<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#141414">March 31, 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 27 arrivals, 34 departures, and 3 shifts yesterday. This is slightly more than average.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">For today, they have already completed 7 arrivals and 2 departures. They have boarded 3 arrivals, 4 departures, and 2 shifts, and there are 12 arrivals,
7 departures, and 1 shift in the queue.
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CAPT Diehl’s monthly “Captain’s
Corner” discusses what business leaders should start thinking about in case they have a COVID-19 case at their business.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">The Houston Pilots have updated their COVID-19
preventative measures.
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Texas ports – no known closures due to COVID-19:<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">
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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. The Board will meet at 9:00 am today.
Click here for instructions on how to submit comments and livestream the meeting. (Last update 3/30)
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Carnival Cruise Line<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> announced on March 30 that they would be
canceling sailings through May 11.
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Royal Caribbean Cruises<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> has asked for a
one-year extension to begin construction on its new $100 million cruise terminal. This is on the agenda for today’s Board meeting. They announced on March 31 that
sailings through May 11 would be canceled.
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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. (Last update 3/25)
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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. (Last update 3/27)
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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. (Last update 3/31)
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Other ports:<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">
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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. (Last update 3/30)
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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 as we monitor and respond to the rapidly evolving situation associated with COVID-19. (https://www.portnola.com/info/coronavirus-covid-19-information).
(Last update 3/20)
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Port of South Louisiana<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> cargo operations
continue as normal. (Last update 3/30)
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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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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Port of Mobile
<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">is open and operational.
Effective March 25,
mandatory temperature screening is in place. (Last update 3/25)
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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">(Update) 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. As of noon on March 30, the
order will be extended to include the states of California, Louisiana, and Washington, and the cities of Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and Miami. Note that the quarantine orders for Louisiana apply to both air and road travel.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Companies can request a waiver for critical infrastructure employees:
https://tdem.texas.gov/ga-11-and-ga-12-travel-exemption-form/
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">March 30: Judge Hidalgo said in a press briefing that Harris County’s ‘stay home, work safe’ order will be extended past April 3, but a target date has
not been set.
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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">March 30: The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas released its monthly
Texas Manufacturing Outlook, showing a sharp contraction in manufacturing. Several key indices are the lowest they have been since the Great Recession in 2009. The Dallas Fed also released findings from a series of
special questions regarding COVID-19, showing that 83.5% of responding businesses have increased uncertainty about their businesses.
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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