Freeport

WGMA Report<span-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:white">

<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000B3">The US Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston’s Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) held a Port Coordination Team (PCT) conference call this morning at 0900 hours to look at the traffic situation on the Houston Ship Channel and surrounding region, in view of the last several days of foggy conditions and in anticipation of continued foggy conditions throughout the area for the next few days. Your WGMA Maritime Affairs team participated on the call and has the following report for our membership: <span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

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National Weather Service:<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000B3"> Currently dense sea fog sits along the beachfront across the Texas coastline, reducing visibility from 2-3 miles to less than ½ mile at times. A persistent onshore flow will create a warm, moist air mass over relatively cool sea surface temperatures just offshore and including inland bay areas. As a result, areas of dense fog will be possible into Thursday afternoon with visibility below 2 nm at times. Anticipate disruptive fog across the region until Sunday at best.<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000B3">From the VTS perspective: <span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000B3">There are no restrictions in place at this time. As always, once we begin resumption of traffic, VTS will look at the traffic situation and may impose restrictions such as one-way traffic and traffic separation. Please try to reduce the time of stay in the anchorages at Bolivar, so that places are available when one is needed.<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

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Various stakeholders<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000B3"> reported their priority vessel movement requirements. There were no emergent situations mentioned.<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

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Houston Pilots<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000B3"> advised they have 14 vessels awaiting departure, 1 for shifting and 17 awaiting inbound transit. Once conditions improve, they will start outbound departures first. <span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

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Galveston-Texas City Pilots<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000B3"> advised they suspended vessel movements this morning at 0515 hours, after moving a cruise ship. They currently have 6 vessels awaiting departure and 6 awaiting inbound transit.<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

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Brazos Pilots<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000B3"> advised they have 1 vessel awaiting departure and 2 awaiting inbound transit, but they anticipate 2 more vessels will be ready to move by the time conditions allow them to start traffic. In any case, with several hours of clear conditions, they should be caught up by late afternoon.<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

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Elsewhere across the WGMA region:<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Port of Corpus Christi Harbormaster’s office:<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000B3"> Pilots stopped boarding at 0300 hours, with 6 departures, 6 arrivals, and 1 shift pending. <span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Sabine Pilots:<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000B3"> They’ve been shut down since 0720 hours yesterday. Currently they have 12 vessel departures and 10 vessel arrivals pending improving weather conditions. <span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Lake Charles Pilots:<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000B3"> Closed at 2230 yesterday and still shut down. There are 3 vessels awaiting departure and 2 for inbound transit.<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000B3">On the basis of today’s outlook, these PCT conference calls will continue until further notice. Your WGMA Maritime Affairs team will participate on all PCT calls and report updates to our membership.<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Niels A. Aalund <span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Senior Vice President <span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Office: (713) 715-6424 <span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Mobile: (281) 687-9499<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Naalund@wgma.org<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Robert Hawn <span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Director of Maritime Affairs<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Office: (713) 715-6443<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Mobile: (832) 473-1905<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Robert@wgma.org<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Citlalli R. Martinez<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Maritime Affairs Rep.<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Office: (713) 715-6431<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Mobile: (713) 309-0103<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

Citlalli@wgma.org <span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">