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Lake Charles, LA

30°13.8′ N 93°13.2′ W

Port ApproachPort Facilities & Contacts

Port Overview

Local Marine Weather

Live data

GMZ450 — Coastal waters from Cameron LA to High Island TX out 20 NM

Forecast office: NWS Lake Charles, LA

  • Tonight

    Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Southeast 3 feet at 4 seconds. A slight chance of showers early this evening. A slight chance of showers late.

  • Tuesday

    South winds around 10 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: South 2 feet at 5 seconds. A chance of showers. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.

  • Tuesday Night

    West winds 10 to 15 knots, becoming north after midnight. Seas around 2 feet. Wave Detail: West 2 feet at 4 seconds and southeast 1 foot at 5 seconds. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then a slight chance of showers after midnight.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service · Issued Mon, Nov 2, 14:09 · 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

  • capl18768094 - Calcasieu Pass, LA28 NM15 kt
  • port28770475 - Port Arthur, TX43 NM9 kt
  • txpt28770822 - Texas Point, Sabine Pass, TX46 NM16 kt
  • srst2Sabine Pass, TX54 NM9 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, 21:33

USGS Water Data (opens in new tab)

Navigation Resources

Port Approach — Calcasieu Pass & Calcasieu 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

  • Calcasieu entrance is protected by jetties extending about 1.1 miles seaward. Lighted buoys and lights mark the channel, and a lighted 351°51.7′ range leads across the bar between the jetties into the pass.[¶422–423]

  • Bar call

    Vessels arriving at the bar should make a SECURITE call on VHF-FM Channel 13 thirty minutes before entering the jetties. Low-powered or poor-handling vessels should be prepared to wait up to 45 minutes so more maneuverable vessels can go first.[¶412]

  • Meeting & visibility guidelines

    Meetings and passings are restricted when combined beams exceed 50% of available channel width, unless both pilots agree it is safe. In restricted visibility, vessels normally are not moved until one-mile visibility exists along the whole route. These are published guidelines, not regulations.[¶406–410]

  • RNA

    A regulated navigation area covers Calcasieu River from the jetties to and including the Port of Lake Charles.[¶419 · 33 CFR 165.807]

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.

  • Outer bar

    Federal project depth 42 feet from the Gulf to the entrance jetties (authorized depth).[¶422]

  • Jetties → Port of Lake Charles

    Federal project depth 40 feet through the jetties, to and in Industrial Canal and its turning basin, and on to the Port of Lake Charles wharves.[¶422]

  • Above the port

    Federal project depth 35 feet from the port wharves to the I-10/U.S. 90 highway bridge.[¶422]

  • Bottom

    A mud slush about 6 feet above the hard bottom is frequently found seaward of the jetties and at places above the pass.[¶427]

  • Clearances

    Overhead power cables cross the river with 232 feet (south of Moss Lake) and a reported 172 feet (above Vincent Landing) vertical clearance. The I-210 bridge has a fixed span with 135 feet clearance.[¶447, ¶451–452]

  • 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

  • Cross-set at the jetties

    A moderate to strong current sweeps across the channel seaward of the jetties, usually setting west and reversing with strong west winds. Numerous collisions have occurred there; avoid meeting within ¼ mile north or south of Lights 41 and 42.[¶416, ¶427]

  • Spoil banks

    Spoil banks of undetermined depth lie west of the entrance and outer channels; actual depths may be much less than charted.[¶428]

  • Monkey Island

    Heavy fishing and offshore-industry traffic; speed reduction may be needed to limit wake.[¶417]

  • ICW crossing

    Where the ICW crosses the ship channel, tows should make a SECURITE call on VHF-FM 13 thirty minutes before entry. An LNG facility on Industrial Canal adds deep-draft traffic.[¶418]

  • LNG / LPG

    The Trunkline LNG facility and loaded LNG carriers in transit are within safety zones. The COTP imposes special restrictions during LNG/LPG movements.[¶413, ¶420 · 33 CFR 165.805]

  • Wake damage

    Bank erosion near Vincent Landing and Moss Lake is caused mainly by vessel wake.[¶454 · 33 CFR 162.75]

  • Check current Local Notices to Mariners and USCG MSIBs for active LNG/LPG movement restrictions.
Sources (1) · static reference

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

D · Anchorages

  • Designated

    Large vessels should anchor in Calcasieu Pass Fairway Anchorage, west of the safety fairway. Submerged obstructions exist in that anchorage.[¶425, ¶429 · 33 CFR 166]

  • General description

    Vessels up to 12 feet draft can anchor in the river bend at Cameron. While waiting for daylight or fog, ships can anchor out of the fairway anywhere in Calcasieu River. There are no anchorages in the land cuts; ships entering cuts are expected to complete passage.[¶425]

Sources (1) · static reference

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

E · Pilotage

  • Boarding

    Provide a safe lee and rig the pilot ladder amidships 8 feet (2.5 m) above the water. Vessels with more than 29 feet (9 m) freeboard must rig a combination ladder.[¶438]

  • Pilot boats

    Lake Charles Pilots boats are blue with gray trim, marked PILOT, fly Code flag "H" by day and show white-over-red lights at night.[¶437]

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 Houston-Galveston

COTP: Captain of the Port, Port Arthur (Coast Pilot ¶413)

Local unit: Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles

13411 Hillard Street, Houston, TX 77034

281-464-4800(Sector Houston-Galveston main line)

Coast Pilot 5 App. A ¶64 · 33 CFR 3.40-28

Emergency

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

  • Copies of the local LNG/LPG Operations Plan are available from MSU Port Arthur (Captain of the Port) or MSU Lake Charles.[Ch. 9 ¶413]

  • Direct public numbers for MSU Lake Charles and MSU Port Arthur were not confirmed. The Sector line below is from Coast Pilot Appendix A.
Sources (2) · static reference

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

G · Reference Positions

Orientation only — not for navigation

  • Entrance to Calcasieu Jetties (area of concern)

    29°44.7'N., 93°20.5'W.

    CP5 Ch. 9 ¶416

  • Monkey Island (area of concern)

    29°47.0'N., 93°20.8'W.

    CP5 Ch. 9 ¶417

  • ICW / Calcasieu River crossing

    30°05.5'N., 93°19.5'W.

    CP5 Ch. 9 ¶418

  • Pilot boarding station coordinates are not given in the cited text.

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

Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District (Port of Lake Charles)

1611 West Sallier Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601

337-439-3661(Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District (Port of Lake Charles) main line)portlc.com(opens in new tab)

  • Jurisdiction

    A political subdivision of Louisiana that enforces local rules and regulations over both its physical and waterway operating jurisdictions.

  • Harbor operations and Port 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 (2) · static reference

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