Chesapeake (USUFG)

Chesapeake has extensive frontage and port facilities on the navigable portions of the Western and Southern Branches of the Elizabeth River, mostly owned and operated by private businesses. Chesapeake Port does have a Port Authority but this only administers the financing and development of waterside areas, working with these private businesses. Many of the facilities listed are used by larger, sea-going vessels. Moving southwards along the South Arm of Elizabeth River, pusher tugs become more prominent for transhipment of cargoes. The majority of port facilities in the Chesapeake area are privately owned and operated.

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 Chesapeake is located inland along the Southern Arm of the Elizabeth River, Virginia (not to be confused with the town of Chesapeake City, Maryland). Access for larger vessels is via Hampton Roads, to the North, and then South, passing the port areas of Craney Island, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Gateway facilities.

LOA 237m, beam 73.998m, draught 12.8m, 72,370DWT.

Elizabeth River Anchorages: ..... The following designated smaller anchorage areas are established in Elizabeth River, just North of the start of the Southern Arm (with centres positioned from Town Point 36°50.7'N 076°17.6'W). Both 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. ..... The following designated anchorages, for deeper draught vessels, are In Hampton Roads and off Newport News and may be used by vessels on passage to Chesapeake: 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. Anchorages A to D, marked on charts, 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.

Larger and deeper draught vessels access the Chesapeake port from the North, from seaward, by crossing Chesapeake Bay and accessing the Southern Arm of the Elizabeth River, passing the port areas of Craney Island, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Gateway facilities. On the East Bank of the Southern Arm, the port area starts at approximately 36°49'19.35"N 76°17'23.87"W and on the West Bank (and including the East Bank area from this point) the port area starts at 36° 47'55.52"N 76°17'36.01"W. From seaward, 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 facilities at Portsmouth, Norfolk and Port of Virginia). 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. The 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 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, Southern Branch (Lower Reach and Middle Reach) depth 13.7m, least width 114m, then Southern Branch (Upper Reach) depth 10.7m, least width 76m.

BA 2814, 2919. Admiralty Pilot NP69. NP286(5). NOAA 12221, 12222, 12245, 12248, 12253. US Coast Pilot 3 (Norfolk).

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.

Chesapeake 1005 (Portsmouth and Norfolk 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, Chesapeake or Interport 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.

Transit to Chesapeake berths may be affected by development work on Craney Island Marine Terminal. Vessels are asked to monitor navigational notices concerning this area. This is a 300ha site, on reclaimed land NW of Craney Island Fuel Terminal, on the Western side of the approaches to Elizabeth River. The new terminal will have 1,220m of berth length for four vessels with 16.7m depth alongside and 15.2m in the approach channel. There will be a total of ten gantry cranes and 960 reefer plugs. 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. Bridges: Hampton Roads Bridge - Tunnel carries a road across the entrance to Hampton Roads from Willoughby Spit to a point 1.0nm NW of Old Point Comfort. From Willoughby Spit the road is carried by twin road bridges with a vertical clearance of 3.0m, then by tunnel under Norfolk Harbour Entrance Reach. Twin bridges then carry the roads to its terminal point at Phoebus, 1.5nm NW of Old Point Comfort. The following bridges span Southern Branch of Elizabeth River (with positions relative to Money Point 36°46.8N 076°18.5'W): ..... Bridge Vertical Clearance Lowered (m) Raised (m) A lift bridge (2.1nm NNE) 1.8 43.0 Jordan Lift Bridge (1.9nm NNE) 4.5 44.0 A lift bridge (1.3nm NNE) 3.0 41.0 Bridges span the James River as follows: James River Bridge 18.2 44.1 A lift bridge 15.2 44.1 Two overhead power cables span Southern Branch of Elizabeth River with a vertical clearance of 46m and 49m. Windmill Point: An overhead power cable, with a vertical clearance of 54.8m. Speed limits: Speed limits as follows: ..... 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 DCP Midstream (Atlantic Energy) Terminal on the W side of Upper Reach of Southern Branch of Elizabeth River have a safety zone established around them.

Portsmouth and Norfolk 1.0m. Masters should consult individual terminals as to tidal range and flow in Elizabeth River (South Arm).

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

Larger vessels should consult individual Terminals as to tug usage. 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 to assist in docking or undocking and in shifting within areas of restricted manoeuvrability.

..... 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. Chesapeake Terminals (Elizabeth River) - private facilities: ..... Buckeye: Tel: +1 757 543 2061 (Buell St) Fax: +1 757 545 5921. Center Point/Apex Oil: Tel: +1 757 545 4641 (Barnes Rd) Chesapake Energy Center (Dominion Coal): Tel: +1 757 852 2785 IMTT Chesapeake: Tel: +1 757 485 3000 (S Military Hwy). Kinder Morgan: South Hill Terminal Tel: +1 757 543 2031 (Hill St) Money Point Tel: +1 543 0335 (Shannon Street) Elizabeth River (South) Tel: +1 543 0335 (Buell St) LaFarge: Tel: +1 757 545 2481 (Pratt St) One Steel Recycling: Tel: +1 757 545 1500 (S Military Hwy) McLean Contracting Tel: +1 757 543 1676 (Republic Rd) Email: info@mcleancontracting.com Perdue Farms Inc: Tel:+1 757 494 5560 (Barnes Rd) Roanoke Cement: Tel: +1 757 494 1325 Seagate Terminals: Tel: +1 757 545 9591. Email: info@Seagateterminals.com TransMontaigne: Tel: +1 494 9587 (Halifax Lane) Tri Port Terminal: Tel: +1 757 545 1406

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.