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NAVOPLAN

Port Intelligence Brief

Key West, United States

United States flag

71 Verified Intelligence Items

67Verified
Intelligence

47Official
Sources

91%Overall
Confidence

📍

CoordinatesN 24 33' .0000"
W 81 49' .0012"

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Harbor ProfileGulf of Mexico; North Atlantic Ocean
Size: Small

🛂

EntranceTidal Range: .98 ft
Depth: 30.83 ft

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Port StatusPort of Entry: Yes
Shelter: Good

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Last UpdateJun 28, 2026
09:30 ET

🧭 Approach & Entrance 8 items

🛟 Shelter & Refuge 8 items

⚠ Local Cautions 8 items

🛒 Crew Rest & Resupply 8 items

☎ Harbor / Authority 4 items 🔒

📡 Contacts & VHF 6 items 🔒

🛥 Marinas 6 items 🔒

⛽ Fuel & Utilities 8 items 🔒

🛂 Clearance & Formalities 7 items 🔒

🚑 Medical & Emergency 8 items 🔒

1 - 10

Current Briefing

Approach & Entrance

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

1 - 1

Verified Intelligence

Sailing Directions / Official Text Summary (Coast Pilot)

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

U.S. Coast Pilot 4 (Chapter 11) contains official sailing-direction text for Key West: approaches, entrance character, channels, pilotage rules, pilot boarding area, security calls, and cautions (see chapter for details).

96% Confidence

Pilotage Requirement And Pilot Boarding

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

Pilotage is compulsory for all foreign vessels and U.S. vessels under register in foreign trade drawing more than 7 ft bound for/from Key West Harbor and anchorages; Key West Bar Pilots board approximately 2 miles south of Key West Entrance Lighted Whistle Buoy 'KW' (24°27'26"N, 81°48'00"W).

96% Confidence

Tidal Currents (Typical Values And Behaviour)

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

Within the 10-fathom curve just inside the entrance currents are weak/variable; in main channels west of Fort Taylor flood (northerly) and ebb (southerly) currents commonly 2–3 knots; currents north of Key West in upper turning basin somewhat less.

95% Confidence

Security Calls / Communication Requirements

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

All vessels >=65 ft and all tugs with tows entering or leaving Key West Harbor or the Key West Main Ship Channel shall give Security Calls on VHF-FM channels 16 and 13; pilot station monitors VHF channels 16 and 14 when expecting traffic.

95% Confidence

Entrance Character And Principal Approach Channels

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

Key West Harbor is entered through breaks in the reef by several channels; Main Ship Channel is the only deep-draft approach; Northwest Channel (Gulf entrance) has jetties and submerged sections—marked by lights and buoys.

94% Confidence

Notices And Operational Verification

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

NOAA and USCG Notices to Mariners / Local Notices must be consulted: recent NOAA chart-maintenance notes show paper charts canceled (see NOAA Dole list); consult NOAA ENC updates and USCG Local Notice to Mariners for buoy/ATON changes and temporary restrictions.

94% Confidence

Charting Authority / Primary Nautical Charts

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

NOAA (Office of Coast Survey) ENC/RNC coverage: Responders/ENC products covering Key West approaches (historical paper charts 11441, 11447 referenced; NOAA has canceled paper editions—use ENC/RespondersCharts and Notices).

93% Confidence

Shoals / Seabed Hazards

Official Source · Verified Jun 23, 2026

Harbor area protected by reefs and sand flats; charted shoals and a charted 32-foot rock symbol (survey noted) exist in the approaches—local shoaling and shifting depths reported historically; mariners should consult latest ENC/NTMs.

90% Confidence