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NAVOPLAN

Port Intelligence Brief

San Francisco, United States

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59 Verified Intelligence Items

53Verified
Intelligence

36Official
Sources

90%Overall
Confidence

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CoordinatesN 37 49' .0012"
W 122 25' .0012"

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Harbor ProfileNorth Pacific Ocean
Size: Large

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EntranceTidal Range: 3.94 ft
Depth: 30.83 ft

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Port StatusPort of Entry: Yes
Shelter: Excellent

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Last UpdateJun 28, 2026
09:30 ET

🧭 Approach & Entrance 7 items

🛟 Shelter & Refuge 7 items

⚠ Local Cautions 6 items

🛒 Crew Rest & Resupply 6 items

☎ Harbor / Authority 5 items 🔒

📡 Contacts & VHF 5 items 🔒

🛥 Marinas 4 items 🔒

⛽ Fuel & Utilities 5 items 🔒

🛂 Clearance & Formalities 6 items 🔒

🚑 Medical & Emergency 7 items 🔒

1 - 10

Current Briefing

Approach & Entrance

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

1 - 1

Verified Intelligence

Charting Authority / Primary Charts

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

NOAA Office of Coast Survey — primary nautical charts covering the approach: NOAA Chart 18649 (Entrance to San Francisco Bay) and NOAA Chart 18650 (San Francisco Bay). Use official NOAA ENC for ECDIS.

95% Confidence

Traffic Management, Vts And Regulated Areas

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

San Francisco has an established Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) and Vessel Traffic Service (VTS San Francisco). Participation and reporting are required under 33 CFR Part 161 (VTS) and related regulated navigation/security zones under 33 CFR Part 165 (e.g., §165.1187 Golden Gate Bridge security zones).

94% Confidence

Entrance Character (Golden Gate)

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

Golden Gate: ~2.0 nm wide at west end (Point Bonita–Point Lobos); channel narrowed to ~1.5 nm by Mile Rocks and <0.7 nm at Golden Gate Bridge piers; depths through Golden Gate vary ~108 ft to >300 ft (local overfalls and rips reported).

92% Confidence

Pilotage Regime / Boarding Location

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

Board of Pilot Commissioners (BOPC) licenses pilots for vessels ≥750 gross tons in the BOPC jurisdiction; San Francisco Bar Pilots provide pilotage; pilot transfers normally occur near the 'SF' approach buoy several miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge.

92% Confidence

Charted Shoals, Rocks, And Reported Wrecks Near The Entrance

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

Named hazards: Potatopatch Shoal, Mile Rocks, Blossom Rock (charted obstruction), Sears Rock (covered 22 ft; ~1.2 nm NW of Point Bonita), and a wreck near 37°47'23"N 122°33'16"W (covered 62 ft).

90% Confidence

Tidal Currents And Observed Maxima At The Gate

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

Tidal currents are variable and strong at the Golden Gate; the ebb has been observed at >6.5 knots between Lime Point and Fort Point; heavy overfalls and eddies frequently occur near Lime Point, Fort Point and Mile Rocks.

90% Confidence

Principal Approach / Main Ship Channel Characteristics

Official Source · Verified Jun 30, 2026

Principal approach: buoyed Main Ship Channel over the bar on bearing 070° toward Alcatraz Light; project depth ~55 ft in a ~2,000-foot-wide channel (check USACE channel condition reports for current controlling depth).

88% Confidence