Port of Charleston
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 Crews type these by hand: a destination can be out of date and an ETA can slip.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.
| Vessel | ETA (UTC) | Destination as broadcast | Matched by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 2026, 14:00 UTC | CHARLESTON SC | Name match | |
| Oct 3, 2026, 18:00 UTC | CHARLESTON SC | Name match | |
| Oct 4, 2026, 01:00 UTC | US NYC > US CHS | UN/LOCODE | |
| Oct 4, 2026, 07:00 UTC | US BAL > US CHS | UN/LOCODE | |
| Oct 5, 2026, 02:00 UTC | USCHS | UN/LOCODE | |
| Oct 5, 2026, 15:00 UTC | CHARLESTON, SC | Name match | |
| Oct 6, 2026, 01:00 UTC | USCHS | UN/LOCODE | |
| Oct 9, 2026, 10:00 UTC | USCHS | UN/LOCODE | |
| Oct 9, 2026, 17:00 UTC | CHARLESTON | Name 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.
| Vessel | Type | IMO / MMSI | Last seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tug | IMO 8990469 | ||
| Passenger | IMO 8898855 | ||
| Tug | IMO 9707493 | ||
| Local vessel | IMO 8968765 | ||
| Tug | MMSI 368457140 | ||
| Tug | IMO 9175999 | ||
| Other | IMO 9271418 | ||
| Towing | IMO 8981391 | ||
| Towing | MMSI 367451120 | ||
| Tug | IMO 9215799 | ||
| Tug | IMO 9857573 | ||
| Cargo | IMO 7208297 | ||
| Tanker | IMO 9298375 | ||
| Cargo | IMO 9401829 | ||
| Cargo (hazardous cat. D) | IMO 9622629 | ||
| Tug | MMSI 366996190 | ||
| Military ops | IMO 9932191 | ||
| Sailing | MMSI 368104870 | ||
| Tug | MMSI 368317110 | ||
| — | IMO 6709725 | ||
| Cargo | IMO 7228089 | ||
| Other | IMO 8906614 | ||
| Pleasure craft | MMSI 338397929 | ||
| Cargo (hazardous cat. A) | IMO 9931135 | ||
| Cargo | IMO 9460796 | ||
| Tug | IMO 9415753 | ||
| Tug | IMO 9920265 | ||
| Other | MMSI 367324810 | ||
| Cargo (hazardous cat. A) | IMO 9332858 |
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) | From | Gusts (kn) | Waves (m) | Period (s) | Visibility (km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 294° | 6 | 0.4 | 7 | 24 | |
| 3 | 121° | 8 | 0.4 | 7 | 24 | |
| 6 | 170° | 13 | 0.5 | 6 | 24 | |
| 5 | 194° | 9 | 0.5 | 6 | 19 | |
| 3 | 231° | 6 | 0.5 | 6 | 19 | |
| 4 | 204° | 10 | 0.5 | 6 | 24 | |
| 4 | 245° | 11 | 0.4 | 6 | 19 | |
| 1 | 108° | 3 | 0.4 | 6 | 17 | |
| 3 | 9° | 9 | 0.4 | 6 | 11 | |
| 3 | 30° | 7 | 0.4 | 6 | 12 | |
| 8 | 34° | 13 | 0.6 | 4 | 24 |
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.
Weather buoys
- CHTS10.9 km
- 8665530 - Charleston, Cooper River Entrance, SC0.9 km
- Fort Johnson, ACE Basin Reserve, SC3.9 km
- FBIS111.4 km
- Folly Island, SC11.5 km
Tide gauges
- Charleston, SC0.8 km
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.
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.
| Facility | Depth alongside | Longest berth | Owner / 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.
| Vessel | Record | Date (UTC) | Berth / route | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPIRIT OF AUCKLAND | Arrival | Dec 31, 2016(date only) | Philadelphia, PA → — | USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances |
| HORIZON HIGHWAY | Arrival | Dec 31, 2016(date only) | Brunswick, GA → — | USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances |
| Integrity | Arrival | Dec 31, 2016(date only) | Baltimore, MD → — | USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances |
| SUEZ CANAL | Arrival | Dec 31, 2016(date only) | Savannah, GA → — | USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances |
| MAERSK PITTSBURGH | Arrival | Dec 31, 2016(date only) | Newark, NJ → — | USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances |
| CMA CGM LISBON | Arrival | Dec 31, 2016(date only) | Norfolk, VA → — | USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances |
| YM MODERATION | Arrival | Dec 31, 2016(date only) | Norfolk, VA → — | USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances |
| NEFELI | Departure | Dec 31, 2016(date only) | — → All Other Canada Atlantic Region Ports | USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances |
| Carnival Ecstasy | Departure | Dec 31, 2016(date only) | — → Nassau, New Providence I | USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances |
| SUEZ CANAL | Departure | Dec 31, 2016(date only) | — → Port Said | USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances |
| SPIRIT OF AUCKLAND | Departure | Dec 31, 2016(date only) | — → Cartagena | USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances |
| HORIZON HIGHWAY | Departure | Dec 31, 2016(date only) | — → Zeebrugge | USACE foreign traffic vessel entrances & clearances |
Source: US Army Corps of Engineers, Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center (US CBP entrance/clearance records). Licence: US Government work — public domain.
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:
- Jun 5, 2024Cargo, GeneralNTSB marine investigations (CAROL)5 km away
MSC Michigan VII, Charleston, SC, USA (NTSB DCA24FM044) · MSC MICHIGAN VII
- Jan 14, 2024Cargo, Liquid BulkNTSB marine investigations (CAROL)16 km away
Hafnia Amessi, Goose Creek, SC, USA (NTSB DCA24FM018) · Navig8 Amessi
- Jan 4, 2024Towing/BargeNTSB marine investigations (CAROL)14 km away
Royal Engineer / Stevens 1471, North Charleston, SC, USA (NTSB DCA24FM014)
- Sep 5, 2022ACCNTSB marine investigations (CAROL)16 km away
Bow Triumph, Goose Creek, SC, USA (NTSB DCA22FM040) · BOW TRIUMPH
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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