Daily Update
Port of Houston
June 18, 2024
Notices
Current Status: OPEN
Elevated Winds and Seas + Thunderstorms This Week
Threat Time: 5AM LT Monday through 12PM LT Friday
Primary Impacts
Winds: 20 to 30 knots
Wind Gusts: In excess of 45 knots possible
Seas: 8-11 feet
Thunderstorms Likely
Discussion: A developing trough of low pressure over the Western Caribbean/Bay of Campeche combined with strong ridging to the north will transport copious amounts of tropical moisture northward into the basin through the middle of the coming week. These two large-scale weather features will act to tighten the pressure gradient, steadily increasing winds and sending rough swells from the south/southeast. Thunderstorm activity will increase this morning while winds may become sustained at around 20 knots with gusts to 30 knots in addition to seas building over 7 feet and likely upwards of 9-10 feet through Monday night. Peak seas of around 9-11 feet look possible Tuesday afternoon and evening, with sustained winds around 25-30 knots gusting over 40 knots at times. Widespread thunderstorm activity will likely be today through Wednesday evening before this shifts inland. Embedded wind gusts over 45 knots with locally elevated swells are likely with some convection. During the middle of the week, the ridging to the north will break down with troughing becoming more zonal and reducing swells. Seas should drop below advisory levels Thursday night or early Friday morning with winds becoming moderate/fresh sustained.
On another tropical note, confidence right now is increasing on a system organizing over the Bay of Campeche this coming week. Developing weather patterns would suggest that any system that does form would be shoved westward towards Mexico. Regardless of tropical organization, elevated winds and seas with scattered thunderstorm activity is likely.
USCG HOUSTON COC INSPECTIONS
USCG Sector Houston will no longer accept COC exam requests seeking a date more than 10 calendar days in advance. Additionally, SHG will normally not accept new requests made less than 24 hours advance.
OFF-SIGNERS:
CBP Houston does not permit off-signers to stay in hotel to await their flights home. They must go direct for vessel to IAH for their flights.
Valid C1-D USA visa is required for all off-signers by CBP Houston, on very rare occasions will exception be made by CBP Houston.
Galveston/Texas City Port Information
Galveston/Texas City Port Information
Current Status: CLOSED AT 2100/17TH DUE TO HEAVY WEATHER
Galveston pilots:
Draft Information:
For current draft information, please contact local Moran agent.
- 281-534-2501 (24 Hours)
- Gal@MoranShipping.com
2023 Port Galveston Closures:
Please note that closure updates are prone to change, and will be updated upon notification of closures.
For Historical Port closure information please contact local Moran agent. Please see contact info above.
Weather / Marine Zone Forecast
Weather report:
Tide Report:
Port Galveston Report:
- https://marineweather.net/coastal/galveston-bay-coastal-forecast
- https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS54.KHGX.html
Galveston Offshore Lightering area:
Port / Terminal Restrictions
Galveston pilot restrictions:
- Vessels must commence at least (2) hours before sunset, and not before sunrise.
Galveston Bar to ports of Galveston County:
- Vessels over 120,000 DWT
- (Daylight hours only) for arrivals and sailings, but may be shifted or turned at night within Galveston or Texas City
- May sail from Bolivar Roads at night
- A second pilot is required
- Vessels with draft over 40 feet
- Daylight hours only
- Vessels with LOA of 860 feet or more a second pilot is required
Galveston Bar to Bolivar Roads:
- LNG tankers shall be daylight only coming into Bolivar Roads.
- They may sail from Bolivar Roads at night.
Galveston Bar to Port of Texas City:
- The maximum length limit of any vessel handled in the Texas City main basin shall be 1,000 feet.
- Ships, seagoing barges, and other large vessels are restricted from passing each other in the Texas City Channel or the Carbide Canal.
- Vessel coming out of Houston has priority over vessel leaving Texas City at the same time.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
NOAA US GULF OFFSHORE WATER WEATHER
GALVESTON WEB CAMS
KEMAH, TX WEB CAMS
BAYTOWN WEB CAMS
https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/forecast/webcams/baytown_united-states-of-america_4672731
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard
SECTOR HOUSTON-GALVESTON
SECTOR HOUSTON-GALVESTON (08-37170)
13411 HILLARD ST.
HOUSTON TX
Primary Phone: 281-464-4800
Emergency Phone: 281-464-4800
Fax Number: 281-464-4814
Rescue 21 VHF DSC MMSI Number: 003669915
Response Phone: 281-464-4851
Incident Mgmt. Phone: 281-464-4898
Enforcement Phone: 281-464-4862
Prevention Phone: 281-464-4700
Inspection Phone: 281-464-4732/4733
Investigations Phone: 281-464-4709
Waterways Management Phone: 281-464-4891/4890
Prep/Planning Phone: 281-464-4720
Facilities Branch Phone: 409-978-2711
Commercial Fishing Vessel Phone: 281-464-4732
Facility Inspection Branch Phone: 281-464-4709
National Response Center Number: 800-424-8802 - Contact the NRC for oil spills, hazmat releases.
Area of Responsibility
Sector Houston-Galveston encompasses an area extending from the east bank of the Colorado River in southwest Texas to 60 miles east of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The Sector’s northern boundary aligns with the Texas- Oklahoma border and encompasses Lake Texoma. The southern border extends 200 miles offshore to the seaward
extent of the U.S. exclusive economic zone. The unit includes two separate Captain of the Port (COTP) zones and major maritime centers including Houston, Beaumont,
Lake Charles, Texas City, Port Arthur, Freeport and Galveston.