Welcome to Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles Harbor has small-craft facilities on both sides of Cerritos Channel from the Heim lift bridge to East Basin, on the E side of East Basin, in Watchhorn Basin, and along the W side of West Channel. All the berths, fuel, supplies, and services required for small boats are available at the individual private marinas or may be obtained nearby.

Navigation:
San Pedro Bay, between Seal Beach on the E and Point Fermin on the W, is 82 miles NW of San Diego. On the shores of the bay are the cities and port areas of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Terminal Island, in the NW part of San Pedro Bay, separates the outer bay from Los Angeles and Long Beach inner harbors. The bay is protected by breakwaters and is a safe harbor in any weather.

Los Angeles Harbor, at the W end of San Pedro Bay, includes the districts of San Pedro, Wilmington, and a major part of Terminal Island.

Los Angeles Light, (33°42’31″N., 118°15’06″W.), 73 feet above the water, is shown from a white cylindrical tower with black stripes on a concrete block on the outer end of the San Pedro breakwater; a sound signal is at the light.

San Pedro Breakwater extends about 0.9 mile in a SE direction from the E side of Point Fermin, then turns ENE for another 0.9 mile to Los Angeles Light. Middle Breakwater extends ENE for 2.1 miles from the Los Angeles entrance, thence E for 1 mile to the Long Beach entrance, and is marked at both ends by lights. Long Beach Breakwater extends E 2.2 miles from Long Beach entrance and is marked by lights on both ends. Ranges for a 090°-270√Ç° measured nautical mile are on the Long Beach Breakwater. They are yellow diamond-shaped daymarks on iron pipes.

Los Angeles Main Channel leads NW from E of the San Pedro Breakwater for about 1 mile, thence N to the Inner Harbor turning basin, thence NE through East Basin Channel and Cerritos Channel. Los Angeles Main Channel is marked by a 296° lighted range.

The Los Angeles and Long Beach main channels are considered narrow channels. Vessels less than 20 meters in length, sailing vessels, vessels engaged in fishing, or any vessel attempting to cross these channels shall not impede a vessel that can only safely navigate within a narrow channel per Inland Navigation Rules, Rule 9.

The Vincent Thomas Bridge, a highway suspension span with a clearance of 185 feet over the center 500-foot width, crosses Los Angeles Main Channel just below the turning basin, 3.2 miles above the entrance breakwater.

Two bridges cross Cerritos Channel on the N side of Terminal Island: Schuyler F. Heim Highway Bridge, under construction (2012), consult Local Notice to Mariners, or contact Caltrans at 213-444-1171 for latest conditions; and Henry Ford (Badger) Avenue railroad bridge 25 yards W with authorized span clearances of 6 feet down and 165 feet up. The Henry Ford (Badger) Avenue railroad bridge is maintained in the down position. The bridgetender of the Schuyler F. Heim bridge monitors VHF-FM channel 13; call sign WHX-947.