| 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 Hurricane 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 0900 the center of Hurricane Francine was located near latitude 27.0 north, longitude 93.8 west with maximum sustained winds near 90 mph. Francine is moving northeastward.
· The structure of Francine could allow for some additional short-term strengthening this morning over the very warm Gulf waters.
· This will bring the core of Francine toward the Louisiana coast today, with landfall expected within the hurricane warning area late this afternoon or evening.
· After landfall, a gradual turn toward the north will bring the center of Francine across eastern Louisiana and Mississippi.
· Francine is not expected to continue strengthening through landfall, but will continue to pose a significant risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds to locations in the
· warning areas.
· Once inland, Francine is expected to rapidly weaken quickly lose tropical characteristics, and transition to an extratropical cyclone over northern Mississippi.
Watches & Warnings:
· A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Cameron Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama Border, Vermilion Bay, Lake Maurepas & Lake Pontchartrain.
· A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast from Vermilion/Cameron Line eastward to Grand Isle
· A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Mississippi/Alabama Border to the Alabama/Florida Border, Mobile Bay
· A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, including metropolitan New Orleans
· A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Louisiana coast east of Sabine Pass to Vermilion/Cameron Line, East of Grand Isle Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border, Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, including metropolitan New Orleans.
Local Weather Concerns:
· Small Craft Advisory, North winds 25kt Galveston Bay, 25kt nearshore Gulf.
· Winds beginning to diminish and should continue to slowly do so throughout the day.
· 8ft seas at the nearshore buoy should trend downward this afternoon and fall below 6ft this evening
· Near high tide time now, levels 1-2 ft above normal currently will gradually fall through the afternoon.
Key Messages for Hurricane 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
Remarks from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Commander and Vessel Traffic Service Director:
· The COTP has authorized Cargo and Transfer operations to resume in Houston-Galveston ports to include Houston, Galveston, Texas City, and Freeport when wind limits fall below 40 mph.
· Pilot Associations in above listed ports are authorized to resume operations per their safety protocols to re-establish normal traffic flow.
· No requests for surveys.
· MSIB update to follow.
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:
· Agents & carriers are requested to submit their orders for traffic ASAP.
· Hoping to board up arrivals at 1200, as long as conditions permit safe operations.
· Currently have 20 arrivals and 11 sailing.
Galveston-Texas City Pilots:
· Agents & carriers are requested to submit their orders for traffic ASAP.
· Hoping to start operations this afternoon as long as conditions permit safe operations.
Brazos Pilots:
· Hoping to start operations this afternoon as long as conditions permit safe operations.
· Currently have 6 arrivals pending.
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.
This is the Final Sector Houston-Galveston PCT call for this event. |
