Below information provided courtesy of WGMA.

The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Port Arthur’s Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) held a Port Coordination Team (PCT) conference call at 1100 hours today to update industry partners on the impending arrival of Tropical Storm FRANCINE upon vessel traffic along the Sabine/Neches Waterway. Your WGMA Maritime Affairs team participated on the call and has the following report for our membership:

From the National Weather Service briefing, and other sources:

·     At 10AM CDT, the center of Tropical Storm Francine was located near latitude 24.9 North, longitude 95.6 West.

·     Francine is moving toward the north-northeast near 8 mph (13 km/h). 

·     A turn to the northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected later today or tonight. 

·     On the forecast track, Francine is anticipated to be just offshore of the coasts of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas through this afternoon, and then move across the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, making landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday. 

·     After landfall, the center is expected to move into Mississippi on Wednesday night or Thursday.

·     Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. 

·     Strengthening is expected through Wednesday morning, and Francine will likely become a hurricane later today or tonight. 

·     Francine is expected to weaken quickly after landfall.

·     Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center.

Watches & Warnings:

·     A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for High Island Texas to the Mississippi/Alabama Border, Vermilion Bay, Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain.

·     A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast from Sabine Pass eastward to Grand Isle.

·     A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Mississippi/Alabama Border to the Alabama/Florida Border and Mobile Bay.

·     A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for High Island to Sabine Pass, the Mouth of the Rio Grande to Port Mansfield, La Pesca Mexico to the Mouth of the Rio Grande, East of Grand Isle Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama border, including metropolitan New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.

·     A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Barra del Tordo to La Pesca Mexico, Port Mansfield to High Island Texas, and the Alabama coast from the Mississippi/Alabama border to the Alabama/Florida border.

 

Satellite Loop: Tropical Storm Francine

Remarks from Coast Guard MSU Port Arthur & Vessel Traffic Service Port Arthur:

·     Expecting limited impacts from the storm

·     Storm surge and gusty winds, minimal rainfall

·     Under Port Condition Yankee all cargo operations must be stopped

·     Anticipate going to Port Condition Zulu at 8PM today, September 10th

MSIB 30-24: Port Condition Yankee set 8AM today, September 10th

MSIB 29-24: Port Condition X-Ray set 12PM yesterday, September 9th

MSIB 28-24: Port Condition Whiskey set 12PM Sunday, September 8th

Sabine Pilots:

·     In the process of sailing numerous ships outbound

·     Additional ships being scheduled for departure and/or shifts

·     Don’t want to do any pilot transfers after dark this evening

·     If anyone wants to get their ship out, they need to get their orders in ASAP

Agents are reminded to keep CBP and Sabine Pilots updated with your vessel's status for movement, and to make sure that the ship's eNOA/D are kept updated to avoid any problems.

 

WGMA members are reminded that our partners DTN WeatherOps can provide customized weather reports for your specific area, and their seasonal Fog Forecast gives you a 7-day outlook of fog for every port on the US Gulf Coast. Contact WGMA Maritime Affairs to sign up to receive these reports.

 

VTS Port Arthur has scheduled another PCT conference call for tomorrow morning at 1100. Your WGMA Maritime Affairs team will participate on all PCT calls and report updates to our membership.