PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Palm Beach
Pilot
updated May 2017- Port of Palm Beach Pilot boards26°46.3′N 080°00.6′W
Compulsory. Provided by Pilots Association of the Port of Palm Beach, contact on Ch 16, 14. Pilots board in the vicinity of the Lake Worth Sea Buoy "LW", (26°46.3'N 080°00.6'W). The pilot boat has a grey hull and a white deckhouse with the word "PILOT" on both sides. Vessels should have a ladder rigged 1.0m from the water on the lee side and maintain minimum speed ahead.
Arriving vessels over LOA 167m, a beam over 23m or a draught over 8.1m should contact the Pilot's Office well in advance for any information on any restrictions or additional tug requirements that may be necessary for the docking of the vessel.
The Pilot Office should be notified 24 hours in advance of ETA, with confirmation 1 hour before arrival, calls should be sent during normal business hours.
All vessel owners, operators, or agents are required to consult with the Pilots Association prior to calling at the Port of Palm Beach regarding pilotage requirements for existing conditions at the port.
Vessels departing the Port outside of normal business hours should only contact the office one hour in advance prior to sailing. The Pilot will then call any necessary tugs. Vessels will need to arrange for line handlers and to contact the Port if the Oil boom needs to be removed.
Pilotage may also be arranged through Palm Beach Marine Operator on Ch 28, 85.
Key data
updated Oct 2022Size limits
LOA 223.37m, beam 30.8m, 39,000DWT.
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.
Tides
Range 0.8-0.9m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Palm Beach | 8.53 m | 223 m | 13 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated May 2010Approach
Entrance channel has a width of 91m, depth 10.0m MLW.
Caution: Draught restrictions may be in place from time to time depending on shoaling conditions in the entrance channel.
Up to date draught restrictions are available on the Port of Palm beach Pilots website http://hometown.aol.com/pbpilots/myhomepage/business.html.
Port limits
A line drawn joining the heads of the 2 entrance breakwaters.
Traffic schemes and VTS
A Vessel Traffic Scheme is in operation for the control of shipping.
Restrictions
All vessels arriving within 0.9m of the maximum allowable draught for the Port of Palm beach will be restricted to transiting at High Water Slack, all draughts are for salt water.
Access to harbour is via Lake Worth Inlet which has a minimum width of 91m.
Dead slow speed is to be maintained in the vicinity of the power station at the SW corner of the turning basin, for the protection of Manatees.
Tugs
There are two tugs available at the Port, one of 1,200hp and one of 1,100hp. Larger tugs can be obtained from either Port Everglade or Port Canaveral.
Charts and publications
BA 2866, 3684. US 11472 (inset 2). Admiralty Pilot NP70, NP286(5).
Reporting before arrival
updated Aug 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.
Communications
VHF: Pilots: Ch 16, 14. (See Navigation section -Pilots).
Harbour Master: Ch 16, 12.
Documents
Please see country information for details of documentation requirements.
In addition valid original vessel documents must be available.
All vessels shall, upon arrival, report to the Port Director all cargo to be discharged. Such report shall be in form of copies of Ships Manifest or certified statements.
Health
No action initiated unless there is illness onboard.
Ship Sanitation Control Certificates: Please see country information.
Vessels are boarded on arrival for quarantine and customs inspection.
Customs and immigration
United States customs regulations apply, Immigration/USCG require 96hr Notice of Arrival (NOA) message.
Notices and regulations
Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.
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 May 2017Repairs
Minor repairs only.
Dry docks
Floating drydock available within the port.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: All grades available by barge or road tanker.
Stores: Available.
Medical
St Mary's Hospital, West Palm Beach (3km), Tel: +1 561 844 6300.
Crew change
Facilities exist for changes of crews and repatriation of seamen.
Transport
Nearest airport: Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach (10km).
Airport facilities: Airfreight handled.
Nearest railway: Port owned Belt Line Railroad links the port with the Florida East Coast Railway.
Working hours
Normally Mon-Fri 0800-1200hrs and 1300-1700hrs.
About Palm Beach
updated Sep 2026Where it is
Palm Beach is situated on Florida's Atlantic coast, some 100km N of Miami.
The port
The port is 1.5nm from ocean shipping lanes at Lake Worth Inlet and has a total of 17 berths located on 3 slips and 4 marginal wharves.
Cargoes handled include containers, general cargo, bulk cement, aggregates, bulk sugar, fuel oil and bulk molasses. There is also a cruise terminal with a passenger loading bridge.
Traffic
Approx 2,900,000t of cargo, 262,000TEU, 1,400 vessels and 383,000 passengers handled annually.
Questions about Palm Beach
Where does the pilot board at Palm Beach?
The pilot boards at Port of Palm Beach, 26°46.3′N 080°00.6′W.
What time zone is Palm Beach in?
Local time at Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach?
The deepest berth listed is at Port of Palm Beach: 8.53 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Palm Beach?
1025.
Which load line zone is Palm 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 Palm Beach?
Port State Control at Palm Beach: US Coast Guard.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Palm Beach?
The UN/LOCODE of Palm Beach is USPAB.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Palm 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.