Houston (USHOU)

The port of Houston is a 40km long complex of diversified public and private facilities. The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) operates the public facilities located along the Houston Ship Channel, including Buffalo Bayou, Sims Bayou, Hunting Bayou, Greens Bayou, Boggy Bayou Basin, Goose Creek, Cedar Bayou, Barbours Cut and Bayport. PHA's facilities include: The Turning Basin Terminal, a general cargo facility located about 11.2km from downtown Houston; the Barbours Cut Container Terminal, an intermodal facility; Jacintoport Terminal, Bulk Materials Handling Plant, Bayport Terminal, a bulk liquids complex, Woodhouse Terminal and Care Terminal (attached to Jacintoport). The port also operates and manages a foreign trade zone site. Principal cargoes: Import: Petroleum products, iron/steel, LPG, organic chemicals, and crude fertilisers. Export: Cereals/grains, petroleum products, organic chemicals, polymer plastics and inorganic chemicals.

Summer.

The port of Houston is 326nm NE of Brownsville in the SE of Texas

Draught 13.72m, LOA 335.63m, Beam 51.2m, 208,000DWT. Beam unrestricted at LBC Houston - Bayport Terminal Ship Dock's No. 1 and No. 2.

Approx.267,000,000t of cargo, 4,000,000TEU, 8,200 vessels and 26,300 passengers handled annually.

Vessels are prohibited from anchoring in the Houston Ship Channel or Turning Basin except in cases of emergency when they should anchor as near as possible to the channel edge or turning basin so as not to interfere with free navigation or obstruct the approach to any pier. Vessels may anchor in the Gulf of Mexico in the Galveston entrance anchorage areas, just inshore of the intersection of Galveston Safety Fairway with the Coastwise Fairway. Inside Galveston Harbour, a federally designated anchorage area has been established along the N side of the inner Bar Channel. This area is bounded by the N edge of the channel, extending W from: ..... Buoy Latitude Longitude 10 20°20.8'N 094°42.9'W then to 12 29°20.7'N 094°44.8'W then 029° to B 29°21.2'N 094°44.8'W then 096° to A 29°21.1'N 094°42.9'W then 183.3° to the starting point. This anchorage area is for temporary use by vessels of all types, but especially for naval and merchant vessels awaiting favourable weather and transit conditions. Except when weather conditions make sailing hazardous, vessels are not permitted to anchor in this area for periods exceeding 48 hours, unless longer periods are expressly authorised by the COTP.

The approach is made from Galveston Bay and entry Made E of Morgans Point (29° 41'N 094°59'W). THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL: Extends NNW from Bolivar Roads across Galveston Bay to Morgans Point, then up the San Jacinto River to the mouth of Buffalo Bayou at Lynchburg and then up Buffalo Bayou to the Houston Turning Basin at the head of the channel. The channel is approx 43.5nm in length of which 21.7nm are across Galveston Bay and 21.8nm are in the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou. Major dredging has increased the channel width to 161.5m and the depth to nearly 14.0m. Vessels currently restricted to 13.1m draught. VESSEL RESTRICTION: Reportedly, the independent Board of Pilot Commissioners for Harris County Ports, in accordance with two Texas Bills signed into law, have decided that any vessel longer than 338m (1,100ft) now cease to have open access to the Houston Ship Channel. This is a response by local users of the Channel to the increasing shut downs of the two way channel when much larger vessels arrive to go up to the Port of Houston. Larger vessels will still be allowed access but not without prior permission and only after careful consideration. The new Restriction also aims at limiting access of larger container ships that had caused holdups for tankers. SHALLOW CHANNEL: Extends up Buffalo Bayou from the Houston Turning Basin to White Oak Bayou at Main Street Bridge in Houston, a distance of about 4.8nm. GALVESTON BAY: Is an irregularly shaped shallow body of water approx 26nm in a general NNE and SSW direction about 15nm in width at its widest part and generally about 2.0-3.0m in depth. The bay is nearly separated into 2 parts by Red Fish Bar, a chain of small islets and shoals. The part of the bay N of Red Fish Bay is generally designated as "Upper Bay" and the S part as "Lower Bay". The NE section of the Upper Bay is called Trinity Bay. Ship channels to Houston, Galveston, Texas City and Port Bolivar extend from Bolivar Roads in the southern part of Galveston Bay. From the Gulf of Mexico, deep draught vessels enter Galveston Bay between Bolivar Peninsula to the NE and Galveston Island to the S. This entrance is called Galveston Harbour and extends from deep water in the Gulf of Mexico through the pass formed by the jetties extending from Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula to Bolivar Roads, the deep water area between Bolivar Point and Pelican Island Fort Point. Controlling dimensions: The Port Authority should be consulted for the latest controlling depths. Federal project dimensions are: ..... Channel Depth Width (m) (m) Morgans Point to Carpenter Bayou (29°45.3'N 095°05.7'W) 13.7 161-213 Then to: Greens Bayou (29°44.8'W 095°10.1'W) 13.7-12.2 91-238 Then to: Sims Bayou (29°43.2'N 095°14.5'W) 11.0-12.2 91-213 Thence to: Houston Turning Basin (29°45.0'N 095°17.3'W) 11.0 45-129 Bayport Channel: It is reported (2015) that, following completion of dredging on the North side of the Channel in an area that has been shoaled in, Houston Pilots have advised the maximum draught for the Bayport Channel has returned to 12.1m (fresh water draught).

BA 3188, 8077, 3850, 3849, 3186, 8079. Admiralty Pilot NP69A, NP286(5).

The USCG conducts routine patrols of the Houston Ship Canal and surrounding waterways.

1000.

Compulsory and available 24 hours. Pilots board vessel near Galveston Bay Entrance Channel Approach Lightbuoy 'GB'. Vessels should send request for pilots 8 hours in advance, direct or through agent.

PORTS: The port uses the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System, which integrates real-time environmental observations, forecasts and other geospatial information. It measures and disseminates observations and predictions of water levels, currents, salinity, and meteorological parameters (e.g., winds, atmospheric pressure, air and water temperatures) that mariners need to navigate safely.

..... Galveston Bar-Turning Basin Houston Ship Channel Max LOA Beam (m) (m) 289 41.0 274 41.0 262 36.5 228 35.3 228 32.3 Notes: Max draught at Bolivar Roads (inner) anchorage 10.3m. Max time allowed at anchorage as per USCG regulations, 48 hours. Max draught just before Sims Bayou to turning basin 11.2m, with N'ly winds draughts can be reduced by up to 0.6m. ..... 1. Vessels exceeding LOA 243m or 11.0m draught are restricted to daylight passage only. 2. Vessels exceeding 32m beam but less than 35m beam shall not be allowed to meet ship traffic above Boggy Bayou. 3. Vessels exceeding LOA 213m or draught 11.2m are restricted to daylight passage only. Entire length of Houston Ship Channel: 1. Dead ships restricted to handling/shifting during daylight hours only with 7 days notice required. 2. LNG and LPG tankers exceeding LOA 167m are restricted to daylight transit only. 3. PCC vessels unrestricted up to/including Barbours Cut. 4. It is planned to let Aframax tankers in ballast condition depart the port on a 24 hour basis now the new draught increase has taken place, provided the vessel is equipped with the proper angle indicators/double hull/attain a 0.9m trim by the stern. Between Barbours Cut and Turning Basin, restricted to daylight transit only. Airdraught restrictions: Location Height above MHW (m) 1. Baytown power lines 49.38 2. Beltway 8 Bridge 53.34 3. 610 Loop Bridge 41.15 Vertical Clearances: The channel is crossed by three fixed highway bridges. The lowest vertical clearance is 41.1m in position 29°43.5'N 095°16.0'W. 4 sets of power transmission lines also cross the channel; the lowest vertical clearance of these is 49.4m in position 29°43.6'N 095°01.7'W.

Under ordinary conditions, mean tidal range is 0.2 to 0.4m in the lower and upper parts of Galveston Bay, and 0.15 to 0.3m in the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou. Extreme ranges, under ordinary conditions, are approx 0.6m in the lower part of Galveston Bay, 0.4m in the upper part of the bay and 0.3m in the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou. Height of tides is dependent largely on the wind, and during strong N'ly winds in winter season, the water surface of Galveston Bay may be depressed 0.61m below mean low tide.

Safety warning signals, indicating the state of potentially dangerous oil loading operations, are displayed from a mast at the mouth of Boggy Bayou Basin (29°44'N 095°07'W). A Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) system is in operation in Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel. The VTS area is divided into two sectors: ..... Sector 1 VHF Ch 12 S of a line W from S end of Exxon Dock No 1 (29°43.37'N 095° 01.27'W) Sector 2 VHF Ch 11 N of sector 1 The VTS area consists of the following major waterways and portions of connecting waterways: ..... a) Galveston Bay Entrance Channel b) Outer Bar Channel c) Inner Bar Channel d) Bolivar Roads Channel e) Galveston Channel f) Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and Galveston-Freeport Cut-off from Mile 346 to Mile 352. g) Texas City Channel h) Texas City Turning Basin i) Texas City Canal Channel j) Texas City Canal Turning Basin k) Houston Ship Channel (HSC) l) Bayport Channel m) Bayport Turning Basin n) Houston Turning Basin The following precautionary areas associated with these waterways: ..... Precautionary area name Radius (m) Centred on Bolivar Roads 3,658 29°20.9'N 094°47.0'W Red Fish Bar 3,658 29°29.8'N 094°51.9'W Bayport Channel 3,658 29°36.7'N 094°57.2'W Morgans Point 1,828 29°41.0'N 094°59.0'W Upper San Jacinto Bay 914 29°42.3'N 095°01.1'W Baytown 914 29°43.6'N 095°01.4'W Lynchburg 914 29°45.8'N 095°04.8'W Carpenters Bayou 914 29°45.3'N 095°05.6'W Jacinto Port 914 29°44.8'N 095°06.0'W Greens Bayou 914 29°44.8'N 095°10.2'W Hunting Bayou 914 29°44.3'N 095°12.1'W Sims Bayou 914 29°43.1'N 095°14.4'W Brady Island 914 29°43.5'N 095°16.4'W Buffalo Bayou 914 29°45.0'N 095°17.3'W Vessels should use the appropriate VHF Channel and reports should include vessels name and reporting point identifier. Reporting points: ..... Reporting point Description Position Remarks 1 - Galveston Bay Entrance Channel Lightbuoy GB 29°18.4'N 094°37.6'W 2 - Galveston Bay Entrance Channel Lightbuoys 11 / 12 29°20.6'N 094°44.6'W E - Bolivar Land Cut Mile 349 Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) 29°22.5'N 094°46.9'W Tows entering HSC also report at HSC Lightbuoys 25 / 26 W - Pelican Cut Mile 351 ICW 29°21.4'N 094°48.4'W Tows entering HSC also report at HSC Lightbuoys 25 / 26 GCG - Galveston Harbor USCG Base - at the entrance to Galveston Harbor 29°20.0'N 094°46.5'W T - Texas City Channel Lightbuoy 12 29°22.4'N 094°50.9'W X - Houston Ship Channel (HSC) - ICW Intersection HSC Lightbuoys 25 / 26 29°22.1'N 094°48.1'W Tows entering HSC from ICW or Texas Cut only 3 - Lower Galveston Bay HSC Lightbuoys 31 / 32 29°23.5'N 094°48.8'W 4 - Red Fish Bar HSC Lts 53 - 54 29°30.3'N 094°52.4'W 4A - Upper Galveston Bay HSC buoys 69 / 70 29°34.7'N 094°55.8'W Tows only P - Bayport Ship Channel Lts 8 / 9 29°36.8'N 094°59.5'W Report at the North Land Cut 5 - Morgans Point Lt 91 29°41.0'N 094°58.9'W Abeam Barbers Cut 6 - Exxon Baytown Bend Lt 113 29°43.5'N 095°01.4'W 7 - Lynchburg Ferry Crossing 29°45.8'N 095°04.8'W 8 - Shell Oil Boggy Bayou 29°44.1'N 095°08.0'W 9 - Greens Bayou Greens Bayou 29°44.8'N 095°10.1'W 10 - Hess Turning Basin Hunting Bayou Turning Basin 29°44.3'N 095°12.1'W 11 - Lyondell Turning Basin Sims Bayou Turning Basin 29°43.2'N 095°14.4'W 12 - I-610 Bridge I-610 Bridge 29°43.5'N 095°16.0'W 13 - Houston Turning Basin Buffalo Bayou 29°45.0'N 095°17.4'W

There are 3 tug companies operating from Galveston Bar to the Turning Basin.

Prevailing winds: SE-S'ly, except in Jan, when frequent passages of high pressure areas bring polar air and prevailing N'ly winds.

HOUSTON, TEXAS 29°40.03'N 94°58.80'W UNCTAD LOCODE: US HOU For details see: HOUSTON-GALVESTON PILOT REQUIREMENTS ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________

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Immigration: For crew not to be detained onboard vessel each crew member must have a valid US visa in their passport or Seaman's Book.

Please see country information for details of documentation requirements.

Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information. Additional Information required: ..... 1. ETA pilot station/anchorage 2. Vessel's name and callsign 3. Type of vessel 4. In ballast or loaded (list commodities loaded) 5. If all navigation equipment is in order 6. Confirm all certificates valid. 7. Last 3 ports visited 8. Next port of call (if known) 9. Nationality of all officers and crew. 10. Bow thruster information. Note: Letter of Compliance or Tank Vessels Examination Letter inspections require a minimum of 7 days advance notice.

Safety warning signals, indicating the state of potentially dangerous oil loading operations, are displayed from a mast at the mouth of Boggy Bayou Basin (29°44.0'N 095°07.8'W). Speed must be reduced sufficiently to prevent damage when passing other vessels or structures in the channel. Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.

No action initiated unless there is illness onboard. Ship Sanitation Control Certificates: Please see country information.