Commercial Vessel Compliance

8/29/2017: Update on port conditions in areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey

The information in this port is taken from a news release issued by the 8th Coast Guard District, as part of the Hurricane Harvey response. This post is for informational purposes only and does not replace official Captain of the Port or incident response communications or announcements. For the most up-to-date port information, go to Homeport

Graphic of map showing port status

Port conditions in Sector Corpus Christi and Sector Houston-Galveston

The Coast Guard along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office (TGLO) have the current port conditions set within the effected areas of Hurricane Harvey and surrounding areas of the Gulf of Mexico, Tuesday.

The effects of Hurricane Harvey along the Texas coast resulted in significant flooding and impacted the surrounding ports. The Coast Guard along with the Army Corps of Engineers and TGLO understand the international and global significance of the Gulf Coast ports and are currently conducting surveys and thorough port assessments prior to reopening.

The below ports were in the direct path of the Harvey and condition are as follows:

Corpus Christi:

Port of Brownsville – Port Condition Normal
Port of Corpus Christi – Port Condition Zulu
Calhoun Port Authority – Port Condition Zulu

Houston:

Freeport – Port Condition Zulu
Galveston – Port Condition Zulu
Houston – Port Condition Zulu
Texas City – Port Condition Zulu

“The Coast Guard is working very closely with our federal, state and local partners to make sure we do this as safely and quickly as possible,” said Capt. Tony Hahn, incident commander and captain of the port in Corpus Christi. “We are continuing port assessments and collecting data on damage, debris and pollution in order to regain full operation of the affected ports.

Port condition are a gradual, time phased development based on impact of storm and assessment of safety conditions.

• Port Condition WHISKEY: A heightened condition in which gale force winds are possible within 72 hours. All commercial vessels and barges greater than 500 gross tons and all oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs shall report to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port their intention to depart or remain in port. They shall also complete an application and submit it in writing within 24 hours to the Coast Guard COTP to remain in port.

• Port Condition X-RAY: A readiness condition in which gale force winds are possible within 48 hours. Vessels more than 500 gross tons and oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs should make preparations to leave the port or have received permission from the Coast Guard COTP to remain in port.

• Port Condition YANKEE: A warning condition in which gale force winds are possible within 24 hours. During Port Condition YANKEE all affected ports are under vessel traffic control measures. All vessels greater than 500 gross tons and oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs with permission to remain in port should make their final mooring arrangements.

• Port Condition ZULU: A danger condition in which gale force winds are possible within 12 hours. In Port Condition ZULU the port is closed and all port operations are suspended except for vessel movements and activities specifically authorized by the Coast Guard COTP

For the most up-to-date port information, visit Homeport.

For breaking news, follow us on Twitter @USCGHeartland.

This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official source documents, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These documents remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.

 

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