Richmond (California) (USRCH)

There are five city owned terminals and ten privately owned terminals. The port is served by two transcontinental railroads, Santa Fe and Southern Pacific. A modern intermodal rail terminal is operated by the Santa Fe Railroad and is at the hub of major interstate highway systems. Principal Commodities: Liquid bulk cargoes are: Petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals and petrochemicals, coconut oil and other vegetable oils, tallow and molasses. Dry bulk commodities: Coal, bauxite, gypsum, iron ore, cement, vehicles, agricultural vehicles, earth moving equipment, iron/steel products, scrap metals, and other diversified neo-bulk cargo are also significant. Containerised cargo is now a major factor at Terminal No 3, with Fesco and South Seas Steamship calling on a regular basis.

North Pacific Seasonal Tropical Area, Tropical Mar 1 to June 30 and Nov 1 to Nov 30, Summer Jul 1 to Oct 31 and Dec 1 to Feb 28/29.

The port of Richmond is on the E shore of San Francisco Bay and easily accessible by a deepwater channel from the Golden Gate, 9nm away.

Draught 14.17m, LOA 287.25m, beam 50.0m, 193,049DWT.

Approx 26,000,000t of cargo handled annually.

Designated anchorages are found in San Francisco Bay. Prohibited anchorage: Anchoring is prohibited outside the designated anchorages except when required for safety, or with the written permission from the port.

Access to the port is provided by the federally maintained Southampton Shoal Ship Channel at depth 13.7m, which branches N from the main channel about 1nm NE of Angel Island. Port navigable water is maintained to 11.6m MLLW through the entrance and the Richmond Inner Harbour.

BA 8051, 591. Admiralty Pilot NP8, NP286(5).

1025.

Compulsory. Available from San Francisco Bar Pilots. Pilots board at Farallon Island, in the vicinity of the SF Lightbuoy (37°45'N 122°42'W), in all but the severest weather. In poor visibility, often experienced, a vessel requiring a pilot should sound four long blasts on the whistle or siren, and lay to. Tankers to be escorted are boarded about 1nm W of SF Lightbuoy. Contact should be made with the pilot vessel 30 minutes before arrival.

Vertical Clearances - Richmond - San Rafael Bridge: This bridge which spans the bay between Point San Quentin and Castro Point (3.5nm E). Two main channels known as West Navigation Channel and East Navigation Channel pass under the bridge. The W channel span is 305m wide with a vertical clearance of 56.4m; the E channel span is 296m wide with a vertical clearance of 41.4m.

Range 2.75m.

A Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) is in operation and is divided into two sectors: Offshore: The ocean waters out to 38nm from Mount Tamalpais (37°56'N 122° 35'W), excluding the Offshore Precautionary Area. Inshore: The waters of the Offshore Precautionary Area E to San Francisco Bay extending inland to Stockton, Sacramento and Redwood City. The Vessel Movement Reporting System, to manage and track vessel movements within the VTS, area has been established and is compulsory for the following: Power driven vessels of 40m or more in length while navigating; Towing vessels of 8.0m or more, while navigating; Vessels certificating to carry 50 or more passengers for hire, when engaged in trade.

Tugs available from a number of companies operating in the area. See also 'General notices & regulations', 'REGULATIONS CONCERNING ENTRY' under 'Pre Arrival Information'.

Prevailing winds: W'ly.

RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA 37°54.42'N 122°23.36'W UNCTAD LOCODE: US RCH For details see: SAN FRANCISCO PILOT REQUIREMENTS ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________

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VHF: San Francisco Bar Pilots: Ch 10, 13, 16. Tel: +1 415 362 5436. Email: dispatch@sfbarpilots.com San Francisco Bar Pilot Vessel: Ch 16, 10, 13. VTS: Offshore Sector: Ch 12, Inshore Sector: Ch 14. Bridge to Bridge: Ch 13. Information to be communicated: Characteristics of the vessel relevant to tug operations, including number of crew assigned to the escorting plan, if tugs are to be used. Intended response actions in case of emergency. Prior to commencing a transit, a checklist is to be completed, a pre-escort conference conducted with the escort tugs, and two way communications maintained throughout the transit. The pilot will assist with or conduct these requirements. An escort tug is required to be in Zone 1 before a vessel requiring escort arrives within 8nm of Mile Rocks Light (37°48'N 122°30'W). ..... Zone limits are as follows: Zone 1 From the Colregs demarcation line E to Golden Gate Bridge. Zone 2 From Golden Gate Bridge S to a line between the S end of Bay Farm Island and the S end of Point San Bruno peninsula, and N to a line between Point San Bruno peninsula, and N to a line between Point San Pablo and San Pablo Bay No 5 Light Beacon. Zone 3 From the S end of Zone 2 and 1nm N of San Mateo Bridge. Zone 4 Navigable waters from 1nm N to 1nm S of San Mateo Bridge. Zone 5 From the E boundary of Zone 2 in San Pablo Bay as far as Light Beacon No 15 in the W approach of Carquinez Strait. Zone 6 From Zone 5 boundary E through Carquinez Strait and N on Sacramento Ship Channel to 1nm beyond Ryer Island Ferry Terminal, and E on San Joaquin River to 1nm beyond Antioch Bridge. For further details of the Tank Vessel Escort Regulations contact: www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr/organizational/msb/regulations/regulations.htm

For crew not to be detained onboard, each crew member must have a visa in their passport or Seaman's Book. Unless otherwise instructed, Customs officials will board the vessel on arrival at their berth.

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. There is a regulated navigation area established in Point Potrero Reach in the approaches to the harbour. The following general regulations apply to all power driven vessels of 1,600GT or over, and to tugs with a tow of 1,600GT or over, navigating within these areas: Speed shall not exceed 15kts through the water. Engines must be ready for immediate manoeuvring and to be capable of remaining stopped for an extended period of time. Rule 9 of the Inland Navigation Rules must be complied with. Vessels carrying liquefied hazardous gas: All waters inland of Golden Gate are a regulated navigation area, within which such vessels are to proceed direct to their discharge facility unless otherwise directed or permitted by the Captain of the Port, or in an emergency when unable to proceed without endangering life, property or the environment. Safety and Security Zones: A security zone is established within 91m radius of a cruise ship or tanker within the San Francisco Bay and delta ports area shoreward of a line connecting Lightbuoys No 7 and 8 at the E end of Main Ship Channel. A moving safety and security zone is established around a vessel carrying nuclear materials while in transit between the E end of Main Ship Channel and the Concord US Naval Weapons Station in Suisun Bay. Inland Rules of the Road: These are in force within a straight line drawn through Point Bonita Light (37°49'N 122°32'W), through Mile Rocks Light (1.5nm SSE), to the shore. REGULATIONS CONCERNING ENTRY: Tankers: State of California regulations require tankers carrying in excess of 5,000t of oil as bulk cargo to be escorted by a tug or tugs while in transit within San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun Bays. Double hulled vessels with fully redundant steering and propulsion systems, a bow thrusters and a compliant navigation system are exempted. Tank Vessel Escort Regulations: Tugs are required as escorts when transiting Zones 1, 2, 4 and 6. Vessels are not required to be escorted in Zones 3 and 5, or when out side the zone limits. Masters are required to prepare, and submit for approval well in advance, an Escort Plan which shall include the following: Intended route and transit speed.

No action initiated unless there is illness onboard. Ship Sanitation Control Certificates: Please see country information. Quarantine: Unless otherwise instructed, officials will board the vessel on arrival at their berth.