The Whatcom Chief can’t carry trucks over 40,000 GVW during tides below zero. View Full Announcement & JULY – SEPTEMBER tide restricted dates and times table
These restricted times are due to the damage that is incurred during low tides on the loading ramps at both Gooseberry Point and Lummi Island with these large vehicles.
What is a Zero Tide?
The zero tide level is the baseline level assigned from which all other tide levels are measured. The zero tide level for a given area is calculated by averaging the height of all of the lowest tides for that area over a certain period of time (NTDE).
The present National Tidal Datum Epoch (NTDE) is 1983 through 2001. The specific 19-year period adopted by the National Ocean Service as the official time segment over which tide observations are taken and reduced to obtain mean values (e.g., mean lower low water, etc.) for tidal datums. It is necessary for standardization because of periodic and apparent secular trends in sea level. The NTDE is actively considered for revision every 20-25 years. Tidal datums in certain regions with anomalous sea level changes (Alaska, Gulf of Mexico) are calculated on a Modified 5-Year Epoch.
