When the St. Andrew Bay Entrance Channel is at the Full Project Depth of 36.0 feet at MLLW, which is defined to include the Advanced Maintenance Depth, vessels may be piloted up to a Maximum Draft of 36.0 feet at or near highwater.
Vessels with drafts of 34.0 feet or less may be piloted on a 24 hour basis.
When Controlling Depths are less than Full Project Depth or during periods of abnormal tidal or weather conditions, draft restrictions will be imposed for the channels and/or berths.
See sections for RockTenn Terminal and Port Panama City for draft limits at their berths.
One-way traffic will apply when large and/or deep draft vessels are transiting the entrance channel. This is due to the project width of the channel in relation to large vessels, combined with the constant shoaling and the strong crosscurrents that run through the channel. Smaller vessels may meet each other with consideration for the prevailing conditions at the time.