Daily Update
Sabine / Neches
March 12, 2024
Notices
Sabine Pilot Helicopter Trials
To Whom It May Concern,
This correspondence is to formally notify you that the Sabine Bank Pilots will be conducting a three-month helicopter trial commencing on January 1, 2024. Brim Aviation will be the aviation contractor conducting the trial. One (1) MD 902 helicopter, capable of carrying up to three Sabine Pilots, will be used during this trial period.
The purpose of the trial is to determine whether an airborne pilot delivery method is a financially and logistically feasible alternative for our customers and the Sabine Pilots relative to vessel boardings and disembarkations on the Sabine Bank channel, which is currently in the process of being extended by 13.2 miles. We are conducting this helicopter trial prior to the completion of the bank channel extension as part of our continuing efforts to ensure we are providing the safest, most reliable, and cost-effective pilotage services that our customers have come to expect from us.
The first two months of the trial period will be conducted during daylight hours while beginning on the third month of the trial period, we will start utilizing the helicopter 24 hours a day. During the trial period, the helicopter will be used in conjunction with the pilot boats. In that regard, pilot boats will continue to be utilized for boardings and disembarkations at the inner boarding station located at Buoys 29 and 30, while the helicopter will be utilized outside the inner boarding station. Only select Sabine Pilots will be transported via helicopter during this trial period.
The funding for this helicopter trial will come from a temporary increase in the current boat/transportation fee that is charged to vessels that request their pilots to board or disembark at or beyond the Sabine Bank Buoy. The current charge per vessel is $1,025.00. We will increase this charge to $2,480.00 per pilot delivered during the trial period and for one month after it concludes, as we anticipate that a four-month increase in the transportation fee will result in a better estimation of the annual costs that would be incurred in the event the helicopter is eventually adopted for use on a permanent basis. Again, this increase is temporary and is being imposed solely to offset the increased costs that will be associated with the helicopter trial. Once the helicopter trial is concluded, the boat/transportation fee will return to $1,025.00 per vessel beginning on May 1, 2024.
We believe that the contemplated implementation of helicopter transportation will increase the Sabine Pilots’ ability to serve you and the Sabine Pilots’ other customers as we continue our ongoing efforts to preserve safety in and around some of the most challenging waterways in the nation while still maintaining smooth, efficient and uninterrupted maritime operations and commerce.
If you have any questions concerning the helicopter trial, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Andrew Guidry
President, Sabine Pilots
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2024 Channel Closures
Jan 05th – 0905 Pilot service suspended due to high winds / rough seas
Jan 05th – 1630 Pilot service resumed
Jan 12th – 0230 Pilot service suspended due to poor visibility
2024 Channel Closures
Jan 05th – 0905 Pilot service suspended due to high winds / rough seas
Jan 05th – 1630 Pilot service resumed
Jan 12th – 0230 Pilot service suspended due to poor visibility
Jan 12th – 0900 Pilot service resumed
Jan 12th – 1030 Pilot service suspended offshore due to high winds
Jan 12th – 2000 Pilot service resumed
Jan 15th – 1600 Pilot service suspended due to freezing temps and icy road conditions
Jan 12th – 2000 Pilot service resumed
Jan 15th – 1600 Pilot service suspended due to freezing temps and icy road conditions
Jan 16th – 1400 Pilot service resumed
Jan 18th – 0430 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Jan 18th – 0430 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Jan 19th – 0600 Pilot service resumed
Jan 22nd – 1904 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Jan 24th – 1000 Pilot service resumed
Feb 02nd – 0900 Channel closed above Port Arthur turning basin to remove sunken vehicle
Feb 02nd – 1600 Channel open
Feb 10th – 0445 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Feb 10th – 1030 Pilot service resumed
Feb 10th – 2100 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Feb 10th – 1530 Pilot service resumed
Feb 11th – 1900 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Feb 11th – 2330 Pilot service resumed
Feb 22nd – 2310 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Feb 23rd – 0600 Pilot service resumed
Feb 27th – 0145 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Feb 27th – 0145 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Feb 27th – 0900 Pilot service resumed
Feb 27th – 2130 Pilot service limited to one way traffic due to fog
Feb 28th – 0300 Pilot service resumed two way traffic
Mar 02nd – 1730 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Mar 03rd – 1000 Pilot service resumed
Mar 03rd – 1740 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Mar 05th – 1200 Pilot service resumed
Mar 08th – 0550 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Mar 08th – 2200 Pilot service resumed
General Channel Restrictions/Info
Weather / Marine Zone Forecast
Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Tonight: Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind around 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
Tonight: Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind around 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
Port / Terminal Restrictions
* Max Safe Draft 40ft FW
* Air Draft above Valero Terminal – Less than 136ft for passing 3 fixed bridges
* 800ft wide channel from 29/30 Buoy to Texaco Island
* 400ft wide channel from Texas Island to Port of Beaumont
* “SB” Buoy is located at Lat. 29-25N Lon. 93-40W
* Navigational Charts NOAA 11341, 11342 & 11343 cover the entire waterway
* Sabine Pilots www.sabinepilots.com
Sabine Pilot Restrictions
* Vessels 85,000 DWT or over, 875 FT LOA or over or 125FT beam or over will transit during daylight hours only above Texaco Island. Only one (1) of the limitations has to be met to restrict a vessel.
* Daylight Restriction times are based on the daylight hours and are adjusted according to sun rise/sun set. Current times as follows, the terminals shown are the ones that handle Aframax size vessels which are typically daylight restricted.
(INBOUND)
ExxonMobil 0500-1030 Hrs Approx Transit time “SB” Buoy to Berth – 8hrs
Enterprise BMW 0500-1130 Hrs
Sun Terminal 0500-1200 Hrs
Phillips 66 0500-1200 Hrs
Motiva PN 0500-1330 Hrs
Total 0500-1400 Hrs Approx Transit time “SB” Buoy to Berth – 5.5hrs
(OUTBOUND)
ExxonMobil 0600-1400 Hrs
Enterprise BMW 0600-1430 Hrs
Sun Terminal 0600-1500 Hrs
Phillips 66 0600-1530 Hrs
Motiva PN 0600-1530 Hrs
Total 0600-1430 Hrs
* Vessels with the combined beam of one-half the width of the channel will not meet/pass day or night.
* Any vessel that meets or exceeds either or both 860FT LOA or 120FT beam will require two pilots.
Vessels that do not exceed the above size restrictions can transit day or night consistent with other port traffic movements. Vessels that are daylight restricted will generally have priority to move before non-daylight restricted vessels.
