Port Overview
Local Marine Weather
GMZ631 — South Mobile Bay
Forecast office: NWS Mobile, AL
Tonight
East winds 5 to 10 knots with gusts up to 20 knots, increasing to 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots after midnight. Waves around 2 feet. A moderate chop.
Tuesday
East winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. Waves around 2 feet. A moderate chop. A slight chance of showers in the morning, then a chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves around 2 feet in the evening, then 1 foot or less. Light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely after midnight.
Source: NOAA / National Weather Service · Issued Mon, Nov 2, 15:02 · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 21:47
Full NWS marine forecast (opens in new tab)Nearby Tide Stations
- MOBILE, Mobile River (State Dock)8737048 · AL1 NM
- Coast Guard Sector Mobile8736897 · AL3 NM
- Meaher State Park, Mobile Bay8733839 · AL6 NM
Source: NOAA CO-OPS · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 21:47
Nearby Current Stations
- Mobile River entranceACT8741_11 NM
- Tensaw River entrance (bridge)ACT8746_12 NM
- Great Point Clear, channel west ofACT8736_112 NM
Source: NOAA CO-OPS · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 21:47
Nearby NOAA/NDBC Stations
Salinity — USGS Water Quality
- 11 pptMesohalineSp. cond. 18,100 µS/cm
Observed Mon, Nov 2, 20:00 · Site 02470805 · Provisional
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, 21:28
USGS Water Data (opens in new tab)Navigation Resources
NOAA Coast Pilot
Official external resourceOfficial sailing directions for Gulf ports are published in NOAA Coast Pilot. Port-specific excerpts are not yet shown in this app.
NOAA Coast Pilot (opens in new tab)USCG Information
Official external resourcePort conditions and Captain of the Port information are not yet connected. Broadcast and safety notices are published by the USCG Navigation Center.
USCG NAVCEN — Maritime Safety Information (opens in new tab)Notices to Mariners
Official external resourceLocal Notices to Mariners for Mobile are published by the Coast Guard Navigation Center. Not ingested by this app.
USCG NAVCEN — Local Notices to Mariners (opens in new tab)Pilotage Information
Source not yet connectedPilotage information source not yet connected.
Port Authority
Official external resourceOfficial port authority website.
Alabama Port Authority (opens in new tab)
Port Approach — Mobile Bay Entrance to Mobile & Theodore
Sailing-direction summaries from the current NOAA Coast Pilot. Paragraph numbers (¶) refer to the official chapter.
Planning reference only. Consult current official charts, notices, surveys, and pilot instructions before navigation.
Approach & Channels
Entrance & Fairways3 items
The entrance is 3 miles wide between Mobile Point (east) and Pelican Point (west). Breakers and shoals extend 4 miles south on both sides; most vessels follow the dredged channel. The bay has 7 to 12 feet outside the dredged channels. (¶10)
Vessels should approach Mobile Bay through the prescribed Safety Fairways (33 CFR 166.100–166.200). (¶12)
COLREGS demarcation lines for Mobile Bay are described in 33 CFR 80.815. (¶20)
Channels3 items
Main Ship Channel crosses the bar just west of Mobile Point — federal project depth 47 feet. Marked by lighted buoys and a 020.7° lighted range on Mobile Point. Check Notices to Mariners and current charts for controlling depths. (¶22)
Mobile Bay Channel runs from the lower anchorage off Fort Morgan to Mobile River — federal project depth 45 feet to the turning basin off Magazine Point. Subject to shoaling; use NOAA ENCs for USACE-reported minimum depths. (¶24)
Theodore Ship Channel leaves Mobile Bay Channel about 15 miles north of the entrance and runs NW 4.5 miles to an anchorage, then a 1.5-mile landcut to the industrial-park turning basin — federal project depth 40 feet. Marked by lights and a 123°35′ lighted range. Barge channel bridge clearance 45 ft; power cable west of it 73 ft. (¶72)
Cautions3 items
Use particular caution where the channel crosses the Intracoastal Waterway about 3 miles above Mobile Point at Lighted Buoys 25 and 26. The Coast Guard requests a SECURITE call on VHF-FM channel 13 before crossing, especially in restricted visibility. (¶26)
The buoyed wreck of the TECUMSEH lies north of Mobile Point Light and may hold live ammunition. Do not anchor near the buoy; reduce speed and wake between Buoys 15 and 17. (¶34)
A nearly continuous spoil bank lines both sides of the bay channel from inside the entrance to Mobile River, with charted openings. (¶35)
Anchorages2 items
Anchor in the Mobile Bay Anchorage, south of and between the safety fairways. The best deep-draft anchorage in the lower bay is north and northwest of Mobile Point in 20 to 45 feet, with excellent holding ground. An explosives anchorage is just north of Mobile Point (33 CFR 110.194). (¶29)
Anchoring is not permitted in the Bar Channel, Mobile Bay Channel or Mobile River Channel. (¶30)
Source: NOAA U.S. Coast Pilot 5, Ch. 7 (page date 27 SEP 2026) · Read 2026-10-03. Summaries only — not a substitute for the official text or current charts.
Pilotage
Mobile Bar Pilots Association
- Requirement
- Compulsory for all foreign vessels and U.S. vessels under register in foreign trade.
- Boarding
- Day or night near Mobile Entrance Lighted Buoy M. Rig the pilot ladder 6 ft above the water on the lee side.
- Radio
- Pilot boats monitor VHF-FM 13 and 16; the Dauphin Island station monitors 16. Harbormaster intraport: VHF-FM 65A.
- Notice
- 48-hour advance notice of arrival; 1½-hour notice of sailing.
Source: NOAA Coast Pilot 5, Ch. 7 ¶53–55. Confirm with the pilots before arrival.
Approach Reference Positions
Mobile Entrance Lighted Buoy M
30°07'31"N, 88°04'07"W
Pilot boarding area (¶54)
Former Sand Island Light tower
30°11.3'N, 88°03.0'W
131-ft black conical tower — most conspicuous landmark (¶15)
Mobile Point Light
30°13'41"N, 88°01'27"W
125 ft; rear range light on same structure (¶16)
TECUMSEH wreck (buoyed)
30°13'47.5"N, 88°01'37.5"W
Do not anchor — possible live ordnance (¶34)
Positions as published in Coast Pilot 5, Ch. 7. For orientation only — not for navigation.
Official Approach Resources
Port Facilities & Contacts
Terminals, service providers with phone and email, available lease properties and the Mobile & Theodore harbor chart.
Port Facilities & Contacts- Alabama Port Authority
- 250 N. Water Street, Mobile, AL 36602
- Port Police
- (251) 441-7777
Source: alports.com (contacts verified 2026-10-03)