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Gulfport, MS

30°22.2′ N 89°05.4′ W

Port ApproachPort Facilities & Contacts

Port Overview

Local Marine Weather

Live data

GMZ532 — Mississippi Sound

Forecast office: NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge, LA

  • Tonight

    East winds around 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. Waves around 3 feet.

  • Tuesday

    East winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. Waves 2 to 4 feet. A chance of showers. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.

  • Tuesday Night

    Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming south after midnight. Waves around 2 feet in the evening, then 1 foot or less. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening. A slight chance of showers.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service · Issued Mon, Nov 2, 16:37 · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 21:47

Full NWS marine forecast (opens in new tab)

Nearby Tide Stations

Source: NOAA CO-OPS · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 21:47

Nearby Current Stations

Source: NOAA CO-OPS · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 21:47

Nearby NOAA/NDBC Stations

  • wycm68747437 - Bay Waveland Yacht Club, MS13 NM11 kt
  • ptbm68741003 - Petit Bois Island, Port of Pascagoula, MS32 NM12 kt
  • gdxm6Crooked Bayou, Grand Bay Reserve, MS35 NM8 kt
  • shbl18761305 - Shell Beach, LA43 NM12 kt

Source: NOAA NDBC · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 21:39

Salinity — USGS Water Quality

Live data

Readings are from the gauge location, which may differ from conditions at the port. Provisional USGS data are subject to revision. Conductivity is shown as reported and is not converted to salinity.

Source: USGS National Water Information System · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 21:47

USGS Water Data (opens in new tab)

Navigation Resources

Port Approach — Ship Island Pass & Gulfport Ship Channel

Planning reference only. Consult current official charts, notices, surveys, and pilot instructions before navigation.

STATIC REFERENCE — not live data. Live observations are in Port Overview above.

A · Entrance & Approach

  • Approach Ship Island Pass and Gulfport through the prescribed safety fairways. Ship Island Bar Channel runs about 10 miles northwest from the Gulf in a dredged cut to Ship Island Pass, marked by lighted buoys.[¶304, ¶308 · 33 CFR 166]

  • Gulfport Ship Channel continues about 10 miles northwest from the pass through Mississippi Sound to Gulfport Harbor basin, marked by lighted ranges, lights and buoys.[¶308]

  • Landmark

    Ship Island Light (82 feet, skeleton tower on a concrete block) shares its structure with Ship Island Range Rear Light.[¶302]

  • Port permission

    All vessels must contact the Mississippi State Port Authority on VHF-FM 16 for permission to navigate the Gulfport Harbor and Ship Channel. Piloted vessels have preferential use.[¶327–328]

  • COLREGS line

    Ship Island Pass lines are in 33 CFR 80.815.[¶306]

Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

B · Channels & Depth

Project depth ≠ available depth. Federal project (authorized) depths below are design figures. Current controlling depth not confirmed. Consult the latest USACE surveys and official notices.

  • Ship Island Bar Channel

    Federal project depth 38 feet (authorized).[¶308]

  • Gulfport Ship Channel

    Federal project depth 36 feet (authorized).[¶308]

  • Anchorage Basin

    Federal project depth 32 to 36 feet (authorized).[¶308]

  • Current controlling depth not confirmed. Consult the latest USACE surveys and official notices.
Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

C · Cautions & Restrictions

  • West Point shoal

    The shoal off the west end of Ship Island at West Point is moving west and is unmarked. Use caution passing between it and the channel edge.[¶315]

  • Dangerous cargo

    Vessels carrying class A, B or C explosives or other dangerous cargo must be under a licensed pilot (MSPA regulation).[¶327]

  • Wake

    Craft passing vessels underway, moored or anchored must slow down (MSPA regulation).[¶340]

  • Weather

    MSPA may impose added requirements in severe weather or extraordinary circumstances.[¶328]

  • Check current Local Notices to Mariners and Sector Mobile MSIBs for active restrictions.
Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

D · Anchorages

  • General description

    Large vessels can anchor outside the sound anywhere west of a line from the north end of the Chandeleur Islands to Ship Island Light. Deep-draft vessels generally anchor within 2 miles of Gulfport Ship Channel Lighted Buoy GP in about 36 feet.[¶311]

  • Ship Island Harbor

    North of Ship Island; accessible for drafts up to 20 feet, with swinging room for only one large vessel. Depths about 20–30 feet, soft bottom.[¶312]

  • No designated federal anchorage for Gulfport is named in the reviewed paragraphs.
Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

E · Pilotage

  • Gulfport Pilots Association, Inc.

    2300 Twentieth Street, Gulfport, MS 39501

    Vessels to and from the state port at Gulfport via Gulfport Ship Channel; small vessels in Biloxi Channel on request. Board near Buoy GP to 2 miles south of the west end of Ship Island. Pilot boat monitors VHF 16 and 10, works 10.

    Administrative only228-863-6559(Gulfport Pilots Association, Inc. Administrative only)
  • Requirement

    Compulsory for foreign vessels and U.S. vessels over 250 net registered tons under register in foreign trade; optional for American vessels with coastwise cargo not bound foreign.[¶322, ¶325]

  • Pilot boats

    Aluminum hulls, grey or white with white superstructure, PILOT in black letters.[¶322]

Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

F · USCG / Captain of the Port

Routine contact · USCG Heartland District

Sector Mobile

COTP: Captain of the Port, Mobile (zone per 33 CFR 3.40-10)

1500 15th Street, Mobile, AL 36615

251-441-5720(Sector Mobile main line)

Coast Pilot 5 App. A ¶64 · 33 CFR 3.40-10

Emergency

Maritime distress: VHF-FM Channel 16 / DSC Channel 70. The Sector office line above is for routine business.

  • Coast Guard patrol boats moor on the west side of Bert Jones Yacht Basin at Gulfport.[Ch. 7 ¶336]

Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

G · Reference Positions

Orientation only — not for navigation

  • Ship Island Light

    30°12'45"N., 88°57'59"W.

    CP5 Ch. 7 ¶302

  • Gulfport Ship Channel Lighted Buoy GP (pilot boarding vicinity)

    30°07'10"N., 88°52'40"W.

    CP5 Ch. 7 ¶322

Coordinates reproduced with the source's precision. Coast Pilot positions are referenced to NAD 83 unless stated otherwise.

Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

H · Official Navigation & Conditions Links

Sources (2) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

Port Facilities & Contacts

Port Authority & Public Contacts

Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport

P.O. Box 40, Gulfport, MS 39502

228-865-4300(Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport main line)shipmspa.com(opens in new tab)
  • Port Police / security contacts were not confirmed from a primary source in this review.
Gulf Port Directory (no port-specific service listings yet)

Listings come from official publications. Inclusion does not mean a terminal or shorebase is open to visiting vessels — confirm directly with the operator.

Sources (2) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.