<span-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#141414">Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston
<span-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#141414">Marine Safety Information Bulletin 23-20
<span-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#141414">Tropical Depression 8/TROPICAL CYCLONE ACTIVITY
<span-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#141414">Port Condition Whiskey
<span-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#141414">Date:
<span-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#141414">Time:
<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#2A3287">(1>~1)0
L 2 3·<span-size:17.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#141414">2020
The Captain of the Port (COTP) has set Port Condition Whiskey for the ports of Houston, Galveston, Freeport
and Texas City. Heavy weather conditions from Tropical Depression (TD) 8, formerly Invest 91 L, have become
better organized with a chance of becoming a tropical storm in the next 48 hours. TD 8 is expected to reach the
Texas coast in the next 48 hours. The port community is advised to monitor the progress of the storm and make
appropriate preparations for setting Port Condition Whiskey. For information on Port Conditions, which will
guide port stakeholder actions, please refer to the Sector Houston-Galveston Heavy Weather PowerPoint
presentation which is located on the HOMEPORT website.
Continued uncertainty on the impact of the track may result in decreased preparation time once the path of the
storm becomes more defined. As storm information is updated, there is the potential to go to Port Condition XRay
or straight to Port Condition Yankee. Additional guidance will be issued via Marine Safety Information
Bulletins (MSIB), Broadcast Notice to Mariners, or other forms as necessary. The Port Coordination Team
will
hold a teleconference on Thursday, July 23, at 9:00 A.M. and will facilitate communications between and amongst
port stakeholders and to, and on behalf of, the COTP. Affected stakeholders should establish and maintain
communications with your PCT delegates.
The COTP has established a safety zone for the following areas: That portion of Sector Houston-Galveston's
Captain of the Port Zone (as defined in 33 CFR 3.40-28) west of GIWW MM-319.5 to include the ports of
Houston, Galveston, Freeport and Texas City and
all surrounding navigable waterways. Vessels that desire to
enter, transit or remain within this safety zone, must comply with the following requirements:
• All self-propelled oceangoing vessels over 500 gross tons and all oceangoing barges
and their supporting
tugs shall plan to depart the port immediately in the event Port Condition Yankee is set. Bunkering
operations shall be completed prior to the setting of Port Condition Yankee to ensure a safe and timely
departure.
• Only for extreme circumstances should self-propelled oceangoing vessels over 500 gross tons
and
oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs request to remain in port. In these extreme circumstances, a
Remaining-in-Port Checklist shall be submitted to the Sector Prevention Department at
houstonpsc@uscg.mil
(281) 464-4767, or MSU
Texas City at
inspectionsmsutexascity@uscg.mil
(409)
978-2718, prior to the setting of Port Condition Yankee.
• Oceangoing vessels and inland tows bound for ports within the safety zone defined above are advised to
seek an alternate destination. Inland tows must identify a facility/
fleeting area that will
support a safe
mooring for the duration of heavy weather.
• Smaller commercial vessels not restricted by draft, including fishing vessels, should seek shelter outside
the deep draft shipping channels and turning areas.
• Regardless of Port Condition, if sustained gale force winds are predicted ( 40-60 mph), the COTP will
require departure from the Bolivar Anchorage 24 hours prior to predicted landfall.
Please address questions to the Sector Houston-Galveston Co and Center at (281) 464-4855. This bulletin shall
remain active until canceled or superseded by ano er l in.
Captain,
Unit States Coast Guard
Captain
' of
the Port
For a
current list ofMSIBs
within the COTP Houston-Galveston Zone visit:
htt
s://home
ort.us~cg.mil
and select Houston-Galveston
under the Port Directory.