Nikiski

Size limits

Max LOA 261m, beam 44.51m, draught 12.6m and 116,038DWT.

Load line zone

North Pacific Winter Seasonal Zone, Winter Oct 16 to Apr 15, Summer Apr 16 to Oct 15.

Tides

Tidal streams off the wharves normally attain rates of approx 3.75kts ingoing, and approx 2.5kts outgoing, however ingoing rates of 5-6kts have been reported on occasions.

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

Approach

Directions for berth approaches: From a position approx 5nm WNW from East Foreland Light (60°43'N., 151°24'W) deep draught vessels may proceed ENE, passing (with positions given from the light): Clear of Dillon oil platform 3.25nm WNW and Shell-C oil platform 4nm NW to a position approx 2nm NNW of East Foreland Light. The track then leads S passing 0.7nm W from the light, in the deeper water which prevails between the coast and the off lying bank. Departure from the port is by the same route.

Local vessels may approach the port from the SW, crossing the off lying bank some distance S from the wharves.

Anchorages

Vessels are not permitted to anchor off the wharves and if required to leave the berth for any length of time, may have to return to Homer to anchor there.

Tugs

Tugs are available from Anchorage. Arrangements should be made well in advance.

Mooring

Berthing alongside: During winter months, ice floes can be a problem at the wharves and are more prevalent during the ingoing tidal stream. They can be a severe problem during the months of Jan-Feb. Vessels accordingly berth port side alongside, stemming the ingoing tide, and are required to maintain their engines on instant readiness at all times whilst alongside. During occasions when the ice is heavy it has proved convenient to maintain the engine turning over at slow speed to resist the pressure from ice and tide. The range of tide can be as much as 8.5m, and vessels are required to have onboard from 20 to 24 mooring lines, each a minimum length of 122m, of which from 16 to 22 may be used to moor the vessel. Vessels are required to advise the number of mooring lines onboard prior to arrival at the pilot embarkation point off Homer Spit and, if necessary, additional mooring lines will be delivered onboard while off Homer, on a hire basis.

Charts and publications

BA 4976. Admiralty Pilot NP4, NP286(5).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

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

Communications

VHF: Before arriving within 10nm of Nikiski Marine Terminal mariners must establish their intentions and determine the intentions of other vessels in the area by bridge to bridge communications.

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.

Quarantine is administered from Kenai Port.

Customs and immigration

Customs inspection available at Anchorage. For crew not to be detained onboard, each crew member must have a visa in their passport or Seaman's Book.

Notices and regulations

US Coast Guard: All persons and vessels shall comply with instructions of the Captain, Port representative or designated Coast Guard personnel. Once hailed, the operator of a vessel must proceed as directed.

Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.

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

Minor machine shop repair available at Kenai

Medical

Nearest hospital: Central Peninsula Hospital (26.8km).

Transport

Nearest airport: Kenai Municipal Airport (14.9km), Soldotna Airport SXQ (29.6km) and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (94km).

Nearest highway: The port has access to Alaska Route 1 (AK-1). The route runs 878.57km from Homer to Tok in the NE.

Where it is

The port facilities at Nikiski are located on the E side of Cook Inlet, approx 13km NW of the town of Kenai, on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, United States of America.

The port

The port was used for the receipt of crude oil, materials and equipment for offshore oil wells. Petroleum products, LNG, liquid ammonia and urea were also handled. The majority of the berths are currently closed with the Marathon Petroleum Kenai Refinery being the only terminal currently operational (August 2024). As of 2024, discussion and plans are in place to reopen the closed facilities including the introduction of the Alaska Nikiski LNG Project. A project looking to process, store and transport 20,000,000t of LNG per year. The project was initially developed in 2013 and as of 2024 is currently looking for investors.

Ice floes can become a severe problem at berths during Jan and Feb.

What are the pilot arrangements at Nikiski?

Pilotage is compulsory, with few exceptions, available from Homer.

What time zone is Nikiski in?

Local time at Nikiski is UTC−9. Clocks go to UTC−8 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−9 on 7 Nov 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Nikiski?

The deepest berth listed is at Marathon Petroleum Kenai Refinery: 12.60 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

Which load line zone is Nikiski in?

North Pacific Winter Seasonal Zone, Winter Oct 16 to Apr 15, Summer Apr 16 to Oct 15.

Who carries out Port State Control at Nikiski?

Port State Control at Nikiski: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Nikiski?

The UN/LOCODE of Nikiski is USNIK.

What crews who called at Nikiski 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 Nikiski →