THE PORT OF CHARLESTON, S.C.

PORT AND HARBOR CONDITIONS

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Charleston Harbor is on the coast of South Carolina, about 174 statute miles southwest of Wilmington, N.C., 114 miles northeast of Savannah, Ga., and 228 miles northeast of Jacksonville, Fla. It is formed by a bay at the mouths of Cooper and Ashley Rivers and is nearly landlocked by outlying seacoast islands and portions of the mainland. The city of Charleston is located at the confluence of the Cooper and Ashley Rivers, at the head of the bay, and is 7%1⁄2 miles from the ocean bar. The entrance from the sea is through a channel protected by two stone jetties. The north jetty is 15,443 feet long, the south jetty 19,104 feet, and the distance between their axes at the outer end is 2,900 feet. From the inner end of this channel in deep water of the lower bay the main channel extends in a westerly direction to the southern end of the peninsula formed by the junction of the Cooper and Ashley Rivers, thence for a distance of 8 miles in a northerly direction up the Cooper River, passing to the east of the wharves of Charleston and to the east of Drum Island, to the United States navy yard. There is also a navigable channel up Town Creek on the west side of Drum Island which is the one generally used. The channel has been dredged also from the navy yard to the Army supply base at North Charleston, a distance of 3/21⁄2 miles. The controlling depth from the sea to the supply base in June 1934, was 30 feet at mean low water. Vessels of 15-foot draft may go up the Cooper River channel a distance of 22 miles above the navy yard, while vessels of 5-foot draft may go as far as Wadboo Bridge, a distance of 49 miles above the navy yard.

From the southern end of the peninsula there is also a channel extending in a northwesterly direction up the Ashley River, passing to the west of Charleston, to the mouth of Orange Grove Creek. At this point a channel has been dredged in a northeasterly direction, diagonally across the river channel, joining deeper water in the main river channel, enabling vessels of 20-foot draft to go as far as the Standard Wharf above Duck Island, 71⁄4 miles above the southern end of the peninsula.

The bar channel outside the jetties is exposed to heavy seas, while the channels in the bay and in the two rivers are well protected. Wando River, which empties into Cooper River eastward of Drum Island, affords a channel of from 5 to 7 feet depth as far as Garon Bridge, a distance of about 20 miles from Charleston.

Wappoo Creek, on the west side of Ashley River, 14 miles above its mouth, is the entrance to the inland passage known as "Wappoo Cut." This channel is a narrow tidal waterway 3 miles long extending in a southerly direction and connecting Ashley and Stono Rivers, S.C., and is the beginning of the inland waterway between Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, Ga. The channel to Stono River is 7 feet deep and 75 feet wide.

TIDES

The mean range of tides at Charleston is 5.2 feet, which is increased to 7 or 8 feet by northeast winds or storms of long duration. The mean tidal variation in the Ashley River is 5.6 feet, and at Wappoo Cut 5.5 feet.

TIDAL CURRENTS

The tidal currents off the entrance are revolving and those between the jetties and in the harbor generally set fair with the channel near its axis. Outside Fort Sumter, branches from the main ebb current set through the openings between the jetties and the shore with a velocity of about 2 knots at strength. The velocity of the flood current is less than the ebb, depending on the freshet flow from the rivers. Slack water occurs between the jetties at about the time of high and low water at Charleston.

ANCHORAGES

The usual anchorage is known as "Lower Anchorage." It lies immediately inside the bay north of the South Channel and southeastward from Charleston. It affords good holding ground but is somewhat exposed to southeast gales. The depth ranges from 27 to 50 feet at mean low water. The best anchorage is in the mouth of the Cooper River, eastward of Drum Island, about 1 mile north of the city. This anchorage affords good holding ground and is protected from storms. The quarantine anchorage is on the south side of South Channel, 2 miles southeast of Charleston, abreast of Fort Johnson; it is marked by two yellow buoys.

Vessels are forbidden to anchor northeastward of Fort Sumter and between Fort Sumter and Sullivan Island on account of the submarine cables crossing at that point. Vessels are also forbidden to anchor in the stream opposite the eastern part of the city, except northeastward of Union Pier and southeastward of the southernmost wharves, and they must then anchor so as to give the wharves a clearance of not less than 200 yards when tailing toward them.

The following is an extract from the rules and regulations of the War Department, dated August 8, 1921, relating to the anchorage grounds for the port of Charleston, S.C.:

THE ANCHORAGE GROUNDS

1. GENERAL ANCHORAGE

The anchorage grounds shall include all the navigable portions of that harbor and the portions of Cooper, Ashley, and Wando Rivers adjacent thereto, except the following:

AREAS OF PROHIBITED ANCHORAGE

(a) That portion of Cooper River which is bounded on the north by a true east and west line through the North Customhouse Wharf, on the east by Shutes Folly Island, on the south by a true east and west line through the south shore of Shutes Folly Island, and on the west by the water front of Charleston.

(b) A ship channel between the jetties and the navy yard 600 feet wide (or as much wider as an improved channel may hereafter be dredged), following the established ranges and usual courses and passing east of Drum Island. Between the North Customhouse Wharf and the Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Co.'s dock this shall include all the area between the eastern limit of said channel and the eastern water front of Charleston.

(c) A ship channel 600 feet wide from the vicinity of the Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Co.'s dock north through Town Creek Channel, following the established ranges and usual courses and connecting at both ends with the main channel.

(d) A ship channel in Ashley River from its mouth to Standard Wharf 240 feet wide, following the established ranges and usual courses, and widened at the eastern end to connect with the main channel in Cooper River.

(e) The commonly used channel in Wando River, with width of 200 feet.

(f) A channel 200 feet wide in Hog Island Channel from Cooper River to the Mount Pleasant ferry terminal, having its northern limit along the line of lighted beacons in Hog Island Channel.

(g) An area 1,200 feet wide extending from Ripley Shoal Daymark toward the head of the Seaboard Air Line Wharf (foot of Hasell Street) to its junction with the prohibited area described in (a) above.

(h) An area 1,200 feet wide extending from Ripley Shoal Daymark to Fort Sumter Light, with its axis connecting those structures.

(i) An area 1,200 feet wide extending from Fort Sumter Light to Old Fort Moultrie, with its axis connecting the centers of those structures.

II. ANCHORAGE FOR EXPLOSIVES

Vessels carrying gunpowder or other explosives in bulk may anchor only in that section of the Wando River which lies on the west side of that river, between a point opposite the south end of Daniel Island and a point about 1 mile to the north: Provided, That vessels carrying high explosives in bulk shall not anchor within 400 yards of each other; but this provision is not intended to prohibit lighters from tying up alongside ships for the transfer of cargo.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. Excepting in cases of great emergency, no vessel shall be anchored in the prohibited areas above mentioned and described.