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NAVOPLAN

Port Intelligence Brief

Ensenada, Mexico

67 Verified Intelligence Items

55Verified
Intelligence

43Official
Sources

87%Overall
Confidence

📍

CoordinatesN 31 52' .0012"
W 116 37' 59.9988"

⚓

Harbor ProfileNorth Pacific Ocean
Size: Medium

🛂

EntranceTidal Range: 6.56 ft
Depth: 36.08 ft

🕒

Port StatusPort of Entry: Yes
Shelter: Good

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Last UpdateJun 28, 2026
09:30 ET

🧭 Approach & Entrance 8 items

🛟 Shelter & Refuge 5 items

⚠ Local Cautions 8 items

🛒 Crew Rest & Resupply 7 items

☎ Harbor / Authority 4 items 🔒

📡 Contacts & VHF 7 items 🔒

🛥 Marinas 7 items 🔒

⛽ Fuel & Utilities 7 items 🔒

🛂 Clearance & Formalities 7 items 🔒

🚑 Medical & Emergency 6 items 🔒

1 - 10

Current Briefing

Approach & Entrance

Ensenada approach intelligence includes pilotage, entrance channel depths, harbor communications, traffic density, anchoring restrictions, and operational cautions for arrival planning.

1 - 1

Verified Intelligence

Charting / Hydrographic Authority

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

Primary Mexican hydrographic authority: Secretaría de Marina — Dirección General Adjunta de Oceanografía, Hidrografía y Meteorología (DIGAOHM / Servicio de Hidrografía Naval). International sailing directions and port indexing: NGA (Pub.153 / World Port Index entry 15990).

95% Confidence

Notices To Mariners / Operational Updates

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

SEMAR (DIGAOHM) publishes 'Avisos a los Marinos' (Notices to Mariners) and updates (weekly/quincenal) for Mexican waters; mariners should consult these and NGA MSI PDUs for chart corrections prior to approach.

92% Confidence

Sailing Directions Summary (Official)

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

NGA Pub.153 (West Coasts of Mexico) contains the Ensenada (Bahía Todos Santos) approach description and port remarks (Pub.153, Sector 2, Ensenada).

90% Confidence

Entrance Character / Prominent Marks

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

Islas de Todos Santos (approx. 31°51'N, 116°39'W) lie across the W entrance of the bay; lights shown on both islets and a racon on the N islet light. Harbour protected by a W breakwater (~1 mile) and an S breakwater (~500 m).

90% Confidence

Known Shoals / Underwater Hazards

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

Bajo San Miguel: detached shoal patch about 2.5 miles N of the N Todos Santos islet, least depth ~5.5 m. A chain of rocky shoals extends ~1 mile NW from Cabo Punta Banda (SE part of Bahía Todos Santos). Kelp and rocks fringe the islets.

88% Confidence

Pilotage / Reporting Requirements (Published)

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

Published: pilotage is compulsory for Ensenada. Vessels should send ETA 24 hours prior. Pub.153 gives a pilot boarding position (approx. 31°48'13.2"N, 116°39'12.8"W, about 0.4 mile S of the Landfall Lighted Buoy).

88% Confidence

Approach Channel Depths / Harbour Entrance Controlling Depth (Published)

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

Published approach channel depth ~12.2 m; harbour entrance reported controlling depth ~8.8 m (see NGA Pub.153 port notes).

85% Confidence

Tides, Currents And Prevailing Winds (Published Summary)

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

Tidal range: springs ~1.6 m, neaps ~1.1 m. Prevailing winds reported NW and SW; haze common within the bay; heavy swell can affect anchorages outside breakwaters.

80% Confidence