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Tampa, FL

27°57.0′ N 82°27.6′ W

Port ApproachPort Facilities & Contacts

Port Overview

Local Marine Weather

Live data

GMZ830 — Tampa Bay waters

Forecast office: NWS Tampa Bay, FL

  • Tonight

    East winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered showers with isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

  • Tuesday

    East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered showers with isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon.

  • Tuesday Night

    East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered showers with isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service · Issued Mon, Nov 2, 19:52 · 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

  • skcf18726671 - Sparkman Channel Entrance, FL2 NM4 kt
  • tpaf18726694 - TPA Cruise Terminal 2, Tampa, FL2 NM4 kt
  • optf18726607 - Old Port Tampa, FL7 NM4 kt
  • sapf18726520 - St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay, FL14 NM11 kt

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

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, 22:47

USGS Water Data (opens in new tab)

Navigation Resources

Port Approach — Egmont Channel & Tampa Bay

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

  • Egmont Channel, between Mullet Key and Egmont Key, is the main ship channel and is used by all deep-draft vessels entering Tampa Bay. A lighted 083° range and lighted buoys mark the dredged cut over the bar.[¶57]

  • Southwest Channel

    A natural passage south of Egmont Key with a previously reported controlling depth of about 14 feet; subject to shoaling.[¶59]

  • Sunshine Skyway

    The high-level 500-foot fixed span gives 180 feet clearance over the main ship channel. Small recreational craft have impeded large vessels in the main span; deep-draft vessels can use only that span.[¶72, ¶74]

  • Cooperative VTS

    The Tampa Bay CVTS is a Coast Guard / Tampa Port Authority partnership. The VTC at the Port Authority Security Operations Center is staffed 24 hours. It monitors VHF-FM 16, 13 and 12 and works on 12.[¶40–43]

  • RNA

    Regulated navigation areas cover the entrance and all navigable waters of Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay and tributaries.[¶70 · 33 CFR 165.753]

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 45 feet in the entrance from the Gulf (authorized).[¶56]

  • To Tampa

    Federal project depth 43 feet (authorized).[¶56]

  • To Port Tampa

    Federal project depth 34 feet (authorized). The Coast Pilot refers mariners to Notices to Mariners and the latest charts for controlling depths.[¶56]

  • 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

  • Egmont shoals

    Shoals with lumps of 11 to 18 feet extend 5 miles seaward from Egmont Key.[¶66]

  • Spoil areas

    Unmarked spoil areas with reported depths of 10 feet or less border the dredged cuts of the main ship channel and the Old Tampa Bay channels.[¶66]

  • Currents

    Large daily inequality in the ebb; 2 knots or more may be expected at strength of the greater ebb in Egmont Channel and Passage Key Inlet.[¶77]

  • Security zones

    Security zones surround cruise ships and vessels carrying especially hazardous cargo.[¶69 · 33 CFR 165.703]

  • Check current Local Notices to Mariners and Sector St. Petersburg 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

    Vessels with good ground tackle should anchor in the Tampa Anchorages, north of the Tampa Safety Fairway leading to Egmont Channel.[¶63 · 33 CFR 166]

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 drawing 7 feet or more; optional for U.S. coastwise vessels under enrollment with a federally licensed pilot.[¶87]

  • Arrival notice

    Contact Pilot Dispatch 24 hours before arrival with gross tonnage, LOA, beam, deep draft and local agent. Call the pilot station on VHF 16 four hours and one hour before arrival at Tampa Bay Lighted Buoy T.[¶90]

  • Boarding

    Day and night, usually in Egmont Channel between Lighted Buoys 9 and 10. Ladder 2.5 m (8 ft) above the water per SOLAS.[¶91]

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 St. Petersburg

COTP: Captain of the Port, St. Petersburg (zone per 33 CFR 3.35-35)

600 8th Avenue SE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

727-824-7534(Sector St. Petersburg main line)

Coast Pilot 5 App. A ¶64 · 33 CFR 3.35-35

Emergency

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

  • Tampa Bay CVTS

    Joint Coast Guard / Port Authority Vessel Traffic Center; VHF-FM 12 working, also monitors 16 and 13.[Ch. 5 ¶40–43]

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

  • The reviewed paragraphs give pilot boarding as a buoy span (Egmont Channel Buoys 9–10), not coordinates. Use the current ENC and Light List.

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

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

Tampa Port Authority (Port Tampa Bay)

1101 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602

813-905-7678(Tampa Port Authority (Port Tampa Bay) main line)www.porttb.com(opens in new tab)

  • Jurisdiction

    Includes Tampa proper, Port Tampa, Big Bend and the mouth of the Alafia River. Seven-member board appointed by the Governor; a Port Manager administers regulations.

  • Security Operations Center

    Hosts the Tampa Bay CVTS Vessel Traffic Center, staffed 24 hours. VHF-FM 12.

  • Port Police numbers 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.