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Bay Pilots

San Diego Bay is served by the San Diego Bay Pilots Association, Inc. The pilot office and boat monitor VHF-FM channel 16 (156.80 MHz) one hour prior to a vessel’s scheduled arrival. VHF-FM channel 12 (156.60 MHz) is used as a working frequency. Arrangements for pilots are made by telephone (619.233.3096) or by calling “Pilot San Diego” by radio; the pilots request the incoming vessel’s estimated time of arrival and draft. A 2-hour advance notice is required if any changes occur.

Pilots board vessels in the vicinity of San Diego Bay Approach Lighted Whistle Buoy 1 (32° 37.3’N, 117° 14.7’W). When boarding, pilots request vessels maintain a speed of 7 knots and rig the pilot ladder about one meter above the water on the starboard side or as directed by the pilot.

The San Diego Unified Port District operates a VHF-FM radio station from Harbor Control Headquarters at Shelter Island for contacting merchant ships, port pilots, and other nearby stations. Channel 16 (156.80 MHz) is for distress, urgent, and safety messages, and for calling; channel 12 (156.60 MHz) is for port operations. The station call sign is KJC-824.

All foreign vessels and vessels from a foreign port or bound thereto, and all vessels over 300 gross tons sailing under register between the port of San Diego and any other U.S. port, are subject to pilotage charges and unless permission is granted from the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the port shall be under the direction of a federally licensed pilot for the port of San Diego.

Vessels sailing under enrollment and licensed, and engaged in the coasting trade, between the port of San Diego and other U.S. ports, are exempt from all pilotage, unless a pilot is actually employed.