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Panama City, FL

30°09.6′ N 85°39.6′ W

Port ApproachPort Facilities & Contacts

Port Overview

Local Marine Weather

Live data

GMZ751 — Coastal waters from Okaloosa-Walton County Line to Mexico Beach out 20 NM

Forecast office: NWS Tallahassee, FL

  • Rest of Tonight

    East winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Wave Detail: East 6 feet at 6 seconds. Protected waters rough. A slight chance of showers.

  • Tuesday

    East winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet. Wave Detail: East 6 feet at 6 seconds. Protected waters rough. A slight chance of showers in the morning, then a chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.

  • Tuesday Night

    East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet, occasionally to 6 feet. Wave Detail: East 5 feet at 6 seconds. Protected waters choppy. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service · Issued Mon, Nov 2, 19:09 · 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

  • pacf18729108 - Panama City, FL1 NM10 kt
  • pcbf18729210 - Panama City Beach, FL12 NM7 kt
  • apcf18728690 - Apalachicola, FL44 NM16 kt
  • apxf1East Bay, Apalachicola Reserve, FL47 NM13 kt

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

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 — St. Andrew Bay Entrance

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

  • The main entrance to St. Andrew Bay is a jettied cut through Shell Island, marked by a 052.6° lighted range and lighted buoys.[¶200]

  • Submerged jetties

    Submerged jetties extend channelward from both entrance points. The northwest one is unmarked; the southeast one is marked by a lighted buoy. Stay inside the buoyed channel through the land cut.[¶201]

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.

  • Entrance

    Federal project depth 38 feet to a point just inside the jetties, about 1.2 miles from the channel entrance (authorized).[¶200]

  • To the bay

    Federal project depth 36 feet (authorized).[¶200]

  • 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

  • Ebb current

    A strong ebb sets out through the cut and causes heavy tide rips with a moderate south wind. Small vessels should time entry for the flood with a south or west breeze.[¶209]

  • Firing ranges

    Small-arms firing range danger zones lie southeast of the entrance.[¶207 · 33 CFR 334.680]

  • Restricted area

    Alligator Bayou (Coast Guard station) is within a restricted area.[¶221 · 33 CFR 334.760]

  • 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

  • Designated

    Panama City Anchorage, east of the safety fairway.[¶205 · 33 CFR 166]

  • General description

    Vessels awaiting berths normally anchor near St. Andrew Bay Entrance Lighted Buoy SA, clear of traffic. Excellent anchorage is available almost anywhere in the bay.[¶205]

Sources (1) · static reference

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

E · Pilotage

  • Requirement

    Compulsory for foreign vessels and U.S. vessels under register in foreign trade drawing 7 feet or more; optional for U.S. coastwise vessels with a federally licensed pilot.[¶213]

  • Boarding

    Board seaward of the sea buoy; disembark after clearing entrance Lighted Buoys 1 and 2. Ladder on the lee side, 1 meter above the water.[¶213]

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.

  • Station Panama City

    On Alligator Bayou, opposite Dyers Point.[Ch. 6 ¶221]

  • A direct public phone for Station / MSU Panama City is not given in the reviewed paragraphs.
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

  • Pilot boarding vicinity (seaward of sea buoy)

    30°05.0'N., 85°46.4'W.

    CP5 Ch. 6 ¶213

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

Panama City Port Authority

800-767-8722(Panama City Port Authority main line)portpcfl.com(opens in new tab)

  • Oil spill response

    Clean-up contractor information is available from local agents, the Port Authority, the U.S. Coast Guard or the Florida FWC.

  • A local (non-toll-free) Port Authority line and 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.