pilot NP8, NP286(5).
Reporting before arrival
updated Aug 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.
Communications
Note: The marine operator does not monitor Ch 16.
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 vessel, each crew member must have a valid US visa in their passport or Seaman's Book.
The Quarantine and Immigration station is at Reservation Point (33°43.5'N 118°16.0'W). Vessels subject to arrival inspections should make arrangements in advance through their agents; unless otherwise directed, the officials usually board vessels at their berths.
Notices and regulations
Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.
Ballast Regulations: Vessels entering the port from outside the economic exclusion zone must comply with the federal National Invasive Species Act of 1996 (NISA) and the California Marine Invasive Species Act (AB433). NISA, the federal program, encourages voluntary precautionary measures during ballasting/deballasting and requires vessels to have a ballast water management plan and to keep records of ballast water discharges. Vessels may be visited by Coast Guard personnel under this program.
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 Jan 2019Repairs
Available. Divers available from Coast Diving Service Inc, Tel: +1 310 547 0955.
Bunkers, water and stores
Bunkering: Available.
Fresh water: Available.
Medical
St Mary's Medical Centre 5km. Long Beach Memorial 16km.
Transport
Nearest airport: Long Beach Airport, 8km. Los Angeles International Airport, 22km.
Nearest railway: For freight, Long Beach; for passengers, Union Station, 39km.
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours.
About Long Beach
updated Sep 2026Where it is
Long Beach is located on the SW coast of the USA, in California, E of immediately adjacent to, Los Angeles.
The port
Long Beach is a man-made harbour in the E half of San Pedro Bay. The port, with a depth dredged to 23.2m and 213m width main channel, consists of an outer harbour, middle harbour and an inner harbour. The water depth ranges from 15.2m in the inner harbour to 23.2m in the middle harbour and East Basin, which can now accommodate VLCC's without lightening off port. The port has 12 piers and 80 operational cargo berths.
Imports: Crude oil, electronics, plastics, furniture and clothing.
Exports: Petcoke, bulk petroleum, chemicals, waste paper and foods.
Traffic
Approx. 198,000,000t of cargo (given in Metric Revenue Tons), 10,000,000TEU and 3,000 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Long Beach
Where does the pilot board at Long Beach?
The pilot boards at Long Beach, 33°41.7′N 118°11.0′W. Long Beach has 2 pilot boarding places.
What time zone is Long Beach in?
Local time at Long Beach 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 Long Beach?
The deepest berth listed is at Pier T - Marathon Petroleum: 22.10 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Long Beach?
1025.
Which load line zone is Long Beach 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 Long Beach?
Port State Control at Long Beach: US Coast Guard.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Long Beach?
The UN/LOCODE of Long Beach is USLGB.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Long Beach 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.