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Port of Charleston

United States

UN/LOCODEUSCHSWhat is a UN/LOCODE?32.7833° N, 79.9167° WLocal timeAmerica/New_York, UTC-4

In short

Charleston: no ships detected in port from AIS in the last 3 days (as of Oct 3, 2026, 09:03 UTC). Coverage depends on AIS reception in the area.

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In port now
0
Arrivals, last 24 h
0
Departures, last 24 h
0
Ships nearby, last 6 h
29

Expected arrivals AIS-detected

Ships whose AIS destination names Charleston, with the arrival time their crew entered. Reported in the last 24 hours, due within 7 days. Crews type these by hand: a destination can be out of date and an ETA can slip.

9 ships shown, earliest first.

VesselETA (UTC)Destination as broadcastMatched by
United States FREEDOMPleasure craftOct 3, 2026, 14:00 UTCCHARLESTON SCName match
United States CORPUS CHRISTITankerOct 3, 2026, 18:00 UTCCHARLESTON SCName match
Malta THERMOPYLAECargoOct 4, 2026, 01:00 UTCUS NYC > US CHSUN/LOCODE
Germany HONG KONG EXPRESSCargo (hazardous cat. A)Oct 4, 2026, 07:00 UTCUS BAL > US CHSUN/LOCODE
Portugal MSC TAKORADI VIIICargo (hazardous cat. D)Oct 5, 2026, 02:00 UTCUSCHSUN/LOCODE
United States SMITH PRIVATEEROct 5, 2026, 15:00 UTCCHARLESTON, SCName match
Liberia GSL NICOLETTACargo (hazardous cat. A)Oct 6, 2026, 01:00 UTCUSCHSUN/LOCODE
Antigua & Barbuda BBC EDGECargoOct 9, 2026, 10:00 UTCUSCHSUN/LOCODE
United States CAPE DOUGLASCargoOct 9, 2026, 17:00 UTCCHARLESTONName match

Source: AIS voyage reports via AISstream.io global terrestrial AIS. Times are the crew's ETA, not a Voydar estimate. As of Oct 3, 2026, 09:03 UTC.

Vessels near Charleston

Ships Voydar received on AIS near the port in the last 6 hours, most recent first. Being near a port is not a port call; the board above lists calls.

Vessels near Charleston
VesselLast seen
United StatesMARGARET MCALLISTERTug
United StatesVICTORY_IPassenger
United StatesERIC MCALLISTERTug
United StatesMACKENZIE ROSELocal vessel
United StatesGEORGIA MTug
United StatesMARIE CLARETug
United StatesUS GOV VSL 1Other
United StatesMOIRA MCALLISTERTowing
United StatesSOUTHERN ROSETowing
United StatesPATRICE MCALLISTERTug
United StatesCAPT. JIM MCALLISTERTug
United StatesCAPE DUCATOCargo
LiberiaOLYMPIC FLAMETanker
BahamasOCEAN PEARLCargo
Hong KongOOCL CHONGQINGCargo (hazardous cat. D)
United StatesISLAND FOXTug
United StatesUSNS POINT LOMAMilitary ops
United StatesTALISASailing
United StatesKIMBERLY STug
United StatesGULF DAWN
United StatesCAPE DOUGLASCargo
United StatesPATUXENTOther
United StatesLADY SPleasure craft
SingaporeZIM MOUNT RAINIERCargo (hazardous cat. A)
BahamasFJORD PEARLCargo
United StatesELEANOR F MORANTug
United StatesWYATT MORANTug
United StatesPAULA LEEOther
LiberiaSUAPE EXPRESSCargo (hazardous cat. A)

Harbour & facilities

Harbour particulars for Charleston from the NGA World Port Index (WPI port no. 8500). Depths in metres as charted by NGA.

Harbour size
Small
Harbour type
River (natural)
Shelter
Good
Channel depth
13 m
Anchorage depth
13 m
Cargo pier depth
11 m
Oil terminal depth
13 m
Mean tide
2 m
Pilotage compulsory
Yes
First port of entry
Yes
Repairs
Major
Dry dock
Small

Source: NGA World Port Index (Pub. 150). Licence: US Government public domain.

Not for navigation.

Forecast

Model forecast for Charleston over the next 72 hours, every 6 hours: wind, gusts, waves and visibility. Times in UTC.

Time (UTC)Wind (kn)FromGusts (kn)Waves (m)Period (s)Visibility (km)
3294°60.4724
3121°80.4724
6170°130.5624
5194°90.5619
3231°60.5619
4204°100.5624
4245°110.4619
1108°30.4617
39°90.4611
330°70.4612
834°130.6424

Forecast: ECMWF IFS 0.25° + ECMWF WAM, run of Oct 3, 2026, 00:00 UTC. Visibility: NOAA GFS 0.25° + GFS-Wave (WAVEWATCH III), run of Oct 3, 2026, 00:00 UTC. Waves are taken from the wave model's nearest sea point, 16 km away.

Source: ECMWF open data (IFS 0.25° forecasts, ECMWF WAM waves). This service is based on data and products of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Source: www.ecmwf.int. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Licence: CC-BY-4.0 + ECMWF Terms of Use.

Source: NOAA GFS 0.25° and GFS-Wave (WAVEWATCH III) forecasts. Forecast: NOAA NCEP GFS / GFS-Wave (WAVEWATCH III). Licence: US Government work (public domain); NOAA Open Data Dissemination.

A model forecast, not an observation. Not for navigation.

Marine conditions near Charleston

Live wind, waves and water temperature from nearby NOAA buoys and tide gauges — free government data the incumbents charge for.

Buoy CHTS1 · 0.9 kmobserved
Water temp
26.5°C (80°F)
Air temp
24.7°C (76°F)
Wind
2.9 kn @ 260°
Waves
—

Source: NOAA National Data Buoy Center & CO-OPS Tides & Currents — public domain.

Charleston: daily port calls from satellite AIS (IMF PortWatch)

Estimates published by the International Monetary Fund's PortWatch, built from satellite and terrestrial AIS. They cover waters our own receivers do not reach yet. These are the IMF's figures, not Voydar's counts.

The IMF estimates 35 port calls in the 7 days and 124 in the 30 days to Sep 25, 2026. That is 22% less than the same 30 days a year earlier (158).

Container
89
Tanker
10
Dry bulk
7
General cargo
8
Ro-ro
10

Estimated cargo loaded and discharged in those 30 days: 2 million tonnes.

IMF PortWatch daily figures for Charleston, last 14 days
09-12
6
09-13
3
09-14
4
09-15
3
09-16
3
09-17
7
09-18
3
09-19
4
09-20
8
09-21
4
09-22
3
09-23
5
09-24
7
09-25
4

Sources: Kpler; UN Global Platform; IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org). IMF estimates, updated weekly; the latest days are revised. portwatch.imf.org. Counts cover container ships, tankers, dry bulk, general cargo and ro-ro vessels (30-day totals above).

Charleston: global benchmarks

How Charleston compares with the world's ports, from published statistics. These are the publishers' figures, not Voydar's own measurements.

Container Port Performance Index 2023
#53 of 405
World Bank ranking of container ports by vessel time in port (lower rank = faster turnaround). Port identified from the CPPI port name "CHARLESTON" (80% confidence).
Source: World Bank, The Container Port Performance Index 2023 (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Retrieved Sep 24, 2026.
Port liner shipping connectivity, 2 2026
361.5
UNCTAD index (100 = the average port in Q1 2023). Up 4% on a year earlier.
Source: UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Data Hub, port liner shipping connectivity index (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Retrieved Sep 24, 2026.

Berths and terminals at Charleston

33 docks, terminals and mooring places listed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Charleston. Deepest listed berth: 12.2 m (40 ft). The 30 deepest are shown.

U.S. principal ports by tonnage, 2023
#24 of 150
26.4 million short tons handled (Port of Charleston, SC).
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center (public domain). Retrieved Sep 24, 2026.
Berths and terminals at Charleston
FacilityDepth alongsideLongest berthOwner / operator (as listed)
KINDER MORGAN, CHARLESTON TERMINAL
Receipt and shipment of asphalt and petroleum products; receipt of caustic soda; bunkering vessels; and loading barges for bunkering vessels at berth.
12.2 m (40 ft)304.8 m (1,000 ft)
Owner: Allied Terminals, Inc., a subsidiary of Allied Marine Industries
Operator: Kinder Morgan
STATE PIER 8, COLUMBUS STREET TERM BERTH 1
Receipt and shipment of containerized and roll-on/roll-off general cargo in foreign-and-domestic trade.
12.2 m (40 ft)274.3 m (900 ft)
Owner and operator: South Carolina State Ports Authority
KINDER MORGAN BULK TERMINALS SHIPYARD RIVER CHARLESTON
Receipt and shipment of miscellaneous dry-bulk commodities including coal; receipt of asphalt, caustic soda, and liquid fertilizer.
12.2 m (40 ft)259.1 m (850 ft)
Owner: Zeigler Coal Holding Co.
Operator: Shipyard River Terminal
CHEVRON PRODUCTS CO CHARLESTON TERMINAL WHARF
Receipt of petroleum products.
12.2 m (40 ft)228.6 m (750 ft)
Owner and operator: Chevron Products Co.
STATE PIER 8, COLUMBUS STREET TERM BERTH 2
Receipt and shipment of conventional-and-containerized general cargo in foreign-and-domestic trade.
12.2 m (40 ft)225.6 m (740 ft)
Owner and operator: South Carolina State Ports Authority
MCALLISTER TOWING OF CHARLESTON WHARF
Mooring company-owned tugboats.
12.2 m (40 ft)51.2 m (168 ft)
Owner: Seabrook Contracting Co., Inc.
Operator: McAllister Towing of Charleston, Inc.
STATE PIER 8, COLUMBUS STREET TERM BERTHS 3, 4 & 5
Receipt and shipment of conventional general cargo and heavy-lift items in foreign-and-domestic trade.
10.7 m (35 ft)548.6 m (1,800 ft)
Owner and operator: South Carolina State Ports Authority
South Carolina State Ports Authority, Union Pier Terminal, State Pier No. 2 Berths 2 and 3.
Receipt and shipment of conventional and heavy-lift general cargo in foreign-and-domestic trade; receipt of automo- biles.
10.7 m (35 ft)426.7 m (1,400 ft)
Owner and operator: South Carolina State Ports Authority
CHARLESTON NAVAL COMPLEX PIER P
Mooring U.S. Coast Guard vessels.
10.7 m (35 ft)413.6 m (1,357 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: U.S. Coast Guard
Charleston Shipbuildings, Charleston Naval Complex Pier N.
Mooring vessels for conversion and outfitting.
10.7 m (35 ft)396.2 m (1,300 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: Charleston Shipbuildings, Inc.
Charleston Shipbuildings, Charleston Naval Complex Pier M.
Mooring vessels for conversion and outfitting.
10.7 m (35 ft)384 m (1,260 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: Charleston Shipbuildings, Inc.
Charleston Shipbuildings, Charleston Naval Complex Pier Z.
Mooring vessels for conversion and outfitting.
10.7 m (35 ft)365.8 m (1,200 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: Charleston Shipbuildings, Inc.
Detyens Shipyard, Charleston Naval Complex Pier D.
Mooring vessels for conversion, outfitting, and repair.
10.7 m (35 ft)335.3 m (1,100 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: Detyens Shipyard, Inc.
CHARLESTON NAVAL COMPLEX WHARF C
Shipment of heavy-lift items including steel products.
10.7 m (35 ft)320 m (1,050 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: Metal Trades, Inc., Cooper River Division
Charleston Shipbuildings, Charleston Naval Complex Pier L.
Mooring vessels for conversion and outfitting.
10.7 m (35 ft)297.8 m (977 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: Charleston Shipbuildings, Inc.
South Carolina State Ports Authority, Union Pier Terminal, State Pier No. 2 Berth 4.
Receipt and shipment of conventional general cargo; and heavy-lift items including automobiles in foreign-and- domestic trade.
10.7 m (35 ft)234.7 m (770 ft)
Owner and operator: South Carolina State Ports Authority
Charleston Shipbuildings, Charleston Naval Complex Pier J.
Mooring vessels for conversion and outfitting.
10.7 m (35 ft)228.6 m (750 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: Charleston Shipbuildings, Inc.
Detyens Shipyard, Charleston Naval Complex Pier G.
Mooring vessels for conversion, outfitting, and repair.
10.7 m (35 ft)228.6 m (750 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: Detyens Shipyard, Inc.
Detyens Shipyard, Charleston Naval Complex Pier H.
Mooring floating drydock; and vessels for conversion, outfitting, and repair.
10.7 m (35 ft)228.6 m (750 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: Detyens Shipyard, Inc.
Charleston Shipbuildings, Charleston Naval Complex Pier K.
Mooring vessels for conversion and outfitting.
10.7 m (35 ft)206.3 m (677 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: Charleston Shipbuildings, Inc.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Charleston Naval Complex Pier R.
Mooring government-owned vessels.
10.7 m (35 ft)206.3 m (677 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
STATE PIER 9, COLUMBUS STREET TERM BERTH 6
Not used.
10.7 m (35 ft)132.3 m (434 ft)
Owner: South Carolina State Ports Authority
Detyens Shipyard, Charleston Naval Complex Wharf F.
Mooring vessels for conversion, outfitting, and repair.
9.1 m (30 ft)251.5 m (825 ft)
Owner: United States Government
Operator: Detyens Shipyard, Inc.
SALMONS DREDGING CORP
Mooring vessels for repair; and company-owned floating equipment; handling construction materials, supplies, and equipment to and from barges.
9.1 m (30 ft)181.4 m (595 ft)
Owner: Richard W. Salmons, Jr
Operator: Salmons Dredging Corp.
Operator: and Braswell Services Group, Inc.
MARINEX CONSTRUCTION SHIPYARD CREEK CHARLESTON SC
Shipment of prestressed concrete products by barge.
3 m (10 ft)137.2 m (450 ft)
Owner and operator: Republic Contracting Corp.
CAPE ROMAIN CONTRACTORS PIER
Mooring company-owned floating equipment; and handling construction materials, supplies, and equipment to and from barges.
1.2 m (4 ft)39.6 m (130 ft)
Owner and operator: Cape Romain Contractors, Inc.
HUGH K LEATHERMAN, SR CONTAINER TERMINAL
—914.4 m (3,000 ft)
Owner and operator: South Caroliina Ports Authority
COOPER RIVER ANCHORAGE AREA
———
KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORP., NORTH CHARLESTON MILL
———
STATE PIER 2 UNION PIER TERM BERTHS 2, 3 & 4
——
Owner: SCSPA

Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Navigation Data Center, Port and Waterway Facilities (public domain). Owner and operator names are USACE's text, not verified company records. Retrieved Sep 24, 2026.

Reported arrivals & departures Authority-reported

Arrival and departure records for Charleston published by the authority named on each row, separate from the calls Voydar detects on AIS. Earliest record: Jan 2, 1997.

VesselRecordDate (UTC)Berth / routeSource
SPIRIT OF AUCKLANDArrivalDec 31, 2016(date only)Philadelphia, PA → —USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances
HORIZON HIGHWAYArrivalDec 31, 2016(date only)Brunswick, GA → —USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances
IntegrityArrivalDec 31, 2016(date only)Baltimore, MD → —USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances
SUEZ CANALArrivalDec 31, 2016(date only)Savannah, GA → —USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances
MAERSK PITTSBURGHArrivalDec 31, 2016(date only)Newark, NJ → —USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances
CMA CGM LISBONArrivalDec 31, 2016(date only)Norfolk, VA → —USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances
YM MODERATIONArrivalDec 31, 2016(date only)Norfolk, VA → —USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances
NEFELIDepartureDec 31, 2016(date only)— → All Other Canada Atlantic Region PortsUSACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances
Carnival EcstasyDepartureDec 31, 2016(date only)— → Nassau, New Providence IUSACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances
SUEZ CANALDepartureDec 31, 2016(date only)— → Port SaidUSACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances
SPIRIT OF AUCKLANDDepartureDec 31, 2016(date only)— → CartagenaUSACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances
HORIZON HIGHWAYDepartureDec 31, 2016(date only)— → ZeebruggeUSACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances

Marine accidents investigated nearby Authority-reported

4 accidents and incidents within 100 km of the port in the published records of national accident-investigation boards since Sep 5, 2022, located where the board states a position. The most recent:

Source: NTSB marine investigations (CAROL). Courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board. Licence: US Government work (17 U.S.C. §105), public domain.

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