PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Savannah
Pilot
updated Jul 2016Pilotage is compulsory for all foreign vessels and US vessels under register in the foreign trade. Pilotage is optional for US vessels in the domestic trade, which have onboard pilot licensed by the Federal Government. Pilotage is available from the Savannah Bar Pilots Association Inc.
The pilots maintain two pilot boats; "Georgia" and "Savannah Pilot". Both have blue hulls and white superstructures, fly the code flag "H", and are equipped with VHF. The boats are in direct communication with the pilot office in Savannah. Communications on channel 18A, 16 and 14 are monitored by the pilot's office on a 24-hour basis, and the by the pilot boats at all hours when working ships. Pilots board from the pilots boat in the vicinity of the Tybee Lightbuoy (31°57.52'N 080°43.09'W).
Ships may enter day or night; deeper draught vessels are taken in on a rising tide. Pilots are arranged in advanced via telephone or fax, by radio through the Savannah Marine operator, or through the ships' agent.
Key data
updated Nov 2025Size limits
LOA 396m, beam 563.6m, draught 13.1m, 190,734DWT.
Water density
1000.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Range 2.5m springs, 1.8m neaps.
Approaches. In the vicinity of 31°57'N 080°41'W, the tidal stream is rotary, turning clockwise. The maximum rate of the ingoing stream occurs about 2.5 hours before HW at Charleston, when it sets about 290° at an average rate of about 0.25kt. The maximum rate of the outgoing stream occurs about 4 hours after HW at Charleston, when it sets about 115° at an average rate of about 0.25kt.
Entrance. The outgoing stream from the entrance to Savannah River attains a rate of 2.5-3kts, and the ingoing stream a rate of 1.5-2kts. From the entrance nearly to Savannah, slack water occurs about 1 hour after and 5 hours before HW at Charleston, but these times are considerably affected by the wind and freshets. The tidal streams follow the direction of the channel except off the entrance near Tybee Rear Leading Light, where the ingoing stream sets NW across the channel. Between the jetties the ingoing stream sets about 260°. Freshets occur occasionally in the spring, but do not endanger vessels at the wharves at Savannah.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden City Terminal | 13.10 m | 396 m | 9 |
| Colonial Terminals - Foundation 2 | 12.00 m | 213 m | 1 |
| Colonial Terminals - Savannah Terminal 2 - Liquid Bulk | 12.00 m | 195 m | 1 |
| Colonial Terminals - Savannah Terminal 1 | 11.88 m | 246 m | 2 |
| Elba Island LNG Terminal | 11.70 m | 300 m | 3 |
| Colonial Terminals - Savannah Terminal 2 - Dry Bulk | 11.60 m | 185 m | 1 |
| Georgia Pacific Gypsum - Savannah | 11.20 m | 200 m | 1 |
| Ocean Terminal | 11.20 m | 300 m | 3 |
| Southeastern Ship Terminal (SST) | 11.00 m | 200 m | 1 |
| East Coast Terminal Co. | 10.50 m | 229 m | 2 |
| Savannah Marine Terminal | 10.36 m | 245 m | 3 |
| US Sugar Savannah Refinery | 10.30 m | 187 m | 2 |
| Seaonus Stevedoring - Savannah (SSS) | 10.00 m | 230 m | 1 |
| Colonial Terminals - Foundation 1 | 9.40 m | 243 m | 1 |
| National Gypsum - Savannah Plant | 8.10 m | 230 m | 1 |
All 16 terminals
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah Transload Facility | — | — | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Apr 2021Approach
A dredging programme is in operation to deepen channels for accommodation of larger vessels.
The entrance of the channel across the bar through Tybee Roads has a maintained depth of 13.4m to the jetties. From the jetties a controlled depth of 12.8m is maintained for 18.4nm in the main channel to the turning basin at Kings Island. From that point 11.0-12.8m for approx 1nm and from there 9.1m for another 1.4m to the Eugene Talmage Memorial Highway Bridge (US Route 17 highway bridge).
The channels are well marked by lighted ranges, lights, lighted and unlighted buoys.
Channel widths for both the Garden City and Ocean Terminals are 152.4m.
Caution: The entrance to the Savannah River is protected by breakwaters (jetties). The north breakwater is unmarked and awash at MHW and marked approx 0.2nm seaward of its E end by a light. The S breakwater is submerged at MHW and marked at the E end by a light.
Turning basins: Marsh Island 274m x 304m; King's Island 457m x 487m.
Port limits
The harbour of Savannah comprises the lower part of Savannah River from the bar off the entrance to 6nm above Savannah.
Anchorages
Anchorage can be found N or NW of the Tybee Whistle Lightbuoy (31°57.52'N 080°43.09'W), where depths range from 5.8-11.2m with good holding ground. There is no anchorage in the Savannah River except in an emergency. It is not recommended for any vessel to anchor within a 2nm radius of the Tybee Lightbuoy.
Additional anchorage may be found at position 31°57N 080°41W, depths of 12.1-15m.
Restrictions
Bridges: The Eugene Talmadge Memorial Highway Bridge (U.S. 17 highway) near the western edge of the city waterfront, 15nm above the mouth, has a fixed span with a clearance of 56.4m over the centre span and a width of 152.4m.
Houlihan Swing Bridge: US Route 17 highway bridge about 1nm above Port Wentworth has a swing span with a clearance of 2.4m, call bridge tender on VHF to open the span.
Overhead Cable: An overhead power cable with clearance of 67.4 meters crosses the main channel of the Savannah River at Fig Island about 11.9nm above the mouth.
An overhead power cable with a clearance of 63.4m crosses the main channel of the Savannah River at Port Wentworth, about 4.9nm above the Eugene Talmadge Memorial Highway Bridge.
LNG Carriers: LNG carriers, unless gas-free, are restricted from night transits between 1600-0700hrs.
A max speed of 4kts is in force within the harbour limits.
Tugs
Tugs up to 3,900bhp are available throughout 24 hours. Request should be made in advance.
Elba Island LNG: Minimum 3 tugs required for berthing and unberthing.
Charts and publications
US 11505, 11512, BA 2801, 2807, 2865. Admiralty Pilot NP69, NP286(5).
Reporting before arrival
updated Aug 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.
Communications
VHF: Port Control: Ch 16.
Savannah Bar Pilot Office/pilot vessel: Ch 16, 14, 18A.
Pilots: Tel: +1 912 236 0226, Fax: +1 912 236 6571.
Houlihan Bridgetender: Ch 16, 13, callsign WHV-879.
Documents
Please see country information for details of documentation requirements.
Note: The SOLAS Safety Construction Certificate is not needed for entering and clearing the vessel with US Customs Services Marine Office. Vessels should be aware that Ship's Registry will be held by US Customs if the vessel can not be entered and cleared on the same day. Vessel agents have 48 hours to conduct formal entry of the vessel with the Marine Office of US Customs. When the vessel is formally cleared by the ship's agent, the vessel must depart the port within 48 hours.
Health
No action initiated unless there is illness onboard.
Ship Sanitation Control Certificates: Please see country information.
Customs and immigration
Savannah is a port of entry. Vessels are boarded at their berths.
Notices and regulations
Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.
The Savannah port authorities have jurisdiction over the harbour of Savannah and the port district, which is enforced by the Harbour Master, copies of the regulations are available from Savannah Port Authority.
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 May 2019Repairs
Major repairs can be carried out.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: Available.
Stores: Available, check with agent if allowed to be delivered on tanker berths.
Medical
There are modern medical facilities in Savannah.
Transport
Nearest airport: Savannah International (13km), .
Rail Providers: CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railroad.
Passenger Rail Provider: Amtrak.
Nearest highway: Interstate 10 and 16 (E/W direction), Interstate 95 (N/S direction),
Intermodal: Cordele Intermodal Services (CIS), an intermodal rail transfer facility in Cordele, Georgia, located 320km (200 miles) from the closest deepwater port.
Working hours
GPA ports operate throughout 24 hours.
About Savannah
updated Oct 2025Where it is
Savannah is a natural land locked harbour 15nm up the Savannah River from the Atlantic Ocean.
The port
The port is operated by the Georgia Ports Authority which also owns and operates the Garden City and Ocean Terminal container terminals, there are also several private berth operators. A Free Trade Zone has been established in Savannah. The Elba Island LNG Terminal is situated approx 5nm down stream of the main port.
Following the opening of the new locks at the Panama Canal, the port is benefitting from the visits of much larger vessels, which are now able to transit the Canal, opening up new global trading opportunities.
Imports: Include petroleum products, sugar, forest products, cement, gypsum, ores, textiles, machinery, steel and ores.
Exports: Include kaolin clay, wood pulp, vegetable oil, peanuts, grain oil seed, scrap iron, paper and agricultural machinery.
Traffic
Approx 42,000,000t of cargo, 5,500,000TEU and 2,100 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Savannah
What are the pilot arrangements at Savannah?
Pilotage is compulsory for all foreign vessels and US vessels under register in the foreign trade.
What time zone is Savannah in?
Local time at Savannah 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 Savannah?
The deepest berth listed is at Garden City Terminal: 13.10 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Savannah?
1000.
Which load line zone is Savannah in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Savannah?
Port State Control at Savannah: US Coast Guard.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Savannah?
The UN/LOCODE of Savannah is USSAV.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Savannah 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.