Freeport

<span-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">Having trouble viewing this email? <span-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">www.wgma.org <span-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">

 WGMA Houston Ship Channel Update <span-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000D8">

The VTS held a Port Coordination Team (PCT) conference call today at 1100 hours. <span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000D8">

<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000D8">The current weather forecast is for a minimal Tropical Storm to make landfall around Matagorda Bay sometime tonight or early morning tomorrow. 

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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000D8">Houston is on the "dirty side" of the storm but currently high rainfall & localized flooding is the main concern. Approximately 6 to 8" of rain is forecast across area. Wind gusts exceeding 50 knots are expected after 3am through midday tomorrow. Conditions are expected to moderate quickly after the storm makes landfall. Normal operations should resume on Thursday. 

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Hurricane hunter aircraft are in the area so please continue to follow weather forecast for updates.

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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000D8">U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston Captain of the Port has set Hurricane Condition X-Ray. COTP recommends that containers be stacked no more than two high due to the anticipation of high wind gusts. 

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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000D8">U.S. Coast Guard MSU Port Arthur Captain of the Port has set Hurricane Condition Whiskey, and a PCT Conference call is scheduled for noon today. 

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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000D8">Houston Pilots currently expect to close the channel for outbound traffic at 1400 hrs today, however they are closely monitoring weather conditions and will adjust this as needed. 

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Galveston-Texas City Pilots currently expect to shutdown operations about dusk today.

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Brazos Pilots advised they will stop operations around dusk today.

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Offshore lightering operations have ceased until better weather conditions prevail.

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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000D8">USCBP Houston Seaport extends blanket extension on clearances until normal operations resume. Agents are warned to keep their ship's eNOA/D notifications updated. 

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<span-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0000D8">The next PCT conference call is scheduled for 0900 hrs tomorrow.