Sitka

1. Sitka Sound Pilot boards57°00.9′N 135°21.4′W

Size limits

LOA 335.28m.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

North Pacific Winter Seasonal Zone, Winter Oct 16 to Apr 15, Summer Apr 16 to Oct 15.

Tides

Range 3.05m.

Tidal Stream: Sitka Harbour sets NW ingoing and SE outgoing with max rate of 0.5kt in either direction. Elsewhere the streams are weak and variable.

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

Approach

Sitka Harbor is generally approached from Sitka Sound through E Channel or W Channel, then the harbour is entered through the S or N entrance, respectively. From Olga Strait to the N, the harbour is approached by passing inshore of the offlying islands and entered through the N entrance. The SW channel has a controlled depth of about 7.9m, with a width of about 36m. The NE channel has a dredged depth of 6.7m, with a width of 45m.

Sawmill Cove is approached through E Channel and entered from Silver Bay.

Starrigavan Bay and Darrin Barge Landing 0.6nm S are approached from SW, or from Olga Strait to the N.

East Channel: From the pilot embarkation point 0.25nm N of The Eckholms Light (57°00'N 135°22'W), the fairway leads ENE, passing (with positions given from the light):

SSE of Simpson Rock (0.72nm NE), a rocky shoal unmarked by kelp, with a depth of 3.0m over it, and marked by No 5 Lightbuoy (port hand) moored 0.05nm S of the rock.

Passage N of Simpson Rock, and Tsaritsa Rock 0.67nm E is not advisable as there are many shoals extending S from the islands on the N side of the passage. Then:

SSE of Tsaritsa Rock (1.25nm NE), awash at MLLW and showing no kelp, marked by No 7 Lightbuoy (port hand) moored 0.05nm S of the rock. And: NNW of Luce Island (1nm E) a small island at the NW end of the Kutchuma Islands lying in the entrance to Aleukina Bay.

West Channel: (Positions given from Eckholms Light)

SW of Makhnati Rock (2nm NW), with a depth of 2.7m over it and marked by No 2 Lightbuoy (starboard hand) moored 0.07nm W.

Makhnati Rock lies 0.22nm SW from the S end of Makhnati Island a low wooded island which lies at the SW end of the curving chain of inter connected islands joined to the SW side of Japonski Island. Then:

Into the SW entrance to W Channel between Makhnati Island and a drying rock 0.75nm WNW. This drying rock is the S of several rocks, drying and awash over which the sea breaks in any swell, lying from 0.1nm S to 0.3nm SSW from Sentinel Rock (2.75nm NW), a 4.6m high rock. A shallow patch with a depth of 11.1m over it, lying 0.22nm W from the N end of Makhnati Island, can be passed on either side if necessary.

Port limits

The Sitka port area extends from Sawmill Cove to Starrigavan Bay, 3.5nm E and 5nm NNW respectively from the city.

Anchorages

E anchorage: The open expanse of water between The Twins (57°02'N 135°19'W) and the entrance to Jamestown Bay 0.6nm NE, is the preferred anchorage off Sitka.

Anchorage may be made where convenient in depths from 13.0-49m, mud bottom. During S'ly weather, the swells from outside make this anchorage uneasy and in S gales the sea is felt considerably. During the winter, NE gales sometimes sweep across the anchorage with considerable force rendering it unsafe.

W anchorage is the area ESE of Channel Rock (57°03.6'N 135°22.1'W) between the N end of Japonski Island and the mainland. This anchorage has constricted swinging space, and during S gales a considerable sea is experienced.

The best anchorage is with Channel Rock bearing 289° distant 0.2nm, in depths of 11.0-15.0m, mud bottom.

Restrictions

John O'Connel (Sitka-Mount Edgecumbe) Bridge spanning the S entrance, between Sitka and Harbor Island and the E extremity of Japonski Island, has a vertical clearance of 15.8m above MHW, and a width of 106m between supports.

Harbour regulations impose a max speed limit of 5kts while passing the waterfront area of Sitka Harbour between Japonski Island and mainland. A max speed of 3kts and no wake is imposed at the small crafts harbour.

Tugs

Available throughout 24 hours to assist with berthing and unberthing, arrangement should be made well in advance.

Charts and publications

BA 4975. Admiralty Pilot NP4, NP286(5).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.

Communications

VHF: Port: Ch 16.

Pilots: Ch 16. See SE Alaska Pilotage Region.

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

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.

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

Sitka Harbour: Minor electronic and engineering repairs are possible.

Jamestown Bay: Small craft repairs are possible.

Starrigavan Bay: Small diesel engines, shaft and wet repairs are possible.

Halibut Point Marine Services also operates a "Do It Yourself" Boat Yard equipped with a 88t marine travel lift which has capacity for max. LOA 21.33m, beam 6.4m.

Dry docks

Sitka Harbour: Has 4 slipways, capable of accommodating vessels up to 58m.

Jamestown Bay: Floating dock capable of accommodating vessels up to 250t and 35m LOA. There is a 70t mobile vertical boat lift available.

Starrigavan Bay: A side haul slipway for vessels up to 800t.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh Water: Available at Old Sitka Dock.

Bunkering: Available at Petro Marine Services Dock.

Medical

There are medical facilities available in Sitka and a hospital on Japonski Island (approx 1km from Sitka harbour).

Transport

Nearest airport: Sitka (1km).

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours (in 3 shifts).

Where it is

Sitka is located on Baranof Island, Alaska, in the Alexander Archipelago. Halibut Point Cruise Terminal is located approx. 9.5km N of the downtown district.

The port

The port is a distribution centre for the NW section of SE Alaska and consists of a small tanker facility and a cruise terminal. A small ferry terminal, Sitka Ferry Terminal, is also located N of the cruise terminal. The port is considered a major fishing port.

Protected by three breakwaters, the port has five harbour areas: New Thomsen Harbor, Old Thomsen Harbor, Crescent Harbor, ANB Harbor and Sealing Cove.

Where does the pilot board at Sitka?

The pilot boards at Sitka Sound, 57°00.9′N 135°21.4′W.

What time zone is Sitka in?

Local time at Sitka is UTC−9. Clocks go to UTC−8 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−9 on 7 Nov 2027.

What is the water density at Sitka?

1025.

Which load line zone is Sitka in?

North Pacific Winter Seasonal Zone, Winter Oct 16 to Apr 15, Summer Apr 16 to Oct 15.

Who carries out Port State Control at Sitka?

Port State Control at Sitka: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Sitka?

The UN/LOCODE of Sitka is USSIT.

What crews who called at Sitka 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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