PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Portland
Pilot
updated Feb 2013Pilotage is compulsory for US vessels sailing under registry and for all foreign vessels, except foreign recreational or fishing vessels no more than LOA 30m or 250GT international. Pilotage is provided by the Columbia River Bar Pilots for the river entrance, from the open sea to the easternmost wharf at Astoria, Oregon. For the river above Astoria, pilotage is provided by Columbia River Pilots.
Pilots board inbound vessels in the vicinity of the CR Buoy (Columbia River Entrance Buoy), and navigate vessels beyond the Astoria-Megler Bridge, where vessels are turned over to a Columbia River Pilot.
All vessels requiring the service of the Columbia River Bar Pilots are requested to give their ETA directly to the Columbia River Bar Pilots office in Astoria (not through their agent) by telephone, fax or email at least 12 hours in advance. If the ETA changes due to weather or other causes, the Columbia River Bar Pilots are to be notified no later than 4 hours in advance.
At least two hours before ETA, vessels should confirm arrival time, and then call on VHF Channel 16, 9 or 13 when the vessel is 15miles from the CR Buoy. The call sign for the Columbia River Bar Pilot office is KOK-360. Vessels should not approach the CR Buoy until advised to do so by a pilot. Vessels should remain within a marshalling area approximately 5miles W of the CR Buoy while awaiting a Pilot to board.
Pilot boards in the following positions:
a) By Pilot Vessel: 46°11.09'N 124°09.63'W (1nm E of the Approach Lt buoy CR).
b) By helicopter: Within 4-10nm NW to SW of the Approach Lt buoy CR (46°11.07'N 124°11.04'W).
The following information may be needed when ordering service:
Complete name and type of vessel.
Vessel's date and ETA at the Pilot Station.
Max. draught (if vessel is not on even keel, provide fore and aft draughts).
Any special information or instructions concerning the vessel and its arrival.
For inbound vessels, 4 days notice is required. The following information should be provided: ETA, arrival draughts, berth(s) schedule, docking instructions, bunkering or other anchorage requirements, tug company to be used, ETD and anticipated sailing draughts. If any changes occur to the ETA, the Columbia River Pilots must be notified.
For outbound vessels, all orders for sailing or harbour moves must be placed between 0700 - 1600 hours. Sailing or harbour movements in the ports of Portland and Vancouver require 2 hours notice.
Key data
updated Jan 2025Size limits
Draught 12.9m, LOA 365.88m, beam 48.4m, 175,327DWT.
Water density
1000.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Mean tidal range is 0.5m, and the diurnal range 0.7m; the range becomes progressively smaller as the level of the river rises.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 5 | 12.90 m | 229 m | 3 |
| Terminal 6 | 12.90 m | 366 m | 5 |
| TEMCO - Irving Facility | — | 229 m | 1 |
| Terminal 4 | 12.00 m | 289 m | 5 |
| Louis Dreyfus Commodities | 11.30 m | 181 m | 1 |
| Delek - Willbridge Oil Refinery | 11.20 m | 186 m | 2 |
| NuStar Terminal - Linnton | 11.00 m | 189 m | 2 |
| Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. | 10.90 m | 190 m | 1 |
| Terminal 2 | — | 290 m | 1 |
| BP (ARCO) Linnton Terminal | — | 183 m | 1 |
| Portland Cement Terminal | 10.00 m | 190 m | 1 |
| McCall Oil Terminal | 9.80 m | 189 m | 1 |
| Kinder Morgan (Willbridge) | — | 186 m | 1 |
| Kinder Morgan - Linnton Terminal | — | 213 m | 1 |
| Simplot Rivergate Terminal | — | 200 m | 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 2019Approach
See details under separate entry for Columbia/Snake River System.
Tugs
Tugs are always on call.
Charts and publications
BA 2849. Admiralty Pilot NP8, NP286(5).
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 Feb 2025Repairs
The USACE Portland District maintains safe and navigable waterways by dredging sandbars and deepening channels, facilitating the secure transport of over $18 billion in waterborne commerce.
The privately owned Swan Island shipyard, operated by Vigor Industrial, offers facilities to build, repair, modernise and finish all types of vessels, barges and large scale industrial projects. The 24ha facility along the Willamette River offers three drydocks, more than 3,000m of pier space, 17 whirley cranes of up to 134t and a 600t gantry crane. Berths 301 - 314 are located here.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: Available from Columbia Marine Lines, K W Marine Transport, Pacific Northern Oil Corporation.
Medical
Portland Metropolitan area has 32 hospitals.
Transport
Nearest airport: Portland International approx 15 mins from central Portland.
Airport facilities: The port of Portland operates four airports in the Portland area.
Nearest railway: All port terminals have dock side rails, served by 3 railroads; Burlington Northern, Union Pacific and Southern Pacific with switching yards in Portland.
Working hours
Normally Mon-Fri 0800-1700hrs. Cargo delivered and received between 0800-1700hrs and 1800-0300hrs. There will be no Customs clearance between 1200-1300hrs or after 1800hrs, unless previously arranged with Customs.
Weekends, vessels work at agent's discretion.
About Portland
updated Sep 2026Where it is
The Port of Portland is situated on the Willamette River, Oregon, about 10nm above its mouth and 98nm above the sea entrance to the Columbia River.
The port
The port is a port of call for many regular shipping lines engaged in both domestic and foreign trade and is well equipped to handle all manner of cargoes. The port is located at the centre of a system of inland waterways extending 475nm into the interior via Willamette, Columbia and Snake Rivers. Portland is at River Mile 105.
There are four marine terminals at the port that comprise 360ha. The terminals are used for the following:
Terminal 2 - 21ha site, breakbulk, Ro-Ro, and project cargoes.
Terminal 4 - 105ha site, automobiles, dry and liquid bulk cargoes.
Terminal 5 - 64ha site, grain, dry bulks, warehouse/manufacturing.
Terminal 6 - 170ha site, automobiles, breakbulk, containers and intermodal rail yard operations.
The port is served by the nation's two largest transcontinental railroads (BNSF and Union Pacific), six ocean container carriers (Westwood, CKYH and Hapag) and numerous trucking, barge, tug, and towing services working the Columbia/Snake River system. The port also owns and operates one international (Portland International Airport or PDX) and two general aviation airports (Hillsboro and Troutdale) and four industrial parks.
It is currently ranked as the largest wheat export port in the US, the largest mineral bulk port on the US West Coast and the third largest export tonnage port on the US West Coast.
Traffic
Approx 12,500,000t of cargo (3,600,000t of grain), 86,000TEU and 500 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Portland
What are the pilot arrangements at Portland?
Pilotage is compulsory for US vessels sailing under registry and for all foreign vessels, except foreign recreational or fishing vessels no more than LOA 30m or 250GT international.
What time zone is Portland in?
Local time at Portland 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 Portland?
The deepest berth listed is at Terminal 5: 12.90 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Portland?
1000.
Which load line zone is Portland in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Portland?
Port State Control at Portland: US Coast Guard.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Portland?
The UN/LOCODE of Portland is USPDX.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Portland 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.