Pascagoula

1. Pascagoula Pilot boards30°07.9′N 088°34.6′W

Size limits

LOA 253.593m, beam 45m, draught 12m, 116,120DWT.

Water density

Varies, check with the local authority.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range 0.48m. Hurricanes may raise sea levels by as much as 3.4m. Tidal streams follow the direction of the channels and normally do not exceed 1.25kn. They are greatly influenced by prevailing winds.

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

Approach

Depths may vary from those stated and the Port Authority should be consulted for the latest controlling depths.

The harbour is approached through Horn Island Pass and entered through dredged and marked channels leading across Mississippi Sound to the facilities at Pascagoula River and Bayou Casotte.

The Pascagoula Bar Channel has a project depth of 13.4m, width 137m and Horn Island Pass has a project depth of 13.4m, width 183m.

The Lower Pascagoula Channel, Bayou Casotte and turning basin all have a maintained depth of 12.8m, min width 106m. The Upper Pascagoula Channel and turning basin have a maintained depth of 11.6m, min width 106m. The West Harbour is 20.9km from the sea buoy, the Turning Basin at N end of West Harbour is 286m in width.

The East Harbour is 17.7km from the sea buoy, the entrance channel to the East Harbour has a min width of 106m from the Junction Buoy to the mouth of the inner harbour where the channel widens to an inner harbour and a southern turning basin of width 350m, depth 12.8m and a northern turning basin of width 286m, depth 12.8m.

Anchorages

Outer Anchorage: Deep draught vessels may anchor 1-2nm S to SE of Horn Island Lightbuoy (Safe Water) (30°08.5'N 088°34.7'W) in depths of approx 14.0m, clear of a charted obstruction.

Outer Explosive Anchorage: A circular explosives anchorage area No 2 with a radius of 0.7nm lies centred approx 7.0nm NE of Horn Island Lightbuoy. Vessels must obtain a permit from the captain of the port before occupying this anchorage. Inner Anchorage: Anchorage may be obtained on the E side of Pascagoula Channel in Mississippi Sound for vessels of up to 4.5m draught; good anchorage even in N'ly winds.

Caution: Care should be taken not to anchor near the submarine pipelines which cross Pascagoula Channel in the vicinity of position 30°16.6'N 088°30.7'W.

Inner Explosive Anchorage: No 1, mid position 30°14.2'N 088°29.2'W, 1.5nm N of Petit Bois Island, depths 4.0-5.0m, keeping clear of a pile. A permit from the captain of the port is required before anchoring in the explosives anchorage.

Tugs

Available. Colle Maritime are the main tug operators.

Charts and publications

BA 3851. NOAA 11374, 11375. Admiralty Pilot NP69A, NP286(5).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

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

Standard messages

Masters and operators of vessels who fail to comply with the above regulations will be reported to the US Coast Guard looking toward the suspension or revocation of their license.

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.

Public Health Service quarantine regulations apply. Officials usually inspect vessels at their berths.

Customs and immigration

For crew not to be detained onboard vessels each crew member must have a valid US visa in their passport or Seaman's Book.

Flags

Standard international flag signals apply.

Notices and regulations

Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.

Traffic regulations: Navigation rules for US inland waters must be followed inside a line drawn across Horn Island Pass (30°12'N 088°31'W), between Petit Bois and Horn Islands.

Speed should be restricted to a maximum of 4.5kts in Pascagoula River and Bayou Casotte.

Movements through Horn Island Pass, Pascagoula and Bayou Casotte Channels are limited to one way traffic only for vessels carrying oil or hazardous materials.

Safety Fairways: Although not mandatory, the use of Safety Fairways is recommended.

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

All kinds of repairs can be undertaken. Ingalls Shipbuilding mainly designs, manufactures and repairs military vessels. World Marine LLC (formerly Signal International) and V. T. Halter Marine can carry out repairs and provide offshore services.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available. Dan-Bunkering supply VLSFO 0.50% and LS Marine Gasoil 0.10% to every berth except those located at the Chevron Refinery. They have a dual grade barge and one Gas oil only barge.

Medical

Singing River Hospital, Pascagoula.

Transport

Nearest airport: Jackson County Airport, about 4km, Pascagoula. Mobile Airport, Mobile.

Nearest railway: CSX, Mississippi Export.

Working hours

Normally Mon-Fri 0800-1200hrs and 1300-1700hrs.

Where it is

Pascagoula is located on the Gulf of Mexico in the SE part of Mississippi State.

The port

Pascagoula is one of the most accessible ports in the Gulf for deepwater foreign and domestic commerce. The port is only 12nm from the deep water of the world shipping lanes with a max pilotage time of 60 to 90mins. For barge shipments, the port is only 4nm from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

Pascagoula has two harbours, the Pascagoula River West Harbor and Bayou Casotte East Harbor, with facilities for handling general cargo, break bulk cargo, refrigerated cargo, as well as bulk and bagged grains. The Chevron Refinery in East Harbor is one of the largest in the States, processing over 330,000bbls of crude per day. The Refinery's primary products are vehicle and aviation fuel oils and chemicals such as Paraxylene. Chevron also operate a coke berth at their site. A number of companies provide services for offshore operations including World Marine and VT Halter who also design, build and repair vessels. Ingalls Shipyard, which covers sites on the West and East banks at the entry of the Pascagoula River, specialises in the design and construction of vessels for the Navy, Coast Guard, US Marine Corps and foreign governments. A US Naval Station is located on Singing River Island, close South West of the Pascagoula River West Harbor entrance

Exports: Forestry and paper products, petroleum products, chemicals, project cargo.

Imports: Forestry products, crude oil, chemicals.

Traffic

Approx. 21,000,000t of cargo and 1,700 vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Pascagoula?

The pilot boards at Pascagoula, 30°07.9′N 088°34.6′W.

What time zone is Pascagoula in?

Local time at Pascagoula is UTC−6. Clocks go to UTC−5 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−6 on 7 Nov 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Pascagoula?

The deepest berth listed is at Chevron Pascagoula Refinery: 12.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Pascagoula?

Varies, check with the local authority.

Which load line zone is Pascagoula in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Pascagoula?

Port State Control at Pascagoula: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Pascagoula?

The UN/LOCODE of Pascagoula is USPGL.

What crews who called at Pascagoula 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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