San Diego

1. San Diego Pilot boards32°37.2′N 117°14.0′W

Size limits

LOA 330m, beam 60.35m, draught 10.7m, 71,666DWT.

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

Mean range is 1.25m and diurnal range is 1.74m.

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

Approach

Pilotage is compulsory for foreign vessels and all vessels over 300GT, and is available throughout 24 hours. The Pilot Office is located at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (32°42.5'N 117°14.0'W). Pilots board vessels in the vicinity of the SD Light Buoy (32°37'N 117°15'W) from one of two white launches with the word PILOT on the front of the deckhouse.

Port limits

Seaward limits are defined by Sea Buoy "SD" 32°37'N 117°14'W.

Traffic schemes and VTS

There is no traffic management scheme in operation at the port of San Diego. Standard navigation procedures apply when transiting the entrance and channel. No shore based radar coverage is available.

Anchorages

Vessels waiting outside the entrance for a pilot will find good anchorage in 11m or more SE of the entrance to the channel, although permission to anchor in the restricted area must be obtained from the local Naval Authorities. The area in the lee of Point Loma, S of Ballast Point and W of the eastern line of the project channel, is reserved for pilot boats and harbour patrol or US Government craft. All of the numbered mooring buoys in the bay are for the use of the US Navy.

Vessels anchoring in the harbour shall leave a free passage for other craft and shall not unreasonably obstruct the approaches to the wharves in the harbour.

Restrictions

Restricted areas for a degaussing station are between Ballast Point and Zuniga Point and N of Ballast Point.

A safety zone is off the SE side of the Coast Guard Station E of Harbor Island on the N side of the bay.

Bridges: A fixed high level steel and reinforced concrete highway bridge spans San Diego Bay, approximately 0.3nm S of the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. This bridge extends from Crosby Street in San Diego to Fourth Street in Coronado. The bridge has three major spans, two spans over the navigation channel, each with a vertical clearance of 59.5m at MHW and a clear width of 183m, and one span at the pierhead line with a vertical clearance of 53.3m at MHW and a clear width of 152.4m.

Off Port Speed Limit: From Mar 1st 2009, San Diego is introducing a voluntary speed limit of 15kts for passenger vessels and 12kts for cargo vessels within a range of 20nm of the port, in order to reduce exhaust emissions in the area.

Tugs

Tugs up to 2,400hp available from Foss Maritime Pacific Southwest.

Charts and publications

NOAA 18773. BA 897, 4910, 1029. Admiralty Pilot NP8.

ETA and pre-arrival notices

ETA is required 48 hours in advance with changes at least 2 hours before arrival. Vessels are advised to avoid arriving between 0715 and 1045 hours on Mondays, or on mornings following public holidays, owing to the heavy movement of US naval vessels. Pilots board at the SD Light Buoy at 32°37'N 117°15'W.

Communications

VHF: The port of San Diego operates a VHF-FM radio station for contacting merchant vessels, port pilots and other nearby stations. The station call sign is "KJC 824". A 24 hour watch is kept on Ch 16, 12, 17.

Pilots: 'Pilot San Diego' Pilot vessel Ch 16, 12.

Coast Guard: Ch 16.

The San Diego marine operator responds to ship to shore calls on Ch 28, 86.

Other important numbers:

San Diego Harbor Police : (619) 686-6570

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department: (619) 533-4300

USCG Marine Safety Office: (619) 278-7262

Port of San Diego: (619) 686-6200

U.S. Navy Port Operations: (619) 556-1433

Standard messages

Only messages of necessity will be forwarded from port to vessel.

Notice of readiness

Normally tendered to agent or agent's direct representative when vessel has met all requirements for receiving or discharging cargo.

Documents

Please see country information for details of documentation requirements.

Health

Free pratique is available on arrival, vessels agent normally arranges for this service.

No action initiated unless there is illness onboard.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificates: Please see country information.

Customs and immigration

All personnel must remain onboard until full clearance has been granted.

Flags

Storm advisories are displayed by international flag hoists, located at the W end of the "B" Street Pier.

Notices and regulations

General notices are supplied as required, on vessel's arrival. Port regulations are available in port of San Diego Tariff 1-6.

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.

Repairs

Available. National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) has 12 full service berths that can accommodate naval and merchant vessels with up to LOA 305m and 11.0m draught.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available at all berths.

Bunkering: Available by pipeline at Tenth Avenue Terminal and by barge at all other locations.

Stores: Available.

Medical

Hospital in San Diego, 6km.

Crew change

Transportation and clearances available through local agent.

Transport

Nearest airport: San Diego International Airport, 8km.

Airport facilities: All facilities.

Nearest railway: ATSF, SD&IV, San Diego, adjacent.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours, 365 days a year.

Where it is

The Port of San Diego is situated on San Diego Bay in southern California, 96nm and 455nm SE of Los Angeles and San Francisco respectively and just N of the US/Mexico border.

The port

San Diego Bay is a crescent shaped bay with an area of about 46.6sq km at half tide. The port is a major US Navy base with strategic port use, as well as having good commercial marine facilities.

Imports: Vehicles, bulk soda, ash, potash, fertiliser, cement and other bulk commodities, lumber, newsprint, petroleum products, fruit and vegetables, frozen meat, poultry, seafood and other frozen products, liquid bulk, livestock, project cargo, containers and niche cargo.

Exports: Bulk chemicals, general cargo, break bulk and livestock.

Traffic

Approx 2,000,000t cargo handled, 150,000 TEU and 261,000 passengers handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at San Diego?

The pilot boards at San Diego, 32°37.2′N 117°14.0′W.

What time zone is San Diego in?

Local time at San Diego 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 San Diego?

The deepest berth listed is at Us Navy - Pt Loma: 10.97 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at San Diego?

1025.

Which load line zone is San Diego 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 San Diego?

Port State Control at San Diego: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of San Diego?

The UN/LOCODE of San Diego is USSAN.

What crews who called at San Diego 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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