PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Tacoma
Pilot
updated May 2010Pilotage is compulsory for all foreign vessels and US vessels engaged in foreign trade. Pilots from the Puget Sound Pilots Association board at Port Angeles, 1nm N of E end of Ediz Hook in the case of loaded petroleum tankers, or 0.5nm N of E end of Ediz Hook for all other vessels. Vessels should send requests for pilots at least 5 hours in advance of ETA. Orders for pilots should be sent directly to the dispatcher in Seattle between 0800hrs and 1700hrs local time on Tel: +1 206 4484455. If an order cannot be sent during these times then arrangements must be made before 1700hrs local time on the preceding day.
Puget Sound Pilots cover all ports and waters from Port Angeles to the USA/Canada international border and work throughout 24 hours, every day of the year.
Key data
updated Mar 2025Size limits
LOA 366.107m, beam 53.5m, draught 14.2m, 174,009DWT.
Water density
1017.
TEMCO dock density 1018-1023.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Range 3.5m (springs); 1.3m (neaps).
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEMCO - Tacoma Export Terminal | — | 229 m | 1 |
| Husky Terminal | 14.20 m | 366 m | 2 |
| Pierce County Terminal (PCT) | 14.20 m | 366 m | 2 |
| Washington United Terminals (WUT) | 13.70 m | 350 m | 2 |
| East Sitcum Terminal | 13.00 m | 289 m | 1 |
| Georgia-Pacific Gypsum | 12.40 m | 245 m | 1 |
| Blair Terminal | 12.10 m | 232 m | 1 |
| U.S. Oil & Refining Co. | 12.01 m | 183 m | 2 |
| East Blair One (EB1) Terminal | 11.40 m | 265 m | 1 |
| PTSC West Hylebos Terminal | — | 40 m | 1 |
| Radius Recycling | 10.60 m | 190 m | 1 |
| West Sitcum Terminal | 10.50 m | 265 m | 2 |
| Terminal 7 | 9.70 m | 300 m | 1 |
| TOTE Maritime Alaska (Tacoma Terminal) | 9.60 m | 256 m | 2 |
| SeaPort Sound Terminal | — | 213 m | 1 |
All 17 terminals
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunoco LP Tacoma Terminal | 7.92 m | 137 m | 1 |
| Phillips 66 Tacoma North Terminal | — | 201 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 Mar 2025Approach
The port is approached from Puget Sound and entered through Commencement Bay between Browns Point (47°18.4'N 122°26.7'W) and Point Defiance (47°19.0'N 122°32.9'W).
Most of the principal port installations are situated on and around 8 waterways that open into the head of Commencement Bay, which is a natural deep water harbour with average depths of 180m. The ports two prime jetty waterways, the Blair and Sitcum have minimum depths of 15.5m MLLW and do not require dredging to maintain this depth.
Anchorages
The Commencement Bay general anchorage is a quadrilateral area bounded as follows:
From position 47°17.6N 122°26.0'W, then due S to position 47°17.3'N 122°26.0'W, then due E to a point bearing 286° from Hylebos Waterway Light No 1 at a distance of 411m, then due N to position 47°17.5'N 122°25.0'W, then WNW to the point of beginning.
City regulations permit anchorage in any part of Commencement Bay outside the harbour lines so as not to interfere with vessels arriving or departing from any dock. However depths in the bay outside the general anchorage area are mainly too deep for safe anchorage.
There is no draught restriction at Commencement Bay Anchorage and no cost to remain at anchor whilst awaiting a berth.
Restrictions
Berths on Commencement Bay have no restrictions, however berths located on the port waterways are limited by depths of water between 12.0-15.5m at MLLW.
The PORTS program for calculating max draught is in use at this port.
Tugs
These tugs serve both Tacoma and Seattle ports as well as smaller ports in the area.
Charts and publications
BA 48, 51, 1947, 4920. Admiralty Pilot NP25, NP286(5).
Reporting before arrival
updated Dec 2012ETA and pre-arrival notices
Notice of ETA should be sent to Tacoma Port Authority 7 days prior to arrival. Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.
Communications
VHF: Pilots: Ch 16, 13. Call "Port Angeles".
Tacoma Port: Ch 07. Tel: +1 253 3835841, Fax: +1 253 5934534.
Bridges: Vessels should send request for opening 2 hours in advance.
Call: Hylebos Bridge KZN574, currently out of use (open).
VTS Puget Sound:
Tel: +1 206 217 6046
Fax: +1 206 217 6058
Email: VTS Traffic Service Branch Chief: [email protected]
VHF: Ch 5A and 14 (switch at Bush Point)
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.
Quarantine is enforced in accordance with the US Public Health Service regulations.
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
Entry into this safety zone is prohibited unless authorised by the Captain of the port.
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 Dec 2017Repairs
Available.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: Available.
Stores: Available.
Medical
Tacoma General Hospital and Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, 1.5km NW of the Murray Morgan Bridge.
Tacoma General Hospital, Tel: +1 253 403 1000.
Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Tel: +1 253 403 1400.
Transport
Nearest airport: Seattle-Tacoma International, 24km.
Nearest railway: Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad services for freight available on dock. Passenger facility in Tacoma.
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours.
TEMCO - Day shift from 0700-1900hrs, night shift from 1900-0700hrs.
About Tacoma
updated Mar 2025Where it is
The port of Tacoma is situated in the State of Washington on the NW Pacific coast of the USA. The port is located in Commencement Bay, being accessed from the Pacific via Juan de Fuca Strait and Puget Sound.
The port
The port covers a total land area of 972ha with berths available for the handling of containers, automobiles, grain, logs, wood chips, gypsum, alumina, break bulk cargo, heavy-lift and project cargoes and bulk cargoes. Tacoma is currently the seventh largest container port in N America, a major gateway to Asia and Alaska. Large quantity of the import containers railed to East coast.
A strategic partnership has been formed between the ports of Seattle (see separate entry) and Tacoma, known as The Northwest Seaport Alliance, to help promote and expand business and strengthen the maritime economy in the Puget Sound Gateway Project (PSGP) area. The PSGP promotes the efficient and improved movement of freight and goods as part of an integrated transportation system in the area between Seattle and Tacoma and is seen as the key to its economic growth and prosperity.
Traffic
Seattle and Tacoma combined (Northwest Seaport Alliance): Approx 24,000,000t of cargo, 3,000,000TEUs and 1,800 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Tacoma
What are the pilot arrangements at Tacoma?
Pilotage is compulsory for all foreign vessels and US vessels engaged in foreign trade.
What time zone is Tacoma in?
Local time at Tacoma 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 Tacoma?
The deepest berth listed is at Husky Terminal: 14.20 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Tacoma?
1017.
Which load line zone is Tacoma in?
Summer.
Who carries out Port State Control at Tacoma?
Port State Control at Tacoma: US Coast Guard.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Tacoma?
The UN/LOCODE of Tacoma is USTIW.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Tacoma 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.