PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Plaquemines
Pilot
updated Aug 2025ASSOCIATED BRANCH PILOTS: Station is located at Venice, approx 10nm above Pilottown; pilotage is provided 24 hours a day. Vessels should send an ETA with draught, DWT and available speed 24 hours prior to arrival off Southwest Pass Entrance Bell buoy SW or the MR-GO sea buoys. If the original ETA changes by more than 2 hours, an amended ETA is required 12 hours in advance of arrival, or if the arrival time is later than the original ETA, 12 hours prior to original ETA. Associated Branch Pilots' boats have white superstructure with either red or black hulls.
Pilot boards in following positions:
(a) Southwest Pass (28°51'.80N., 89°25'.27W) 1nm mile SE of SW Light Buoy) or up to 3nm seaward depending on weather conditions.
(b) South Pass (only for vessels with a draught of 15ft or less) (28°57'.41N., 89°03'.62W) in the area of Light Buoy No 2, or up to 3nm miles to seaward, depending on weather conditions.
CRESCENT RIVER PORT PILOTS' ASSOCIATION: Have an office in New Orleans that is manned 24 hours a day, year round. Vessels requiring a Crescent River Port Pilot shall provide an ETA at least 24 hours prior to arrival off Southwest Pass or the MR-GO sea buoys. If the original ETA changes by more than 2 hours, an amended ETA is required 12 hours in advance of arrival, or if the arrival time is later than the original ETA, 12 hours prior to original ETA. Vessels arriving without the required notice may be delayed if a pilot is not available in addition to the penalties specified in the tariff. Vessels may notify the Crescent pilots, 24 hours a day: Tel: +1 504 392 7598 or Telex: 673 7841. The river pilots board vessels off Pilottown about 2.3 miles above Head of Passes Light. The pilot station, on the E side of the river at Pilottown, maintains a lookout and is equipped to handle radio traffic on VHF Ch 09 and 67. The Crescent River Port Pilots have fast white motorboats with the names "Pilot, River Pilot, Port Pilot or Crespilot" in red on the sides. The Crescent River Port Pilots take vessels from Pilottown upriver to New Orleans and from Light 78 on the MR-GO to New Orleans. Pilot boards off Pilottown, approx 2.3nm above the Head of Passes Light.
NEW ORLEANS-BATON ROUGE STEAMSHIP PILOTS: Located in Metairie. Vessels requiring a pilot shall provide an ETA at least 24 hours prior to arrival off Southwest Pass. If the original ETA changes by more than 2 hours, an amended ETA is required 12 hours in advance of arrival, or if the arrival time is later than the original ETA, 12 hours prior to original ETA. Pilot boards off the Point at about Mile Marker 91.0.
ASSOCIATED FEDERAL PILOTS AND DOCKING MASTERS OF LOUISIANA LLC: Located at Metairie. Vessels are requested to send ETA 12 hours prior to arrival off Southwest Pass. Pilot boards in the vicinity of the SW Pass Entrance Lighted Buoy SW (28°51'.80N., 89°25'.27W).
Key data
updated Aug 2025Size limits
Harbour: LOA 290.06m, beam 48.9m, draught 15.3m and 183,142DWT.
Off Shore: LOA 229.5m, draught 14m and 95,758DWT.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host - United Bulk Terminals Davant | 15.30 m | 295 m | 2 |
| International Marine Terminal (IMT) | 14.80 m | 255 m | 5 |
| CHS - Myrtle Grove Terminal | 14.60 m | 235 m | 2 |
| Chevron Empire Terminal | 14.10 m | 277 m | 2 |
| Stolthaven New Orleans | 13.71 m | 230 m | 2 |
| Belle Chasse Mooring Buoys | 13.70 m | 230 m | 2 |
| Harvest Midstream Alliance Terminal | 12.70 m | 249 m | 2 |
| Chevron Oronite - Oak PointTerminal | 12.40 m | 186 m | 1 |
| Freeport Sulphur Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Venture Global Plaquemines LNG | 12.10 m | 299 m | 3 |
| Amax Metals Recovery Inc. | 9.50 m | 172 m | 1 |
| Bass Enterprises - Pointe a La Hache | — | 85 m | 1 |
| Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids | — | — | 1 |
| Multipurpose Terminal | — | — | 4 |
| Shell Central Terminal | — | — | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Aug 2025Approach
See Mississippi entry for full details.
Plaquemines Port Navigational Channel is naturally deep and wide and does not require maintenance dredging from RM 81.2 AHP to RM 13.4 AHP. From RM 13.4 AHP to RM 22 BHP, this navigational channel is maintained to a depth of 15.24m Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW). The Plaquemines Port Navigational Channel (Upper Bound 81.2 AHP to Lower bound 13.4 AHP and Upper bound 13.4 AHP to Lower bound 18.0 BHP) is maintained from a depth of 15.24m to a width of 228m, the authorised depth is 16.7m and a width of 305m.
Note: Water depths in the Mississippi River are continually subject to change. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operate their Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) service for calculating max real time draught. In an effort to prevent collisions and groundings, the waters from South Pass and Southwest Pass up to 233.9M AHP (the N boundary of Baton Rouge) have been designated a Regulated Navigation Area under US Department of Commerce, Code of Federal Regulations - Title 33.
Traffic schemes and VTS
VTS: +1 504 589 2780.
Restrictions
The above are subject to river level variation and the vessel's agent should be consulted to establish the governing draught.
Charts and publications
BA 3382, 8057, 3857, 3851. Admiralty Pilot NP69A.
Reporting before arrival
updated Aug 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.
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.
Customs and immigration
Immigration: For crew not to be detained onboard, each crew member must have a visa in their passport or Seaman's Book.
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 Aug 2025Bunkers, water and stores
Bunkers: Available.
Fresh Water: Available.
Medical
Nearest hospital: Plaquemines Medical Center, Plaquemines Medical Center - Urgent Care, Ochsner Medical Center - West Bank and St. Bernard Parish Hospital.
Transport
Nearest airport: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
Nearest railway: Rail connectivity is provided by the NOGC. NOGC is a 32-mile short line capable of handling railcars of 129t, interchanging with the Union Pacific in Westwego, LA. The rail links connect the port to major freight markets across the US. Stolthaven New Orleans is equipped with rail facilities including ail loading racks â 56 spots with loading/unloading systems; 270 rail car.
Nearest highway: The port has direct access to Louisiana Highway 23.
Nearest public transport: Bus routes throughout New Orleans.
About Plaquemines
updated Aug 2025Where it is
Plaquemines Port Harbour and Terminal District covers the length of the Mississippi from the sea to 80.8 miles (LDB) and 78.5 miles (RDB) above Head of Passes (AHP).
The port
The Port of Plaquemines, often referred to as Louisiana's Gateway Port, is strategically positioned at the mouth of the Mississippi River, making it a critical junction for maritime trade in the region. This expansive port encompasses several sub-ports, including Alliance, Braithwaite, Davant, Empire, Myrtle Grove, Ostrica, and Port Sulphur, collectively enhancing its operational capacity and versatility.
The Port of Plaquemines is renowned for its ability to handle a diverse range of cargo types, which include agribulk, breakbulk, drybulk, liquid bulk, and project cargo. This diversity is crucial for supporting various industries, particularly in the energy and agricultural sectors. The port is equipped to manage significant volumes of oil and gas, essential commodities that drive the economy and energy landscape.
In addition to hydrocarbons, the port plays a pivotal role in the agricultural supply chain, facilitating the export of grain and other agribulk products. This connectivity ensures that local farmers can efficiently reach global markets, thereby enhancing Louisiana's agricultural footprint.
The port also handles coal shipments, which are vital for both domestic energy production and international trade. Moreover, the increasing demand for cleaner energy sources has led to a focus on liquefied natural gas (LNG), with the Port of Plaquemines being well-equipped to accommodate LNG operations, thus positioning itself as a key player in the energy transition.
The port has no draught limitations from bridges and vessels are able to anchor in locations along the Mississippi. A small ferry service is provided across the Mississippi River with two major landings one in Belle Chasse and a second one at Pointe a la Hache. Finally it is finally with extensive rail and highway connections that facilitate seamless transportation to and from the port, reinforcing the port's role as a vital link in the supply chain.
Traffic
Approx. 48,000,000t of cargo and 52,000 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Plaquemines
What are the pilot arrangements at Plaquemines?
ASSOCIATED BRANCH PILOTS: Station is located at Venice, approx 10nm above Pilottown; pilotage is provided 24 hours a day.
What time zone is Plaquemines in?
Local time at Plaquemines 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 Plaquemines?
The deepest berth listed is at Host - United Bulk Terminals Davant: 15.30 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
Who carries out Port State Control at Plaquemines?
Port State Control at Plaquemines: US Coast Guard.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Plaquemines?
The UN/LOCODE of Plaquemines is USPLQ.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Plaquemines 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.