Texas City (USTXT)

The port has dry and liquid bulk and petroleum facilities for foreign and coastal trade in chemicals, fertiliser, petroleum, tin ore and commodities.

Summer.

The port of Texas City is situated on the W side of Galveston Bay, 17.6km inland from the Gulf of Mexico, 8km N of Galveston and 72km S of Houston.

LOA 277.17m, beam 50m, draught 13.4m, 164,751DWT.

Approx 30,000,000t of cargo and 1,100 vessels handled annually.

The outer harbour, known as Bolivar Roads, is shared by Texas City, Galveston and Houston. Vessels may anchor off the bar in the Galveston entrance anchorages just inshore of the intersection of the Galveston safety fairway with the Coastwise Fairway. An anchorage area, for temporary use only, is N of the realigned Inner Bar Channel, W of the spoil areas in Bolivar Roads. In all instances, vessels must anchor sufficiently clear of all active channels so as not to interfere with navigation or the usefulness of any established aids to navigation. Because of heavy traffic, Galveston Channel can be used for temporary anchorage by vessels preparing to move in to berth at wharves or after leaving the wharves before going to sea. Small craft anchoring in the designated areas should use the shallower portion so as to leave the deeper areas clear for larger vessels. Galveston Harbor, Bolivar Roads: The anchorage area: North-east Fairway Anchorage (mid-position 29°17.0'N 094°30.0'W) in 12.0-15.0m, keeping clear of charted dangers. South-west Fairway Anchorage (mid-position 29°11.0'N 094°37.0'W) in 9.0-17.0m, keeping clean of charted dangers. Bolivar Roads 'A' Anchorage (mid-position 29°21.0'N 094°44.0'W) in 9.4m, temporary anchorage, for vessels not less than 6.7m in draught, for periods not normally exceeding 48 hours without authorisation from the COTP. Bolivar Roads 'B' Anchorage (mid-position 29°21.0'N 094°45.2'W) in 6.4-10.3m, keeping clear of charted obstructions, a temporary anchorage. Bolivar Roads 'C' Anchorage (mid-position 29°21.0'N 094°46.4'W) in 3.0-11.0m, keeping clear of charted obstructions, a temporary anchorage, for vessels not less than 4.9m in draught, for periods not normally exceeding 48 hours without authorisation from the COTP. ..... The Regulations: 1. The anchorage area is for the temporary use of vessels of all types, but especially for naval and merchant vessels awaiting weather and other conditions favourable to the resumption of their voyages. 2. Except when weather makes sailing impractical or hazardous, vessels shall not anchor in the anchorage area for periods exceeding 48 hours unless expressly authorised by the Captain of the Port. 3. Vessels shall not anchor so as to obstruct the passage of other vessels proceeding to or from available spaces. 4. Anchors shall not be placed in the channel and no portion of the hull or rigging of any anchored vessel shall extend outside the limits of the anchorage area. 5. Vessels using spuds for anchors shall anchor as close to shore as practicable, having due regard for the provisions in paragraph (3) of this section. 6. Fixed moorings, piles or stakes and floats or buoys for marking anchorages or mooring in place are prohibited. 7. Whenever the maritime or commercial interests of the US so require, the Captain of the Port, or his authorised representative, is hereby empowered to shift the position of any vessel anchored or moored within the anchorage area.

The Port Authority should be consulted for latest controlling depths. Approach is from the ESE by dredged channels leading from the entrance to Galveston Bay. Entry is made along Texas City Channel, marked by light buoys and light beacons. The main ship channel to Texas City has been dredged by 1.5m to a depth of 14.0m. Connection anchorage and turning basin is approx 9.6km in length with bottom width 121m and depth 12.1m at MLT, navigable day or night. Protected from the NNE by an earth and rip-rap dyke. Berths are situated on the W side of Texas City turning basin. Industrial canal: Extending from S end of turning basin westward approx 3.2km being 76m wide with 12.0m depth at MLT. Turning Basin: Approx length 1,280m and width 365m with a depth of 12.1m MLT fronting on all slips and protected from the sea by a man-made island.

BA 3186, 3854, 3850, 3849. Admiralty Pilot NP69A, NP286(5).

USCG stations are situated at Galveston Base (29°20.0'N 094°46.0'W) on the E side of Galveston Channel, at Houston Air Station (29°37.0'N 095°10.0'W) at the Ellington Air Force Base and at Houston Port Safety Station (29°44.0'N 095° 15.0'W) about 2.5nm below Houston Turning Basin. Search and rescue capabilities and may also provide lookout, communication and/or patrol functions to assist vessels in distress.

1025.

Ships and ocean going barges: Mooring line requirements: ..... 1. Overall vessel length of 137m and over shall use a minimum of 7 lines (3 head/stern lines, 2 spring lines and 2 breast lines). 2. Overall vessel length of under 137m shall use a minimum of 6 lines (2 head/stern lines, 2 spring lines and 2 breast lines). Barges: Mooring line requirements shall consist of a minimum of 6 lines (2 head lines, 2 stern lines, 1 forward spring line and 1 aft spring line).

Compulsory. Galveston-Texas City Pilots: Request via local agent 1 hour 30 minutes in advance, to arrange pilot and specify boarding time. NW Gulf Federal Pilots: The NW Gulf Federal Pilots can provide pilotage to U.S. vessels from the Galveston Bay Entrance Channel Approach Light Buoy GB to ports in Galveston, Pelican Island, Texas City, and the Bolivar Roads anchorage. Request for pilots (preferably by telephone or email) should be made 9 hours prior to arrival at the GB Lightbuoy (29°14.75'N 094°32.69'W), including the following details: ..... 1. ETA 2. Draught 3. Berth schedule 4. Tug assistance - anchorage 5. Other requirements - anchorage Pilot service operates on a 24 hour all year round basis. Pilot boarding position located East of Galveston bay entrance at Channel, Buoy No. 1A/2A (29°18.5'N 94°37.00'W), speed for Pilot Boarding is about 10-11kts. Pilots disembark at Galveston Bay entrance Channel, Buoy No.1B/2B, by turning vessel to 180° heading. There is a shallow patch of 11.8m depth, 0.8nm SE of Buoy No.1B/2B. If vessel drawing more than 9m draught, advise Pilots well in advance to disembark at Buoy No.1A/2A. Note: Vessels should request port entry via agent, no les than 3 hours prior to arrival, by telephone or fax.

The Texas City Dyke that extends approx 4.5nm into Galveston Bay, the 3 elevated tanks in the port area and the numerous cracking towers of the oil refineries and chemical plants are conspicuous.

The controlling draught from the pilot station to Texas City is 11m MLT. Houston/Texas City/Galveston area during the winter months with a strong N'ly wind blowing, for several days, may lower the water to a level 0.6-0.9m below MLT.

Range 0.45m.

Vessel Movement Reporting System (VMRS). Full details of all US VTS schemes in 'Country General Information'. Within the VTS, a VMRS has been established to manage and track vessel movements within the VTS area, and is compulsory for the following: ..... 1. Power driven vessels of 40m or more in length, while navigating; 2. Towing vessels of 8.0m or more, while navigating; 3. Vessels certificated to carry 50 or more passengers for hire, when engaged in trade. Reporting Points: Using the appropriate sector Primary VHF Channel, a VTS User should report vessel's name and Reporting Point Designator- 'name or location of vessel' when passing the following points; ..... Reporting Point Description Position 1 - Galveston Bay Entrance Channel Lightbuoy "GB" 29°18.4'N 094°37.6'W 2 - Galveston Bay Entrance Channel Lightbuoy "11/12" 29°20.6'N 094°44.6'W T - Texas City Channel Lightbuoy "12" 29°22.4'N 094°50.9'W

Tugs are available at Texas City for berthing movements. They are not normally used for the transit to and from Bolivar Roads.

Prevailing winds: S'ly.

TEXAS CITY, TEXAS 29°22.86'N 94°53.01'W UNCTAD LOCODE: US TXT For details see: HOUSTON-GALVESTON PILOT REQUIREMENTS GALVESTON PILOT REQUIREMENTS ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________

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..... Port (24hrs): VHF: Ch 16, 14, 66,77. Tel: +1 409 9455011, +1 409 9454461. Fax: +1 409 9488736. Email: harbormaster@tctrr.com Website: http://www.tctrr.com Galveston-Texas City Pilots (24hrs): VHF: Ch 14, 16, 73. Tel: +1 409 7403336, +1 409 7403690. Fax: +1 409 7403393. Website: http://www.galvestonpilots.com NW Gulf Federal Pilots VHF: Ch 13, 16, 68,69,72. (24hrs): Tel: +1 409 7815522. Fax: +1 409 8425345. Email: ggant@nwgulffedpilot.com ggant10213@sbcglobal.net Website: http://www.nwgulffedpilot.com Vessel Traffic: Sector 1 VHF: Ch 12. Sector 2 VHF: Ch 11. Secondary VHF: Ch 13.

The US Customs board on arrival. The nearest Customs port of entry is Galveston.

Please see country information for details of documentation requirements.

Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.

Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information. A safety zone has been established in the area of Texas City turning basin and its NE approach. Access to the zone is limited to authorised persons, vehicles and vessels only. Mooring or stopping, unless in emergency, is prohibited.

Officials usually inspect vessels at their berths. No action initiated unless there is illness onboard. Ship Sanitation Control Certificates: Please see country information.