Daily Update

Sabine / Neches

February 05, 2025

Notices

Sabine Pilots advise pilot service resumed 0700/05th.
 
As per attached forecast, fog is expected through the 11th.

2025 Channel Closures

Jan 05th – 1900 Pilot service to/from SB Buoy suspended due to high winds/rough seas
Jan 06th – 0630 Pilot service resumed
Jan 09th – 1715 Pilot service suspended due to high winds/rough seas
Jan 10th – 1100 Pilot service resumed
Jan 11th – 0900 Channel draft reduced to 38’ 06” due to channel obstruction
Jan 14th – 0900 Channel draft returned to 40’
Jan 21st – 0001 Pilot service suspended due to weather / icy road conditions
Jan 23rd – 0930 Pilot service resumed
Jan 29th – 0001 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Jan 30th – 0900 Pilot service resumed
Feb 03rd – 0115 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Feb 03rd – 1300 Pilot service resumed
Feb 03rd – 1700 Pilot service suspended
Feb 05th – 0700 Pilot service resumed

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Weather / Marine Zone Forecast

Today: Patchy dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Patchy dense fog before 10pm, then widespread dense fog after 11pm. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph.

Thursday: Widespread dense fog, mainly before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Patchy fog after 8pm. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: Widespread dense fog, mainly before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 79. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Friday Night: Patchy fog between midnight and 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.

Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 70%.


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ATTACHED LATEST WEATHER REPORTS.
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Port / Terminal Restrictions

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

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
Energy Transfer                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
Energy Transfer                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_02052025.pdf(433 KB )
  • Gulf of Mexico Planner - 020525.pdf(1.39 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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