<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#141414">March 29, 2020
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Good morning Port Bureau Members:
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Our main phone line (713) 678-4300 will remain operational Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. If you have information you would like us to share,
such as your company's operational status, please send us an email to
info@txgulf.org. Thank you for your continued support.
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Port of Houston status:<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">The port of Houston (public and private terminals) are operating normally.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">The Houston Pilots moved 21 arrivals, 33 departures, and 6 shifts yesterday. This is near average.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">For today, they have already completed 2 departures and 3 shifts. They have boarded 11 arrivals and 7 departures, and there are 13 arrivals, 7 departures,
and 1 shift in the queue.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">US Coast Guard has issued a national
MSIB regarding the modification of inspection protocol.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Texas ports – no known closures due to COVID-19
<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">(no change from yesterday):
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Galveston Wharves at the Port of Galveston<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">
remains open and continues to move cargo at its terminals. Currently, all terminals are open and operating with the exception of the two cruise terminals. Four of the five cruise ships that homeport in Galveston are docked
at the two cruise terminals and sailing periodically with only crew members onboard while daily maintenance is being performed.
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Port of Corpus Christi<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">
continues normal operations and does not anticipate significant impacts by the “stay at home” order issued March 25 by Nueces County.
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Port of Brownsville<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> is currently operating under the existing
communications protocol dealing with its overall comprehensive emergency plan. On March 27, Brownsville Navigation District (BND) unanimously approved the deferral of the previously scheduled May 2nd commission elections until November 3rd.
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Port Freeport<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> is maintaining regular services levels and normal
terminal operations. All terminals along the Freeport Harbor Channel are operational and conducting vessel operations. Information regarding any changes to operations at Port Freeport will be distributed via the Port’s website (www.portfreeport.com/about/covid19),
the Port’s emergency notification system and other means as needed.
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Other ports:<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">
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Panama Canal<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">, per Panama Ministry of Health protocols,
does not permit vessels with individuals who have test positive for COVID-19 to conduct port operations (transit the canal). However, the Ministry of Health is granting
two cruise ships a humanitarian exemption to transit from Chile to Florida.
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Georgia Ports Authority<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">
reports that Georgia’s ports continue steady operation with normal, 24-hour vessel operations and terminal services, as well as Monday-Friday truck gate hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Savannah.
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Port of New Orleans<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> (Port NOLA) cargo operations and New Orleans
Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) operations continue to function as normal. Cruises are suspended until at least April 14. (https://www.portnola.com/info/coronavirus-covid-19-information).
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Port of South Louisiana cargo operations continue as normal. (http://portsl.com/port-status/)
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Sector New Orleans
<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">is requesting all vessel Masters complete an
attestation letter regarding the health of their crew.
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Federal/state/agency updates:<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">The $2.2 trillion CARES Act passed Friday
includes a provision for Congress to be able to spend all future annual receipts to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. The provision does not allow Congress to spend the monies already in the HMFT.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">March 28: CISA issued
version 2 of guidance on critical infrastructure workforce. This guidance expands or clarifies the guidance on what constitutes a critical infrastructure worker. Some key additions/updates for port-related industries:
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">(New) Transportation supporting animal agricultural industries.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">(New) Energy/commodity trading/scheduling/marketing functions, who can't perform their duties remotely.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">(Expanded) Maritime transportation workers, including dredgers, port workers, mariners, ship crewmembers, ship pilots and tug boat operators, equipment
operators (to include maintenance and repair, and maritime-specific medical providers), ship supply, chandler, and repair companies.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">(New) Workers who support the inspection and maintenance of aids to navigation, and other government provided services that ensure continued maritime commerce.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">(New) Workers who support necessary credentialing, vetting and licensing operations for transportation workers.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">The Governor of Texas has issued an
order effective at noon on March 28 requiring that persons arriving by air from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or New Orleans be quarantined for 14 days. The order allows the Governor to extend the quarantine to other
points of origin. While workers in critical infrastructure are exempted, the Texas Division of Emergency Management has declined to follow the CISA guidelines for critical infrastructure workers and will instead require each individual to apply for exemption.
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Helpful COVID-19 links:<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">
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Greater Houston Port Bureau
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US Coast Guard
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US Coast Guard Sector
Houston-Galveston
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Department of Homeland
Security
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Centers for Disease Control
& Prevention
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Harris County Public Health
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Houston Emergency Operations
Center
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Lone Star Harbor Safety
Committee
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Small Business Administration
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U.S. Government/White
House
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State of Texas
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FEMA Rumor Control
Transportation Security Administration
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State of Texas COVID-19
Strike force