San Francisco Bay’s Anchorages: Designated Havens for Large Cargo Ships
The San Francisco Bay is home to designated "anchorages" or "parking lots" for large cargo ships. Anchorage 9, south of the Bay Bridge and north of the San Mateo Bridge, is the largest of these areas. These anchorages were established…
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, July 30, 2026 —
The San Francisco Bay serves as a critical hub for maritime commerce, featuring designated areas known as “anchorages” where large cargo ships can safely wait or dock. These areas function as “parking lots” for vessels navigating the busy waterways.
Among these, Anchorage 9 stands out as the largest. This significant anchorage is geographically situated south of the iconic Bay Bridge and north of the San Mateo Bridge, providing substantial capacity for the region’s shipping traffic.
The establishment of these anchorages is historically linked to a major environmental incident. In 1971, a significant oil spill occurred due to a ship collision within the bay. This event underscored the need for enhanced maritime safety and traffic management protocols.
In the aftermath of the 1971 spill, the Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system was created. The VTS is a vital component of the bay’s maritime infrastructure, tasked with managing ship traffic and ensuring the overall safety of navigation within the San Francisco Bay. Its operations are crucial for preventing collisions and maintaining order among the diverse range of vessels.
The VTS collaborates closely with the San Francisco Bar Pilots, a group of highly trained mariners responsible for piloting vessels in and out of the bay. Together, the VTS and the Bar Pilots work to assign ships to specific anchorages. This coordinated effort is essential for safe navigation, efficient traffic flow, and the prevention of accidents in the complex and often crowded waterways of the Bay Area.
Story summarized from the original created by Gilare Zada on ww2.kqed.org, see more information here.
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