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29 Oct 2015 / San Francisco, USA

Anchoring guidelines

The San Francisco Bar Pilots have published the following regarding anchoring within the San Francisco Bay.

Please note the “color” conditions that dictate the protocol.

QUOTE…
The issue of large and ultra large container vessels anchoring in San Francisco anchorage #9 has resulted in a crowded anchorage requiring active management. The assigning of anchor locations (buckets) has arisen several times this past year. The San Francisco Bar Pilots anchor all types of vessels within anchorage 9 and anchorage 8. Each vessel anchored has a unique set of circumstances; draft, wind area, length overall, time at anchor, next port, prevailing current or wind at the time of anchoring, forecasted wind and current, engine to weight ratio, depth to draft ratio, bow thruster availability, proximity of other vessels and vessel crew competency. Occasionally a vessel proceeds to anchor unscheduled because of reduced visibility at the arrival berth, change of orders or equipment issues requiring repair. It is for these considerations we leave ultimate responsibility for choice of anchor bucket to the pilot onboard the vessel.

A tiered system of recommendations to the assigned pilot of a vessel proceeding to anchor is planned to be implemented at the end of a brief review period.

CONDITION GREEN
Default. No recommendations from SFBP Operations Pilot to the assigned pilot of a vessel proceeding to anchor.
- Normal traffic conditions on the bay.

CONDITION YELLOW
Increased involvement of SFBP Operations Pilot will provide recommendations to the assigned pilot of a vessel proceeding to anchor. Anchor bucket locations for all vessels will be designated by Operations Pilot.
- One ULCV at anchor.

CONDITION RED
Heightened involvement of SFBP Operations Pilot providing recommendations to the assigned pilot of a vessel proceeding to anchor. Anchorage is impacted/full which may mean vessels turned away from anchoring within the port. The Operations Pilot will actively remain involved and assist assigned pilots in managing the traffic into the anchorage. Because of the many factors involved, many of which can only be fully realized by the assigned pilot the responsibility of choosing a safe anchor bucket will remain with that pilot onboard. If this results in a change of bucket location, this will be communicated to the Operations Pilot and VTS as soon as practical during the transit to anchorage.
…UNQUOTE.

For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at [email protected]

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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