Hampton Roads Pt (USHR3)

Hampton Roads is a large, natural harbour area of approximately 35nmІ, situated at the confluence of the James, Nansemond and Elizabeth Rivers and is the approach area to the deep water ports of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport News and the Craney Island Fuel Terminal. The Hampton Roads area includes facilities owned and operated by Port of Virginia, namely Newport News Marine Terminal, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, Virginia International Gateway and Norfolk International Terminals. These facilities are listed in a separate port entry under Port of Virginia. The remaining private terminals within the port areas of Newport News, Portsmouth and Norfolk are listed in this port entry, for Hampton Roads, along with the Fuel Terminal at Craney Island (the largest of the US Navy's fuel facilities).

Summer Zone for ships over 100m in length and Winter Seasonal Area for ships of 100m or less in length, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

The port area of Hampton Roads is located on the eastern seaboard of the USA and includes Terminals at Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News and Craney island. Access from seaward for deeper draught vessels is via Chesapeake Bay to the East, between Cape Henry and Fishermans Island, Cape Charles.

Draught 15.2m, LOA 398.51m, beam 59m, 211,116DWT.

Approx 69,000,000t of cargo, 2,900,000TEU and 2,500 vessels handled annually.

Deep draught anchorages exist in the protected waters of Chesapeake Bay at Cape Charles and Lynnhaven. These two anchorages, located near the entrance to Hampton Roads (Port of Virginia), have a water depth ranging to 14.3m and can accommodate approximately 120 vessels. In addition, the inner harbour anchorage areas of lesser depth can accommodate up to 40 vessels. Anchorages are available as follows: ..... Anchorage Notes: Anchorage areas may be affected by development works off the NE of Craney Island. A submerged water main crosses from Craney Island to the north side of Lamberts Point; vessels are cautioned not to anchor in the vicinity of the lighted range that marks the crossing. F General anchorage (1.5nm NW of Fort Wool). Reserved for vessels with a draught of 13.7m or more. It contains anchorage berth F-1. G Naval Anchorage (approx 0.5nm W of Sewells Pt and Norfolk Naval Base, to W of confluence of Elizabeth River Navigation Channel and Newport News Navigation Channel). Four Explosives Handling berths, G-1 to G-4. H Newport News Bar Anchorage, to the West of Naval Anchorage G. General anchorage. I Approx 0.5nm off Newport News, this is a general anchorage. Contains two anchorage berths, I-1 and I-2, reserved for vessels greater than 152m in length or with a draught exceeding 9.1m. J General anchorage (approx 1.0nm N or Craney Island reclaimed land). Newport News Middle Ground lies within this area. K North of Anchorage J, this is a General anchorage (approx 0.75nm W of Norfolk Naval Base). Anchorage berths K-1 and K-2 in the NE part are reserved for vessels greater than 152m in length or with a draught exceeding 9.1m. The following designated smaller anchorage areas are established in Elizabeth River (with centres positioned from Town Point 36°50.7'N 076°17.6'W). All are for general use: M 1.75nm NW (W side of Port Norfolk Reach). 0.25nm N of Portsmouth Marine Terminal. N 0.4nm WNW (W side of Town Point Reach). Close N of Hospital Point. Anchorages A to D on the chart are for Naval vessels only. Anchorage E is an explosives anchorage for commercial vessels, prior permission to anchor in this anchorage must be obtained from the COTP.

Crossing Chesapeake Bay, at its entrance between Cape Henry and Fishermans Island to the North and Chesapeake Beach to the South, is the 25km long Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The road bridge is split in two places by two tunnels under the Bay, each 1.5km long enabling vessels to transit the Bay via the Thimble Shoal Tunnel Channel to the South (used by vessels accessing Port of Virginia) or the Chesapeake Channel Tunnel to the North. The deepest route to and from Chesapeake Bay is south of Chesapeake Light through the buoyed Deep-Water Route in the southeasterly approach. Ships entering Hampton Roads from the sea follow a course between the Virginia Capes, across the lower end of Chesapeake Bay via Thimble Shoal Channel into the deep waters of Hampton Roads. Federal project main channel depths are 15.2m (50ft) from the Virginia Capes to Baltimore and 16.7m (55ft) from the Capes to Hampton Roads. Thimble Shoal Channel, an improved approach to Hampton Roads, begins 2.3nm NW of Cape Henry Light and extends approx 9.5nm WNW. Thimble Shoal Channel: Extends from the Virginia Capes across the lower end of the Chesapeake Bay into the deep waters of Hampton Roads. Thimble Shoal Channel is 304.8m wide and approx 13nm long with a depth of 16.7m (55ft). Separating Chesapeake Bay from Hampton Roads is an access passage for vessels approx 1.0nm wide and 15.2m deep, where the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel crosses from the North end of Fort Wool to just west of Old Point Comfort Light, on the North side. Two channels then extend through Hampton Roads, one southward into Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia International Gateway Terminal and Chesapeake and one westward to Newport News and up to the James River. Norfolk Harbour Channel: Extends from Hampton Roads into the Southside cities via the Elizabeth River into Norfolk, Portsmouth and down to Chesapeake. Elizabeth River is approached through Hampton Roads, and entered between Swells Point and Craney Island Disposal Area, 3nm SSW. The project depths for the approaches to, and Elizabeth River are as follows: Norfolk Harbor Entrance Reach depth 15.2m, width 305m, Norfolk Harbor Reach and Craney Island Reach depth 16.7m, least width 244m, Lamberts Bend to Town Point Reach depth 13.7m, least width 229m, Western Branch of Elizabeth River is entered between Lovett Point (36°51.6'N 076°20.5'W), on which the area of West Norfolk is located, and Pinner Point, 1.25nm E. Controlling depth in mid channel is 5.5m. Eastern Branch enters Elizabeth River between Norfolk and Berkley. A dredged channel, with a project depth of 7.6m, leads from the main fairway to the rail swing bridge, 2.5nm upstream. Above this point the natural channel has depths of 3.0-5.4m to where it forks, 3.5nm above the entrance. Newport News Channel: Extends 6.9nm westwards from Hampton Roads to Newport News. Entrance Reach has a depth of 15.2m and Newport News Channel has 16.7m depth. The Channel is partially crossed by the Hampton Roads Beltway Roadway Bridge, which takes road traffic into a 1.25km long tunnel at its northern part enabling access for shipping transiting from Hampton Roads into James River and Nansemond River.

BA 2813, 2919. Admiralty Pilot NP69. NP286(5). NOAA 12221, 12222, 12245, 12248, 12253, 12254. US Coast Pilot 3.

A USCG Station with search and rescue facilities is situated at Portsmouth (36° 53.0'N 076°21.2'W) on the W side of the entrance to Craney Island Creek.

Portsmouth, Norfolk, Newport News and Craney Island 1010.

Pilotage is compulsory in Cheasapeake Bay (including Hampton Roads) for all foreign vessels and for US vessels under register in foreign trade. Pilotage is available 24 hours a day. Vessels should obtain a Maryland, Virginia or Chesapeake Pilot as appropriate (see Communications Section). Maryland and Virginia Pilots provide pilotage to Washington. Virginia Pilots are taken for vessels bound for any ports in Virginia. Pilot boards 1.5nm NE of Cape Henry (35°55.62'N 76°00.44'W) unless stated otherwise.

Thimble Shoal Light (37°00.5'N., 76°14.23'W.). Fl(1).W.10s, 17m high, visible 18nm. Red conical tower on a brown cylindrical pier on the E end of the shoal, 12.3nm from Virginia Capes. Old Point Comfort Lighthouse: (37°00'N 076°18'W), Fl(2) WR.12s, 16m high, visible 14 to 16nm. Newport News Middle Ground Light: (36°56.43'N., 76°23.29'W.), 15.8m (52ft) above the water. A red conical tower on a red cylindrical pier in 4.5m (15ft) of water near the western end of a shoal. Newport News Point (36°57.8'N., 76°24.7'W.) on the north side of the entrance to James River, 21.5nm from the Virginia Capes.

Under Keel Clearance: For single hull tank vessels 5,000gt or more, operating in the area of Hampton Roads waters Zone, prior to transiting this area, Masters are required to confer with their Pilot regarding conditions which may affect UKC, which include, but are not limited to, the vessel's navigational draught, controlling depth of the channels, weather and environmental conditions. Certain uncontrollable conditions such as shoaling, weather or types and levels of vessel traffic, may cause UKC to be modified. Restricted Area: A naval restricted area extends E and S of Old Point Comfort, and the danger zone of an army firing range extends to seaward from a point 1.5nm N of the point. ..... Going South along the Elizabeth River, to the southernmost part of Portsmouth area: Bridge Vertical Clearance Lowered (m) Raised (m) Jordon Lift Bridge 1.8 43.0 South Norfolk Jordan Lift Bridge (1.9nm NNE) 4.5 44.0 ..... Speed Limits: Cape Henry to 1ER Lightbuoy 15kts 1ER Lightbuoy to Hospital Point 10kts Hospital Point to Norfolk Naval Shipyard 6kts LPG vessels: LPG vessels on passage between Thimble Shoal Channel No 3 Lightbuoy and Atlantic Energy Terminal on the W side of Upper Reach of Southern Branch of Elizabeth River have a safety zone established around them. Mid-Atlantic US Seasonal Management Area: There is an SMA in operation to help protect Right Whales in the approaches to Chesapeake Bay. Vessels should maintain a sharp lookout and reduce speeds when consistent with safe navigation. Vessels over LOA19.8m (65ft) are subject to mandatory speed restrictions of 10kts or less in this SMA along the US East Cost during times when right whales area likely to be present. Speed restrictions are in place from November 1 to April 30 and include Block Island Sound, entry into the Ports of New York/New Jersey, Delaware Bay, Entrance to Chesapeake Bay, and the Ports of Morehead City and Beaufort, NC, and within a continuous boundary approximately 20 nautical miles from shore around the major ports of Wilmington, NC,

Portsmouth, Norfolk, Newport News and Craney Island 1.0m.

A TSS is established in the NE and SW approaches to Chesapeake Bay.

Vessels usually proceed from Cape Henry ports in the Hampton Roads area under their own power and without assistance. A large fleet of tugs is available at Norfolk and Newport News to assist in docking or undocking and in shifting within areas of restricted manoeuvrability.

HAMPTON ROADS 36°59.48'N 76°18.76'W For details see: CHESAPEAKE BAY PILOT REQUIREMENTS ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________

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..... Chesapeake Pilots (24hrs): VHF Ch: 16, 06, 13. Tel: +1 757 8552733. Fax: +1 757 4243552. Email: phones@chesapeakepilots.com Website: www.chesapeakepilots.com Maryland Pilots (24hrs): VHF Ch: 16, 13. Tel: +1 410 3426013, +1 410 2761337. Fax: +1 410 2761364. Email: dispatch@mdpilots.com Website: www.marylandpilots.com Virginia Pilots (24hrs): Tel: +1 757 4960995. Fax: +1 757 4969324. Email: dispatch@vapilotassn.com Virginia Pilot Vessel: VHF Ch: 11,16, 11,13, 14, 74. Radar Tower and Pilot Vessel (Cape Henry): VHF Ch: 11, 134, 16, 74. (Other channels can be requested). Deep Water Route Reporting: Vessels using the Deep Water Route should announce their intentions on VHF Ch 16 as they approach the Chesapeake Bay Southern Approach Light Buoy CB or the Chesapeake Bay Entrance Light Buoy CH. Craney Island Fuel Terminal (Military): NAVSTA Port Operations: +1 757 4451546. Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) Reporting (24hrs): Joint Harbour Operations: VHF Ch: 12,13, 16. Tel: +1 757 4445210. +1 757 4445209. See also Safety Section for Emergency Contacts. For Port of Virginia facilities of Newport News Marine Terminal, Norfolk International Terminal, Virginia International Gateway Terminal and Portsmouth Marine Terminal, see Communications section of entry for Port of Virginia.

US Customs and Border Protection have offices at Newport News and Richmond. Information can be found on their website www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry. For crew not to be detained onboard a vessel each crew member must have a valid US visa in their passport or Seaman's Book.

Please see Country information for details of documentation requirements.

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

Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see Country information.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificates: Please see Country information.