Oakland

Size limits

LOA 400m, beam 59.0m, draught 14.6m, 200,148DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

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

Tides

Mean maximum range is approx 1.8m with mean minimum range approx 0.8m.

Tidal currents can be very strong, generally running in a N/S direction. Inside the Golden Gate Bridge the flood current sets in to all parts of the Bay, causing strong eddies at various points. Under the Oakland Bridge these strong eddies may cause vessels to sheer off course.

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

Approach

The port comprises two areas, Outer harbour and Inner harbour, approached through a common entrance at Bar Channel, width 610m and depth 15.2m, and also the basin S of Alameda Naval Air Station.

Outer Harbour: Is situated between the approach to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on the N and on the S by Ben E. Nutter Terminal (7th Street), from Bar channel it is approached through Outer Harbor Entrance. Lights in line, situated between 1.75 to 2nm ENE of Yerba Buena Island Light, mark the sides of the entrance channel, which is between 198m and 183m wide.

NW side; two lights (red rectangular daymarks, white stripes, on piles), in line bearing 059°.

SE side; two lights (similar structures), in line bearing 056°.

From the vicinity of No 2 Light on the W extremity of Seventh Street Marine Terminal, 0.95nm ESE of Yerba Buena Island Light, the Outer Harbour Entrance Channel, marked by lightbuoys and lights, leads about 0.7nm NE into Outer harbour; No 5 Lightbuoy (port hand) and No 7 Buoy (port hand), moored 1.75nm and 2nm ENE respectively, of Yerba Buena Island Light, mark the limit of the dredged area on the NW side of the harbour.

Inner Harbour: Is that part of the channel that extends E from the junction with Bar Channel to Tidal Canal, about 6nm above the entrance. From the vicinity of No 2 Lightbuoy (starboard hand), moored on the S side of Bar Channel 0.525nm SE of Yerba Buena Island Light, Inner Harbour Entrance Channel, marked by lightbuoys and lights (lateral) leads ESE for about 1nm to the entrance to Inner Harbour. Then the channel, marked 1.5nm inside the entrance by No 10 Light Beacon (starboard hand), leads generally E to the vicinity of Coast Guard Island (37°47'N 122°15'W), passing through Inner Harbour Reach, and the Grove Street Pier-Brooklyn Basin Reach.

Caution: Due to the projection of the Ben E. Nutter Terminal (7th Street), areas of slack water develop, on the S side on the flood tide and on the N side of the terminal on the ebb tide. Deep draught vessels entering Inner Harbour on the flood tide may tend to sheer to port when the bow enters the slack water and similarly vessels entering Outer Harbour on the ebb tide may tend to sheer to starboard.

Wildlife Habitat Area: A long breakwater structure giving shelter to the Wildlife Habitat area in Middle Harbour, is located 655m to the West of Berth No 55.

Measured Mile: A measured Nautical Mile, heading 105° (285°), has been established on the South side of the inner harbour just inside the entrance channel. The E and W points for this are marked by two red daymarks on a pole.

Port limits

The port of Oakland is entirely distinct from San Francisco and is a separate port of entry.

Traffic schemes and VTS

VTS: All Vessels coming from seaward, and heading for the Port of Oakland, use the San Francisco Vessel Traffic Scheme (VTS) and will all have to pass under the Golden Gate Bridge using one of three main shipping channels in the approaches from North, West and South in the VTS Offshore Sector. Each channel converges on to the VTS Inshore Area, in which the San Francisco Main Ship Channel starts approx 9nm SW of the Golden Gate Bridge. The San Francisco VTS Inshore Sector also covers the Port of Oakland.

The US Coast Guard operates a Vessel Traffic Service to provide Master's and pilots of larger vessels with up-to-date information on identification and intention of other vessels as well as other necessary information. The status of deep draught vessels transiting the ocean approaches to the Bay is broadcast by the Vessel Traffic Service on VHF Ch 12 on the hour and half hour.

The Vessel Traffic Centre (VTC) can communicate on VHF with vessels up to 100nm out to sea and inland to the ports of Stockton and Sacramento.

Vessels approaching San Francisco Bay are encouraged to participate in the Offshore Vessel Movement Reporting System (OVMRS). This system extends N from the San Francisco Bay Sea Buoy "SF" to Bodega Head, S to Pescadero Point and W to 10nm past Southeast Faralon Island. Transiting vessels report position, course and speed to the VTC which, in turn, makes a summary OVMRS broadcast twice an hour on VHF Ch 12.

San Francisco VTS: Traffic lanes are intended for use by vessels of 300GT and over; arrows on chart denote the approx direction of traffic flow within each lane.

Recreation areas: Recreation areas are intended primarily for use by recreation vessels. Such areas should not be utilised by vessels 300GT or more for through passage or for any other purpose, except in case of emergency or special circumstances.

Limited traffic area: Use of the limited traffic area located in the East Bay is subject to special directions for vessels of 300GT and over.

For additional information and specific operating procedures, the Master should refer to "San Francisco Vessel Traffic System Operating Procedures" available from Twelfth Coast Guard District.

The US Coast Guard operated San Francisco Vessel Traffic Centre may be contacted on VHF Ch 14 or 16, callsign "San Francisco Vessel Traffic Center".

Restrictions

Vertical Clearances:

To access the port of Oakland, larger vessels arriving from seaward will have to go under two major bridges, the Gold Gate Bridge and Oakland Bay Bridge.

Golden Gate Bridge: Has a vertical clearance of 67.05m with the largest span width being 1,280m.

Oakland Bay Bridge: Used by deeper draught vessels, the bridge section between Rincon Point and Yerba Buena Island the is supported by five piers, A to E. Pier span A to B measures 677m and is equipped with RACON. Pier span B to C measures 326m. Pier span C to D is 328.5m and D to E is 674m, both spans equipped with RACON.

The approximate mid-span vertical clearances between the piers are A to B 62.2m, B to C 67.1m, C to D 67.1m and D to E 62.2m. During periods of high air temperatures or high traffic density on the bridge, all vessels with vertical height exceeding 58m should exercise caution as height can be reduced by 3m under certain conditions.

Smaller vessels may pass through or under (or through) the following bridges, located further SE:

Dennison Street Fixed Bridge: Spans Brooklyn Basin North Channel between the E extremity of Coast Guard Island (37°47'N 122°15'W) and the mainland; it has a vertical clearance of 3.4m.

Park Street Bascule Bridges: Spans Park Street Bridge Reach, 0.6nm SE of Coast Guard Island; it has a least vertical clearance when closed of 4.6m, over a centre width of 30.5m

Fruitvale Avenue Bridges: A bascule bridge and a railway lift bridge with a least vertical clearance of 4.0m span Tidal Canal, 0nm SE of Coast Guard Island; the least vertical clearance when the railway bridge is raised to 41.1m.

High Street Bascule Bridge: Spans Tidal Canal about 0.4nm SE of the Fruitvale Bridges; it has a least vertical clearance when closed of 4.9m over a centre width of 30.5m.

Tugs

Tugs available from several private towage companies which include. Tugs are available from 800hp to 5,000hp with bollard pull from 8-64.6t.

Mooring

Turning Basins:

Outer Harbour - 502.9m in diameter off the Trapack Terminal.

Inner Harbour - 457m in diameter off the Charles P. Howard Terminal.

ETA and pre-arrival notices

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

Communications

Regulations require that vessels in transit should maintain a Listening Watch on VHF Ch 16.

US Coast Guard: Requires vessels anchored in San Francisco Bay to maintain a radio Listening Watch on VHF Ch 13 when the wind is 20kts or greater. Any ship not equipped with Ch 13 should maintain a Listening Watch on 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.

The US Public Health Service (USPHS) has legal regulatory responsibility to prevent the introduction, transmission, and spread of communicable disease from foreign countries into the United States.

Foreign Quarantine Regulations require that the Master of a ship destined for a US port shall report immediately to the Public Health Service quarantine station at or nearest the port at which the ship will arrive the occurrence onboard of any death or any illness among passengers or crew (including those who have disembarked or have been removed) during the 15 day period preceding the date of expected arrival or during the period since departure from a US port whichever period of time is shorter.

The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) operates agricultural inspection facilities in the Golden Gate region to ensure that agricultural products being imported into or exported from the United States do not contain harmful animal and plant pests. Inspections are conducted by APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine officers.

All ships, aircraft, cargo, baggage, and passengers entering the Golden Gate Region from countries that have pests not known to exist in the continental United States, must be inspected thoroughly for prohibited agricultural materials that could contain foreign animal and plant pests. The ship will be held in quarantine until inspected and, if necessary, treated under APHIS supervision.

APHIS also regulates the proper storage and disposal of garbage from international vessels.

Some APHIS inspectors travel overseas at the exporter's expense to supervise agricultural commodity inspections and treatments in foreign countries. This pre-inspection expedites imports and reduces the risk of importing pests and diseases.

APHIS also oversees the issuance of federal phytosanitary certificates, which show that American agricultural products have been inspected and if necessary, treated for certain pests prior to export to a foreign country. An APHIS certified inspector usually examines these shipments at the US packing house. Although phytosanitary certificates cannot guarantee that US products will be allowed into a foreign country, they ensure that the products comply with each country's individual quarantine regulations.

Customs and immigration

Oakland is a Customs Port of Entry (separate and entirely distinct from the Port of San Franscisco).

US Customs and Immigration Regulations:

For vessels arriving at San Francisco Bay ports from a foreign port the following items will be required by Government Officials.

US Immigration: Every crew member must have a shore pass, form number 1-95A, filled out on arrival.

US Immigration will board all vessels upon berthing or arrival at first anchorage for crew inspection.

If a vessel is arriving from another US port and the crew have already been cleared, then nothing is required from the vessel by US Immigration.

If a vessel is going to make crew changes then shore passes and information regarding departing crew members must be pre-arranged with US Immigration. All arriving and departing crew flight information must be forwarded to the local agents office as soon as possible to enable pre-arrangement of immigration formalities for repatriation.

US Customs: US Customs will usually not board a vessel on arrival and the usual customs paper work will be handled by the agent. Forms required to be completed are the 1300 series US Customs Forms. These consist of three copies each of US Forms 1300, 1301, 1303 and 1304. The 1300 is the Master's Oath of Entry; 1301 is the General Declaration; 1303 for Crews Effects and the 1304 is for Ships Stores and Provisions. Also required are 5 copies of Immigration Form I-418 Crew List. IMO Forms are not acceptable by US Customs and Immigration. If a vessel requires blank forms agents will be able to supply them.

If a vessel is arriving to discharge cargo US Customs will also require a complete manifest of all cargo to be discharged in the San Francisco Bay District and any other US Ports, preferably on US Customs Form 1302.

Notices and regulations

Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.

Deep Draught Vessels: Ships arriving with a draught in excess of 13.7m should arrive at the pilot station one hour prior to HW at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Vessels Carrying Hazardous Material: Movements of all vessels carrying hazardous materials should comply with all Coast Guard regulations.

Regulated navigation area is established in the approaches to the harbour. The area comprises Bar Channel and its immediate approaches, and Outer and Inner Harbour Entrance Channels.

Restricted areas are established in the N end of Outer Harbour adjacent to the Oakland Army Base, and around Alameda Naval Air Station; vessels are permitted to transit the entrance channel to reach berths on the Oakland side of Inner Harbour.

Cold Ironing:

Berths 20 to 24, 25 and 26, 30 to 32, 35 to 37, 55 to 59:

Vessels intending to use shore power at these berths must be commissioned by the Port prior to plugging into the shore power system. Commissioning refers to the first time a vessel plugs into the shore power system. Agents should notify the port when a vessel is scheduled to arrive and needs to be commissioned. Only vessels commissioned by Port's Commissioning Agent will be allowed to plug in to the Port's shore power system. A charge is made for each commissioning per individual vessel. Commissioning must repeat until the Port issues a Notice of Completion of Vessel Commissioning to the vessel owner/operator. Power is additional to the commissioning cost.

Berths 60 to 63 and 68: The shore power system at these berths is connected to a power grid not owned or managed by the Port. Therefore, the Port does not require vessel commissioning at these berths and does not plan to be involved with such commissioning. However, the Port strongly recommends that shipping lines and terminal operators for these berths coordinate closely to perform a vessel commissioning process.

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

San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond and Alameda all have facilities for repairs.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fuel/water/stores: Fresh water: Available.

Bunkers: Fuel and lubrication oils delivered by barge alongside berths.

Stores: Available.

Medical

There are 8 hospitals within 16km.

Airport/rail/roads: Oakland International Airport, 12.8km. Large air cargo facilities are available at Oakland, major airfreight and express package services are also available.

Nearest railway: Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and Santa Fe.

Working hours

Two shifts: 0800-1700hrs and 1800-0200hrs. A third shift (0300-0800hrs) can be worked to provide 24 hour availability, seven days a week.

Stevedores: Note: An extended shift from 1500-1700hrs is authorised under certain conditions.

Where it is

The Port of Oakland, California, is located 4.8km E of San Francisco and virtually due E of the San Francisco Bay entrance.

The port

The Port of Oakland is under the jurisdiction of the Board of Port Commissioners of the City of Oakland.

Facilities are located in two areas, Outer Harbour and Inner Harbour, approached through a common entrance at Bar Channel, and also the basin S of Alameda Naval Air Station.

The harbour has 30.6km of waterfront on the mainland shore of San Francisco Bay, with more than 318ha of terminal facilities.

Additionally there are three major railyards in the port area (Oakland International Gateway 25.2ha and Railport Oakland 44.5ha and Seaport Logistics Complex covering 9.71ha). The port is served by two transcontinental Class 1 railroads.

There are 20 deep water vessel berths with extensive container terminal facilities and good rail and highway connections making Oakland a major gateway for intermodal shipments to and from the Midwest, Gulf and East coasts, as well as N California.

Traffic

Approx 18,000,000t of cargo, 2,300,000TEU and 1,700 vessels handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Oakland?

Pilotage in and around the Bay region is compulsory for all foreign registered vessels.

What time zone is Oakland in?

Local time at Oakland 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 Oakland?

The deepest berth listed is at Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT): 14.60 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Oakland?

1025.

Which load line zone is Oakland in?

North Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Mar 1 to Jun 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 Oakland?

Port State Control at Oakland: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Oakland?

The UN/LOCODE of Oakland is USOAK.

What crews who called at Oakland 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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