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Key West, FL

24°33.6′ N 81°46.8′ W

Port ApproachPort Facilities & Contacts

Port Overview

Local Marine Weather

Live data

GMZ044 — Hawk Channel from west end of Seven Mile Bridge to Halfmoon Shoal out to the reef

Forecast office: NWS Key West, FL

  • Overnight

    East winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to near 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop, becoming a moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.

  • Tuesday

    East winds near 15 knots early, decreasing to 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.

  • Tuesday Night

    East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Nearshore waters a light to moderate chop. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service · Issued Mon, Nov 2, 21:30 · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 22:47

Full NWS marine forecast (opens in new tab)

Nearby Tide Stations

Source: NOAA CO-OPS · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 22:47

Nearby Current Stations

Source: NOAA CO-OPS · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 22:47

Nearby NOAA/NDBC Stations

  • kywf18724580 - Key West, FL2 NM4 kt
  • sanf1Sand Key, FL8 NM12 kt
  • 42095Satan Shoal, FL (244)14 NMWind not reported
  • smkf1Sombrero Key, FL37 NM11 kt

Source: NOAA NDBC · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 22:39

Salinity — USGS Water Quality

No USGS water-quality gauge within about 20 NM of this port is currently reporting salinity or conductivity.

Navigation Resources

Port Approach — Main Ship Channel & Northwest 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

  • Main Ship Channel is the only deep-draft approach to Key West, from the Straits of Florida.[¶21]

  • Northwest Channel

    A medium-draft passage from Key West Harbor to the Gulf; vessels can cross the reefs between the Gulf and the Straits via Northwest and Main Ship Channels. The Gulf end is shifting west.[¶22]

  • Landmarks

    Sand Key Light (40 ft, skeleton tower) marks the reef south of Key West. Smith Shoal Light (54 ft) marks the north approach to Northwest Channel.[¶19, ¶24]

  • SECURITE calls

    All vessels 65 feet or more, and all tugs with tows, entering or leaving Key West Harbor or Main Ship Channel must make SECURITE calls on VHF-FM 16 and 13.[¶66]

  • Rules of the Road

    Key West Harbor is under the International Rules of the Road.[¶64 · 33 CFR 80.740–80.750]

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.

  • Main Ship Channel

    Federal project depth 34 feet from the Straits of Florida to the turning basin off the Truman Annex Mole and inside the annex basin (authorized).[¶21]

  • Upper reaches

    Federal project depth 30 feet to the upper turning basin off Key West Bight, then 12 feet beyond (authorized).[¶21]

  • Traffic rule

    Only one vessel at a time in the Main Ship Channel reach between Lighted Buoys 23 and 25; vessels in that reach have right-of-way over vessels leaving Truman Annex Basin.[¶78]

  • 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

  • Florida Reefs

    A dangerous line of shoals lies about 5 miles off the Straits side of the keys, inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.[¶10]

  • Northwest Channel jetties

    Jetties lie 0.3–0.5 mile from the channel centerline; only the outer part of the east jetty shows at low water.[¶23]

  • Sand Key

    An abandoned skeleton tower is near Sand Key Light; extreme caution advised.[¶19]

  • Garrison Bight

    An obstruction covered 4 feet was reported in 1984 close south of Garrison Bight Channel Light 3. (Historical report — verify on current charts.) 5-mph limit in Garrison Bight and constricted channels.[¶29, ¶77]

  • Military areas

    Naval restricted areas surround Key West; training, gunnery and bombing danger zones are in nearby Straits and Gulf waters.[¶36–37 · 33 CFR 334.610, 334.620]

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

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

D · Anchorages

  • Designated

    A naval explosives anchorage lies about 2.5 miles southwest of Key West.[¶34 · 33 CFR 110.189a]

  • General description

    Best anchorage for vessels up to 150 feet is Man of War Harbor north of the city (14–24 ft), avoiding visible and submerged wrecks. Vessels can also anchor west of the city outside the federal channel in 20–26 feet, avoiding reefs along the channel edges.[¶32–33]

Sources (1) · static reference

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

E · Pilotage

  • Key West Bar Pilots Association

    P.O. Box 848, Key West, FL 33041

    Pilot Station at the northeast end of Front Street monitors VHF 16, and 14 when expecting traffic. Minimum 24-hour arrival notice through the phone above or agents.

    Pilots305-296-5512(Key West Bar Pilots Association Pilots)
  • Requirement

    Compulsory for foreign and U.S. vessels under register in foreign trade drawing more than 7 feet (including tugs, barges and tows) to or from Key West Harbor, anchorages and channels.[¶52]

  • Boarding

    Maintain 8 knots with a good lee; ladder 1 meter above the water, seas slightly aft of the weather beam.[¶55]

  • Port guidelines

    Operating guidelines are flexible because of current, tide, shoaling, weather, and the port’s role as an emergency-entry, cruise and naval port.[¶56]

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 Southeast District

Sector Key West

COTP: Captain of the Port, Key West (zone per 33 CFR 3.35-40)

100 Trumbo Road, Key West, FL 33040

305-292-8713(Sector Key West main line)

Coast Pilot 5 App. A ¶64 · 33 CFR 3.35-40

Emergency

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

  • Station Key West

    At Pier D-2 on the northwest side of Key West.[Ch. 4 ¶75]

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

  • Sand Key Light

    24°27'21"N., 81°52'38"W.

    CP5 Ch. 4 ¶19

  • Smith Shoal Light

    24°43'06"N., 81°55'18"W.

    CP5 Ch. 4 ¶24

  • Reported obstruction, Garrison Bight (1984)

    24°35'19.7"N., 81°48'17.2"W.

    CP5 Ch. 4 ¶29

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

City of Key West Port Operations Office

305-809-3790(City of Key West Port Operations Office main line)www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov(opens in new tab)
  • Port security / police 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 (1) · static reference

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