Windsor

Size limits

LOA 304.81m, beam 32.01m, draught 9m, 62,335DWT.

Water density

1000.

Tides

There are no tides, the current in the Detroit River attains a rate of 4-4.5kts.

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

Port limits

The approx S limit of the harbour is a straight line drawn from Fighting Island Northlight at the international boundary on a 046.5° direction to the shore. The W limit of the port is the N'ly extension of the E limit of the City of Windsor to the international boundary.

Traffic schemes and VTS

VTS for the area is located in Sarnia and provides coverage for the port of Windsor and approaches. Reporting points are listed under the St Clair and Detroit River navigation safety regulations and the US Inland Waterways Navigation Regulations. Under the Canada Shipping Act, co-operation with VTS is compulsory for mariners operating commercial vessels 6m or more in length.

At the time of departure, at mandatory calling in points and other specified times, mariners are responsible for clearly identifying themselves and informing the regulator of their plans in each of the sectors.

Contact for the area: Officer in Charge, VTS, Canadian Coast Guard Sarnia, Tel: +1 519 337 6572.

Anchorages

There is one unsheltered anchorage in the port (a second is available in Detroit) N of Fighting Island, 1,219m in length and 244m in width, with depths of 9.4 - 11.0m. Contact VTS Sarnia. No vessel shall anchor in the port except in the designated anchorage area or other such place as authorised by Harbour Master, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard or an officer-in-charge of a patrol vessel.

Restrictions

The Ambassador Bridge, linking Windsor with Detroit, has a max vertical clearance of 47.5m above chart datum for a width of 30m in mid channel, decreasing to a clearance of 40.5m at each side.

Overhead power lines, comprising of 5 cables, with a min clearance of 55.8m spans the river, 1.7nm below the Ambassador Bridge. The cables are supported on each shore by a skeleton tower 89m in height. The towers are marked by red aircraft obstruction lights.

There is a speed limit of 8kts in the harbour for vessels over LOA 19.8m.

Tugs

Tugs are seldom required for berthing. Two tugs operated by McKeil Marine Ltd. and Dean Construction may be available after 16:30 and on weekends. If no arrangements with Canadian tugs are possible, arrangements may be made through Great Lakes Towing after Customs clearance at (519) 257-6457.

Charts and publications

NOAA 14848. BA 4794.

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Initial ETA to be sent a min of 3 days prior to arrival at Montreal, see Country Section for details. Additional ETA's should be sent on passing Montreal.

Communications

Harbour Master, Tel: +1 519 258 5741 (24 hours) or Email: [email protected].

Prescott Coast Guard Radio can be used for passing messages throughout 24 hours. Inmarsat can be used for communication.

VHF: Windsor Harbour: Ch 14, during office hours and through Sterling Marine Fuels out of hours.

Sarnia Coast Guard: Ch 12.

Vessels should monitor Ch 12 while in port.

Sterling Fuels monitors Ch 14.

Standard messages

Berthing instructions are passed to a vessel by the agent in Montreal. The message advises berth location, docking side, anticipated cargo, berth availability, anticipated time alongside, any navigational problems anticipated and local conditions.

Notice of readiness

NOR should be tendered as per Charter Party on arrival.

Documents

The above are faxed by the vessel's agent to the Customs authorities.

Forms are delivered onboard by the agent as the vessel passes Montreal.

Health

Foreign vessels may request pratique by radio from the Quarantine Station in Montreal.

Customs and immigration

Immigration and agricultural inspection facilities are available in Windsor. Canadian Customs, Tel: +1 519 257 6457.

Flags

Canadian flag to be displayed as a courtesy.

Notices and regulations

Garbage from foreign ships may not be landed.

Port State Control here: Paris MOU, Tokyo MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

Inspection of ships in Canada

Transport Canada,

Inspection and Operations Standards Division,

Tower C, Place de Ville, 330 Sparks Street, 11th Floor, Ottawa, ON K1A 0N5.

For Flag State Inspection Standards (Canadian Vessels):

Tel: +1 613 991 3135

Fax: +1 613 991 4818

Teletypewriter / TDD: +1 888 675 6863

Email: [email protected]

For Port State Control Standards (Foreign Vessels):

Tel: +1 613 991 3135

Fax: +1 613 993 8196

Teletypewriter / TDD: +1 888 675 6863

Email: [email protected]

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Directorate Marine Security - Transport Canada.

Position: Director General.

Address: 112 Kent Street, Tower B, Place de Ville, Ottawa, ON, K1A ON5, Canada.

Tel: +1 613 851 6302

Fax: +1 613 949 3906

Website: http://www.tc.gc.ca

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org

Repairs

Available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available. Contact Harbour Master on Ch 14.

Bunkering: Available through Sterling Marine Fuels.

Medical

There are 2 major hospitals within 5km, Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital tel: +1 519 973 4444; and Windsor Regional Hospital tel: +1 519 254 5577.

Crew change

Arrangements should be made with individual terminals.

Transport

Nearest airport: Windsor Airport, 15min from downtown Windsor.

Airport facilities: Windsor Airport is served by major Canadian and provincial airlines.

Nearest railway: Windsor is serviced by five railways: Canadian Pacific, Canadian National, Norfolk and Western, CSX and Essex Terminal.

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

The port of Windsor is located on the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway System and is on the Detroit River, opposite the port of Detroit (see separate entry), in Michigan. The port is 993km from Montreal and includes over 21.2km of shoreline.

The port

The port of Windsor is the third largest Canadian Great Lakes port in terms of shipments. Cargoes handled include aggregates, salt, grain, flour, lumber, steel, petroleum, vehicles and heavy-lift equipment.

Traffic

Approx 3,000,000t of cargo (including 750,000t of grain) and 2,000 vessels handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Windsor?

Pilotage is compulsory on the Great Lakes for all vessels of foreign registry and any other vessels which do not qualify for exemption as prescribed in Section 4 of the Great Lakes pilotage regulations.

What time zone is Windsor in?

Local time at Windsor 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 Windsor?

The deepest berth listed is at Sterling Marine Fuels: 8.20 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Windsor?

1000.

Who carries out Port State Control at Windsor?

Port State Control at Windsor: Paris MOU, Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Windsor?

The UN/LOCODE of Windsor is CAWND.

What crews who called at Windsor 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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