VTS Houston-Galveston has been notified of the inaugural outbound transit of the STATE of MAINE from the TX A&M Maritime Academy in Galveston to Sea on Saturday May 23, 2026, from 0900 – 1100.  While not an organized event, VTS acknowledges the expected larger than normal increase of recreational traffic in the Galveston Harbor during this transit and the intentions of these recreational vessels to accompany the STATE of MAINE along the outbound transit.

In support of waterway safety;

VTS Houston-Galveston DIRECTS:

  1. No vessel movements in the Galveston Harbor Channel from TX A&M to Sea Wolf Park on Saturday May 23, 2026, from 0900 – 1100 other than the STATE of MAINE and those recreational vessels in attendance.
  2. Attending vessels are not to proceed within the Federal Channels beyond Galveston Lighted Buoy 1.
  3. Upon departure of the Galveston Harbor to Sea, all attending vessels are to remain clear of all Federal Channels marked in red in the attached (Inner Bar Channel, Outer Bar Channel, Galveston Bay Entrance Channel), remaining outside of the Aids to Navigation.

VTS notes the following:

  1. Traffic considerations are only in effect for the Galveston Harbor.  No attending vessel shall impede the transit of another vessel that is limited in their ability to maneuver due to draft and confined to a Federal Channel (do not cross the bow of any vessel).
  2. VTS notes in the submitted Safety Plan that attending vessels are to remain 100 yards from the STATE of MAINE at all times and 200 yards from the stern of the vessel.