Daily Update

Sabine / Neches

April 09, 2024

Notices

Sabine Pilots advise pilot service was suspended 2035/09th due to high winds / rough seas offshore.

Sabine Pilot Helicopter Trials
 
Please see the attached document concerning the ending of Sabine Bank Channel Pilotage Association's helicopter trial.
 
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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
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 16th – 1400 Pilot service resumed
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 – 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
Mar 14th – 0245 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Mar 14th – 1100 Pilot service resumed
Mar 14th – 2130 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Mar 15th – 1100 Pilot service resumed
Mar 21st – 1145 Pilot service suspended due to high winds/seas
Mar 22nd – 0600 Pilot service resumed
General Channel Restrictions/Info

*   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

Weather / Marine Zone Forecast

Today: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 69. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms before 10am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 10am and 1pm. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 81. South wind 10 to 20 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. West wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 51. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 82.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83.

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ATTACHED LATEST WEATHER REPORTS.
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Port / Terminal Restrictions

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
Jefferson Terminal          0500-1100 Hrs
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
Jefferson Terminal          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.

Attachments

  • Gulf of Mexico Sea Fog Forecast_04092024.pdf(495 KB )
  • Gulf of Mexico Planner - 040924.pdf(1.42 MB )

Disclaimer: For quality assurance purposes please note well that while the information contained in this website is regularly vetted for accuracy it is not intended to replace the local knowledge or expertise pertaining to port conditions of our marine operations personnel.

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