Bangor harbor pilots state that lines are doubled and dead-man lines and buoys are used to prevent excessive motion of moored vessels during periods of strong southwesterly winds. The KB Docks are used by small craft from the Naval Undersea Weapons Engineering Station (NUWES) at Keyport. Wind alone is not a problem for moored submarines, but it does cause waves to wash over their hulls.

Operations at the Explosives Handling Wharf, Delta Drydock, and the Magnetic Silencing Facility will cease if wind velocities reach 25 kt. Winds are amplified as they are funneled northeastward through the canal by the orientation of the canal with respect to the adjacent topography. Southwesterly winds directly impact Bangor's dock facilities due to the orientation of Hood Canal. If tug assistance is required, pilotage is mandatory If a submarine commanding officer has passed through the Hood Canal Bridge once, a pilot is optional on departures. Pilots can be picked up at any point in the area from Foul Weather bluff at the entrance to Hood Canal southward to off Bangor, as requested. Local authorities state that pilots are used for all submarine arrivals at Bangor. SUBASE Bangor has a complement of three 2,000 hp YTB tugboats and a twin-screw 1,600 hp commercial tug. Mooring buoys for barges are available near the KB docks. Alongside water depths vary from 45 ft at Marginal Wharves North and South, to 60 to 115 ft at the Delta Piers. Pier decks have a nominal height of 20 ft above mean lower low water. According to harbor authorities, submarines are rarely nested, and when they do, are nested only for a day or two. They also use the Explosives Handling Wharf and the drydock on Delta Pier.

Trident submarines berth at Marginal Pier South and at Delta Pier North and South. The primary berthing facilities at SUBASE Bangor consist of four separate pier complexes: 'KB' Docks, Delta Pier, Marginal Pier, and Explosive's Handling Wharf. The pier facilities of the base are located along two nmi of waterfront. Naval Submarine Base (SUBASE), Bangor is located on the east shore of Hood Canal. The new command was named Naval Base Kitsap. In June 2004, SUBASE Bangor merged with Naval Station Bremerton. Strategic Weapons Facility, Pacific (SWFPAC)

Naval submarine base kitsap