Galveston, Updated VTS Measures in Support of Pelican Island Bridge Survey and Restoration

At time 1650 (local) 21 MAY 2024, in order to support engineering survey and restoration of the Pelican Island Bridge in Galveston Harbor,

Vessel Traffic Service Houston-Galveston Recommends the following framework to be utilized as part of each vessel’s risk assessment plan for docking/undocking at the west end Galveston Harbor Channel facility, Texas International Terminals:

1) Arrival/departure operations should take place in slack water.

2) Arrival/departures should not be made during flood tide.

3) Arrival/departures should not be made when tidal current is greater than 0.5 kts.

4) Consider and avoid prevailing conditions that produce a net effect of set toward the Pelican Island Bridge which cannot be overcome by mitigating factors or procedures.

 

The following two directives remain in effect:

Vessel Traffic Service Houston-Galveston Directs:

1) No vessel transits under the Pelican Island Bridge.

2) An assist vessel(s) of appropriate horsepower shall be present for arrival/departure operations.

Very respectfully,

Vessel Traffic Service

USCG Sector Houston-Galveston

(281) 464-4837    24/7 Watch Supervisor

HoustonTraffic@uscg.mil