HOUSTON – All ports in Texas and Lake Charles, La., are open as the Coast Guard monitors the track of Tropical Storm Bonnie. The Coast Guard will set the appropriate port conditions for the ports located within the Houston-Galveston, Corpus Christi, Port Arthur, and Lake Charles captain of the port zones.
Port conditions are set for the safety of the vessels transiting the designated area and the ports. The following is a description of port conditions set by the captain of the port.
Port Condition Whiskey: Port condition in which gale force winds are possible within 72 hours. Gale Force Winds are sustained wind speeds above 39 miles per hour or 35 knots.
Safety Zone established requiring:
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All self-propelled oceangoing vessels over 500 gross tons, all oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs, and all tank barges over 200 gross tons to report their intention to depart or remain in port.
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All self-propelled oceangoing vessels over 500 gross tons, all oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs, and all tank barges over 200 gross tons, that wish to remain in port must submit an Application to Remain in Port to the COTP within 24 hours, or when Port Condition X-RAY is set.
Commence increased harbor patrols and advise vessel and facility operators of any conditions that require correction. Advise port stakeholders of intentions for setting next condition.
Port Condition X-Ray: Gale force winds are predicted to arrive within 48 hours.
Port’s Status: open to all commercial and recreational traffic. All vessel applications to remain in port must be submitted to the COTP for approval by this time. Individually assess vessels and barges desiring to remain in port. Advise port of intentions for setting next port condition including degree of vessel control.
Port Condition Yankee: Gale force winds are predicted to arrive within 24 hours.
Port’s Status: closed to inbound traffic and vessel traffic control measures in effect on vessel movements within the port. Safety Zone established controlling vessel movements and activities as appropriate. COTP approve or direct, as necessary, final mooring arrangements for vessels and barges remaining in port.
Port Condition Zulu: Gale force winds are predicted to arrive within 12 hours.
Port’s Status: closed to all inbound and outbound traffic. Safety Zone established prohibiting vessel movements and activities unless specifically authorized by the COTP. Permission for vessels to move within the port may be granted up until 12 hours before the projected arrival of hurricane force winds (64 knots or 74 mph).
For port conditions for Houston-Galveston, click on the following link:
http://homeport.uscg.mil/houstongalveston
For port conditions for Corpus Christi, click on the following link:
http://homeport.uscg.mil/corpuschristi
For port conditions for Port Arthur/Lake Charles, click on the following link:
http://homeport.uscg.mil/portarthur
