PCT Conference Call Update

Monday, September 9, 2024

Tropical Storm FRANCINE

The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Lake Charles held a Port Coordination Team (PCT) conference call at 1300 hours today to update industry partners on the impending arrival of Tropical Storm FRANCINE upon vessel traffic along the Lake Charles Ship Channel/Calcasieu River. 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 1PM CDT, the center of Tropical Storm Francine was located near latitude 23.7 North, longitude 95.8 West.

·    Francine is moving toward the north-northwest near 5 mph (7 km/h) and a slow north-northwestward motion is expected for the remainder of the day, followed by a faster motion to the northeast beginning on Tuesday.

·    On the forecast track, Francine is anticipated to be just offshore of the northern Gulf Coast of Mexico on Tuesday and approaching the Louisiana and Upper Texas coastline on Wednesday.

 

·    Recent Air Force reconnaissance data indicates that maximum sustained winds have increased to 60 mph with higher gusts.

·    Additional intensification is expected over the next day with more significant intensification forecast on Tuesday night and Wednesday.

·    Francine is expected to become a hurricane before it reaches the northwestern U.S. Gulf Coast on Wednesday.

·    Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles from the center.

 

·    Landfall is expected in Vermillion Parish around 7PM on Wednesday near Intracoastal City

·    Tropical-storm-force winds to reach Lake Charles by late Tuesday or early Wednesday

·    Offshore conditions will be very rough

·    Expecting tides 2-4 feet above normal Tuesday night through Wednesday midday, then as winds shift around to the north, anticipate lower than normal tides.

·    2-6 inches rain, starting midday Tuesday; heaviest rainfall late Tuesday into Wednesday

·    Maximum wind gusts anticipated in Lake Charles 45-50 mph late Tuesday into Wednesday

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

 

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Louisiana coast from Cameron eastward to Grand Isle.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Barra del Tordo, Mexico, to the Mouth of the Rio Grande, the Mouth of the Rio Grande to Port Mansfield, East of High Island Texas to Cameron Louisiana, East of Grand Isle to Mouth of the Pearl River, Lake Pontchartrain & Lake Maurepas.

Coastal Watches/Warnings and Forecast Cone for Storm Center

Satellite Loop: Tropical Storm Francine at 12:50PM

Remarks from Coast Guard MSU Lake Charles:

·    MSIB 28-24 set Port Condition Whiskey yesterday afternoon

·    MSIB 29-24 set Port Condition X-Ray since 12PM today

·    Expecting to set Port Condition Yankee 8AM tomorrow morning

·    When Port Condition Yankee is set, all oceangoing traffic should be scheduled to vacate the port

·    Otherwise, all “Requests to Remain in Port” must be completed and submitted ASAP today

Lake Charles Pilots:

·    8 ships currently in port, 4 sailing before midnight

·    2 LNG ships in port, with 1 sailing before 10AM tomorrow

·    Anticipate suspension of operations by 6PM tomorrow

·    The pilot boat will collect the final outbound pilot at 4:30PM tomorrow

·    That leaves 3 ships remaining in port

·    Hope to resume ship traffic by midday on Thursday, depending upon offshore sea conditions

Port of Lake Charles:

Open for Safe Harbor layby berthing

 

Agents are reminded to keep CBP and Lake Charles 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.

 

MSU Lake Charles has scheduled another PCT conference call for tomorrow afternoon at 1300. Your WGMA Maritime Affairs team will participate on all PCT calls and report updates to our membership.