| USCG Sector Houston-Galveston’s Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) held a Port Coordination Team (PCT) conference call at 9AM today to update industry partners on the impending passage of Tropical Storm Francine along the Texas coast, and the status of all ports within Sector Houston-Galveston. Your WGMA Maritime Affairs team participated on the call and has the following report:
From the National Weather Service briefing, and other sources:
· At 7AM CDT, the center of Tropical Storm Francine was located near latitude 24.5 North, longitude 95.9 West. Francine is moving toward the north near 5 mph.
· A slow northward motion is expected through this morning, followed by a turn to the northeast with an increase in forward speed.
· On the forecast track, Francine is anticipated to be just offshore of the coasts of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas through today and make landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon.
· Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts.
· Francine will likely become a hurricane today, with significant strengthening expected before it reaches the coast.
· Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center.
Watches & Warnings:
· A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for High Island Texas to the Mouth of the Mississippi River Louisiana and Vermilion Bay.
· A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast from Sabine Pass eastward to Grand Isle.
· A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for the Mouth of the Mississippi River to the Mississippi/Alabama Border, plus Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain.
· A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Morgan City to Grand Isle, High Island to Sabine Pass, the Mouth of the Rio Grande to Port Mansfield, La Pesca Mexico to the Mouth of the Rio Grande, East of Grand Isle Louisiana to Mouth of the Pearl River, including metropolitan New Orleans, plus Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.
· A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Barra del Tordo to La Pesca Mexico, and Port Mansfield to High Island Texas.
Local weather concerns:
· Overnight, the storm encountered dryer air from Mexico, which has delayed strengthening, however the storm will become a hurricane later today.
· The models are all in agreement that the storm will stay well away from the Texas coastline.
· Francine will strengthen to Category 2 by midnight or so today.
· Continuing on a north and then northeasterly track, the storm will make landfall Wednesday afternoon on the central Louisiana coastline.
· Conditions off Galveston will continue to deteriorate this evening and tonight, and peak Wednesday morning.
· The major concern we should expect is from wind.
· Likely will see 20-25 knot winds across the bay and near-shore waters later tonight.
· We will only see sustained tropical-storm-force winds 30-40 miles offshore.
· We should expect to see frequent rain bands moving in offshore around 9-10PM tonight.
· Very little rainfall expected across the area.
· Storm surges today of 1-3 feet from High Island southward and 3-5 feet from High Island to Cameron.
· Seas offshore within 10 miles of the coast will reach about 6 feet around 8-9PM tonight, peaking much higher on Wednesday.
· Conditions should rapidly improve late morning into early afternoon tomorrow.
Key Messages for Tropical Storm Francine
Coastal Watches/Warnings and Forecast Cone for Storm Center
Earliest Reasonable Arrival Time of Tropical-Storm-Force Winds
Tropical-Storm-Force Wind Speed Probabilities
Satellite Loop: Tropical Storm Francine at 8:25AM
Remarks from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Commander and Vessel Traffic Service Director:
· Port Condition Yankee remains in effect, but cargo operations may resume or continue for all vessels located at Bayport and above.
· VTS will announce resumption of cargo operations via email after this call has completed
· The ship channel is open for vessel shifting.
· The main concern will be from wind, so maintain a weather watch.
· Intention to reopen the port as soon as offshore conditions improve to allow safe pilot transfers.
· Once Port Condition Yankee is rescinded, it is not anticipated that surveys will be needed, so no delay to resume normal operations.
· At the time of the deadline, 37 ships were at berth in Houston; 5 ships never submitted “Declarations of Intent to Remain in Port” as required.
· There were also numerous reports of various cargo transfers that were continued without authorization.
MSIB 30-24: Port Condition Yankee set at 5PM, September 10th
MSIB 29-24: Port Condition X-Ray set at 10:30AM today, September 9th
MSIB 28-24: Port Condition Whiskey set at 10PM, September 8th
MSIB 13-24: Severe Weather Safety Planning for Vessels and Facilities, issued June 4th
Houston Pilots:
· Inbound transits suspended at 2PM September 9th
· 6 vessels outbound now, 10 more will sail by noon
· Expect to suspend all ship movements at noon, as conditions continue to deteriorate
· In port shifts will be considered, depending upon winds
Galveston-Texas City Pilots:
· Inbound transits suspended at 2PM September 9th
· Last outbound ship will clear at 11AM today
Brazos Pilots:
· Inbound transits suspended at 2PM September 9th
· Last 6 ships cleared from port overnight
Agents are reminded to keep the eNOA/D’s updated for their vessels, and to keep the pilots closely advised about when their ships are ready to transit, whether sailing, shifting or docking.
WGMA members are reminded that our partners DTN WeatherOps can provide free customized weather reports for your specific area on the US Gulf Coast, along with tropical weather notices and alerts. Contact WGMA Maritime Affairs to sign up to receive these reports.
Another PCT conference call has been scheduled for today at 4PM. Your Maritime Affairs team will participate on the PCT conference call and report to our membership afterwards. |
