Port Tampa Bay

Size limits

Draught 13.4m, LOA 335.63m, beam unrestricted at Hooker's Point Container Terminal, 113,478DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range 0.49m at port, 0.4m at the lower end of bay and 0.55m at Tampa. Strong SW'ly winds raise the water level approx 0.46m; strong N'ly winds which usually occur in winter, lower water levels approx 0.61m. In the entrance to Tampa Bay, tidal currents usually have considerable velocity.

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

Approach

A recent dredging project, completed in record time, has resulted in parts of the Main Channel and the Turning Basin being deepened from 10.3m (34ft) to 13.1m (43ft). The Turning Basin area has been expanded to 365m diameter and the Entrance Channel widened from 60.9m (200ft) to 76.2m (250ft).

Egmont Key Lighthouse marks the entrance to Tampa Bay. Deep draught vessels enter Tampa Harbour by way of Egmont Channel which has a controlled depth of 13.1m and width 213.4m. A dredged channel leads through Tampa Bay, from which branch channels lead to the turning basin and to the port of Tampa.

At Tampa, Hillsborough "D Cut", Sparkman and Ybor Channels are 121m in width. East Bay Turning Basin is 823m at its widest point and 182m in width at the entrance. The project depth of Tampa Harbour is 13.1m. Other channels have 10.4m MLW with 10.4-11.9m at quays.

Contact the Port Authority Operations Department for current soundings or Tampa Bay Pilots for current safety guidelines.

Port limits

Limits include the harbour area to the S end of "Cut D" Channel, 27°54.3'N 082°26.3'W.

Traffic schemes and VTS

The VTAS Operator will supply the relevant information to other vessels likely to be encountered during transit.

Anchorages

Vessels with good ground tackle can anchor anywhere off shore outside the bar in 10.9-14.6m. Anchorages are available inside the entrance, E of Egmont and also S of Gadsden Point Cut.

Temporary explosives anchorage S of Interbay Peninsula: Beginning at a point bearing 107°, 1,600m from Cut "F" Range front light, then to a point bearing 125°, 1,874m from Cut "F" Range front light, then to a point bearing 180°, 1,577m from Cut "F": Range front light, then to a point bearing 222°, 1,993m from Cut "F" Range front light and then to a point of beginning. This anchorage is used for vessels engaged in loading explosives when the duration of the anchorage is less than 72 hours.

Quarantine anchorage: SE of the temporary explosives anchorage beginning at a point bearing 097°, 3,995m from Cut "F" Range front light, then to a point bearing 113°, 4,910m from Cut "F" Range front light, then to a point bearing 161°, 3,447m, from Cut "F" Range front light, then to a point bearing 163°, 1,892m, from Cut "F" Range front light, then to the beginning.

Restrictions

Entry should not be made until clearance is received from the USCG.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge spans lower Tampa Bay. The bridge has a vertical clearance of 53m and a central span clearance of 266.7m at the extreme width of the protective islands at bay bottom. There are no other bridges.

Tugs

Available, large vessels usually require at least 2 tugs.

Mooring

Applications for public berths must be made 72 hours in advance.

Charts and publications

BA 3848, 8112, 3852, 3853. Admiralty Pilot NP69A, NP286(5).

ETA 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 for details.

Customs and immigration

Customs entry and clearance of vessels will be performed at the Marine Section Mon-Fri 0830-1700hrs. Entry and clearance may also be accomplished 0830-1700hrs on Sat, Sun and legal holidays by appointment.

Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalisation Service is open Mon-Fri 0900-1430hrs. Immigration inspection service is available at all times. Inspectors usually board inbound vessels at berth; however, they will board elsewhere upon request of the agents or operators following quarantine inspection of vessels arriving from foreign countries.

No crew member or passenger should disembark until vessel cleared by Immigration officials, large fines and/or deportation are likely for this offence.

Notices and regulations

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.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available.

Stores: Available.

Medical

Tampa General, 1.6km from the main port area.

Transport

Nearest airport: Tampa International, 12km W. Peter O Knight Airport, downtown regional airport on Davis Island.

Nearest railway: Tampa Union Station (passenger); in port CSX Intermodal Transportation (freight).

Tampa Gateway Rail: New rail track and supportive infrastructure built by the Tampa Port Authority is able to

handle 100-car unit trains at the Port of Tampa's container terminal, as well as at the Kinder Morgan ethanol terminal.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours working including holidays.

Where it is

The entrance to Tampa Bay is at Egmont Key, Florida (27°36'N 082°45'W). The port of Tampa is a sheltered harbour located on Tampa Bay, in the Gulf of Mexico, some 35nm from the open sea. Tampa Bay extends NE from the Gulf of Mexico for a distance of about 20nm and is about 7nm wide at its widest point. The city of Tampa is located on the Hillsborough River at the head of Hillsborough Bay, 41nm from the Gulf of Mexico.

The port

The port, which includes the areas of Port of Tampa, Port Sutton, Alafia River, Big Bend/Port Redwing, Port Tampa and Rattlesnake, is a large manufacturing, shipping and distribution centre. Trade includes, phosphate, petroleum, sulphur, cement, chemicals, agricultural products, scrap iron, machinery and general cargo. Cruise ships also operate from the port.

Traffic

Approx. 29,800,000t of cargo (of which approx. 225,000t is coal), 262,000TEU, 2,900 vessels and 508,000 passengers handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Port Tampa Bay?

Vessels Outbound or Shifting: Vessels alongside or in port should call the Pilot Office on VHF Ch 10 at least 2 hours in advance.

What time zone is Port Tampa Bay in?

Local time at Port Tampa Bay 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 Port Tampa Bay?

The deepest berth listed is at Plains LPG Terminal: 13.40 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Port Tampa Bay?

1025.

Which load line zone is Port Tampa Bay in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Port Tampa Bay?

Port State Control at Port Tampa Bay: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Port Tampa Bay?

The UN/LOCODE of Port Tampa Bay is USTPA.

What crews who called at Port Tampa Bay 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 Port Tampa Bay →