Whittier

Size limits

Draught 8.6m.

Load line zone

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

Tides

Range 3.7m.

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

Anchorages

Large vessels sometimes anchor clear of the 8.2m shoal on Bush Banks, approx 2nm NE of Whittier or in Pigot Bay.

Restrictions

Vessels are not allowed to enter the Prince William Sound through the Hitchinbrook Entrance without permission from the coastguard at Valdez Traffic Control Centre. Large vessels can only transit Prince William Sound during daylight hours.

Tugs

Two tugs are available, 1 x 600hp and 1 x 2,000hp. 1 x 2,000hp is available in the winter months, October to May.

Charts and publications

BA 3364. Admiralty Pilot NP4.

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.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available in limited quantities.

Medical

Small clinic in town, but nearest hospital 100km away in Anchorage.

Transport

Nearest railway: Whittier.

Airport facilities: There is a short landing strip in Whittier, suitable for small aircraft.

Where it is

Located on the NW extremity of Prince William Sound, Alaska, at the head of Passage Canal.

The port

The port handles large numbers of railroad cards, the Alaska State Ferry handles autos and passengers, and cruise ships and tour boats bring tourists during the summer.

What are the pilot arrangements at Whittier?

Compulsory, pilot boards at Pigot Point.

What time zone is Whittier in?

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

Which load line zone is Whittier 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 Whittier?

Port State Control at Whittier: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Whittier?

The UN/LOCODE of Whittier is USWQF.

What crews who called at Whittier 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.

Read and add tips for Whittier →