PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Longview
Pilot
updated Aug 2010A pilot must be onboard to cross the Columbia Bar and to bring the ship up the Columbia River. Pilots change at Astoria, Oregon.
Pilotage is compulsory and is available throughout 24 hours. Pilotage for the river entrance is provided by Columbia River Bar Pilots, and for the river above Astoria by Columbia River Pilots. Pilots may board by boat or helicopter.
ETA at the pilot boarding position, situated 1nm E of CR Lightbuoy, should be notified at least 12 hours before arrival, and amended if it changes by 1 hour; final notification is required 1 hour before arrival. Pilot boarding by helicopter does so 5-10nm W of CR Lightbuoy.
One of the two pilot boats is maintained on call at all times. "Columbia" 25m long, with orange hull and white and orange superstructure with the word "PILOT" on its superstructure. "Chinook" 22m long, yellow hull and superstructure with the word "PILOT" on the superstructure.
When working with "Columbia", vessel speed should be 10kts with the pilot ladder rigged 3.0m above the waterline; "Chinook" vessel speed should be 12-14kts with the ladder 2m above the waterline.
Bar pilotage extends from the open sea, 10nm seaward of the outermost buoy, to Tongue Point (46°13'N 123°45'W), on the E side of Astoria. River pilotage extends from Tongue Point to the head of navigation on Columbia or Willametta Rivers, and their tributaries. The transfer of a bar pilot to a river pilot is made off Astoria.
The sound signal for pilots are as follows:
Bar Pilot - One long, two short, one long blasts on the whistle (Morse X).
River Pilot - One long and three short blasts on the whistle (Morse B).
A fixed amber light is maintained by the Columbia Bar Pilots, in conjunction with the coastguard, on top of their office at Astoria. When the light is displayed it will indicate to outbound vessels that the bar is not passable and that they should anchor.
Key data
updated Feb 2023Size limits
LOA 304m, beam 36m, draught 13.1m, 83,611DWT.
Water density
1000.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Range 0.9-1.5m. The mean tidal range is about 1.0m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Longview Terminal | 13.10 m | 304 m | 8 |
| North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC) | — | — | 1 |
| Weyerhaeuser Lumber Barge Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Weyerhauser - Longview TOB and Export Yard | — | 190 m | 1 |
| Weyerhauser Chip Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Westlake Chemical | — | 209 m | 1 |
| Longview Fiber Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview | — | — | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Jul 2010Approach
The Columbia River, when approaching Longview, has a min depth of 12.2m MLW and min width of 91.5m. Slaughters Channel, traversing SE past Longview, has depths of 10.6-12.1m and a min width of 182m. A turning basin at Longview has a length 4,572m, width 762m and a min depth of 10.6m.
Between Crims Island and Longview at Mile 58, the main channel starts a turn to SE, passing S of Fisher Island and N of Walker Island and Lord Island. See also separate entry for Columbia/Snake River System.
Anchorages
Anchorage available to the NW of Longview Bridge; and also to the SE in depths of between 9.1m and 11.6m; the navigable channel must be kept clear. A secondary anchorage, SE of the bridge and just S of the main ship channel, may also be used.
Restrictions
A power cable, with a clearance of 65m crosses the channel from Lord Island (46°08'N 123°01'W) to the Washington shore, at a point 0.6nm ESE of Barlow Point.
The Route US 30 Bridge, crossing the river at Longview, has a clearance of 61.9m (LW).
Tugs
Tug service available.
Charts and publications
BA 2839, 2849. Admiralty Pilot NP8, NP286(5).
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 2017Repairs
Minor repairs available only.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available on the wharves.
Bunkering: All grades available by road tanker only.
Stores: Available.
Medical
Peace Health St John's Medical Centre, 3.2km.
Transport
Nearest airport: Southwest Washington Regional Airport (Kelso Airport) located at Kelso, 9.3km and Portland International Airport located at Portland, 80km.
Nearest railway: BNSF Railway.
Nearest highway: Interstate 5, 4.8km.
Working hours
Normally three shifts available 0800-1700hrs, 1800-0300hrs and 0300-0800hrs.
About Longview
updated Feb 2023Where it is
The Port of Longview is located on the Columbia River, 66nm inland from the Pacific Ocean in SW Washington state.
The port
Longview is at the centre of a comprehensive network of import/export shipping, warehouse/distribution facilities and overland connections. It is linked by an extensive barging system to the Inland Empire.
Main cargoes handled include: Dry bulk, bulk, timber products, minerals, general cargo and containers.
Traffic
Approx 10,000,000t of cargo and 300 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Longview
What are the pilot arrangements at Longview?
A pilot must be onboard to cross the Columbia Bar and to bring the ship up the Columbia River.
What time zone is Longview in?
Local time at Longview 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 Longview?
The deepest berth listed is at Port of Longview Terminal: 13.10 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Longview?
1000.
Which load line zone is Longview in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Longview?
Port State Control at Longview: US Coast Guard.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Longview?
The UN/LOCODE of Longview is USLOG.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Longview 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.