Daily Update
Sabine / Neches
April 26, 2024
Notices
Sabine Pilot Helicopter Trials
April 08, 2024
Vessel owners, terminals, and agents,
This correspondence formally informs you that the Sabine Bank Channel Pilotage Association will conclude its three-month helicopter trial on April 11, 2024.
The trial was to determine whether an airborne pilot delivery method is a financially and logistically feasible alternative for our customers and the Sabine Bank Channel Pilots. While we are still organizing our data, it has become apparent that helicopter use is safer and more efficient than pilot boats alone, and the additional service cost has not hindered its use.
Our helicopter trial officially commenced in week two of January. For the first two months, we serviced vessels at the SB-buoy pilot boarding area by helicopter during daylight hours. For the last 30 days, we have expanded the service to 24 hours daily, with two helicopter crews working 12-hour shifts. Our helicopter service provider (Brim Aviation) has maintained 100% aircraft availability to support marine pilot transfers during this period. By the trial's end, we will have boarded 600 ships and conducted over 700 pilot hoists.
We look forward to sharing more insight into the lessons learned in the coming weeks.
The funding for this helicopter trial was scheduled to run until May 01. We included these additional days to protect against any loss of business that may have occurred if there were changes in shipping patterns or if there had been a long period of channel closure due to events like long-duration fog. We are happy to report that the number of vessels taking pilots at this remote boarding station has remained the same percentage as in 2023, keeping us ahead of our financial obligation to our service provider.
We will cease collecting the additional transportation fee on April 7, 2024, and the cost will return to its pre-January level of $1025.00 per vessel.
We have solicited vessels for any comments they wish to share about the helicopter operation. If you would like to share your thoughts about this program, please provide comments to feedback@sabinepilots.com
Once the data review is completed, the benefits of balancing pilot transfer operations between traditional pilot launch and helicopter methods will become evident. In the coming weeks, we hope to provide actionable documentation to the Sabine-Neches community to demonstrate the efficiency gains and additional opportunities this service offers vessels and terminals.
Wesley Moore
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
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
Apr 09th – 2035 Pilot service suspended due to high winds/seas
Apr 10th – 1030 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
* 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: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Tonight: Cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Southeast wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Windy, with a southeast wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Tonight: Cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Southeast wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Windy, with a southeast wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
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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.
* 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.