Port Arthur

1. Port Arthur Pilot boards29°35.9′N 093°48.3′W

Size limits

LOA 277m, Beam 48m, draught 12.4m, 159,159DWT.

Water density

1013. Density varies with the amount of rainfall and tidal conditions.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range 3.0m.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

The approach is from the S by dredged channels through Sabine Pass and entry is made from the Port Arthur Canal.

Outer approaches:

Sabine Bank Channel: From a position on the coastal route, in the vicinity of 29°32'N 093°43'W, the track leads NW, within a dredged channel marked by lightbuoys, for a distance of 6nm.

Outer Bar Channel: Then the alignment of Outer 'A' Leading Lights leads through the centre of channel, marked by lightbuoys, for a distance of 3nm:

Front Light (white round structure) (29°39.3'N 093°49.8'W).

Rear Light (red vertical mark, white stripe, on framework tower, on piles) (0.5nm NNW of the front light).

Traffic schemes and VTS

When vessels check in to the VTS area, Port Arthur Traffic will provide traffic and waterway information for the vessels current position and intended route. Vessels should listen to the next Broadcast Advisory for details. Vessels may, and are encouraged to, request a Traffic Advisory at any time during their transit through the VTS area. Only vessel traffic information will be provided.

EMERGENCIES: In the event of a waterway emergency or VTS sensor failure, the VTS will broadcast instructions to all participating vessels.

Anchorages

Outer Fairway Anchorage about a 1nm E and W of 'SB' Buoy, for vessels more than 9.0m draught, holding ground sand.

Inner Fairway Anchorage about 1.5nm E of buoys 22 to 26, holding ground mud, used by ships with draught less than 9.0m.

Both anchorages are exposed.

Restrictions

Vertical clearances: Gulfgate Bridge, with a vertical clearance of 41.5m, crosses the Sabine-Neches Canal in position 29°51.2'N 093°56.7'W, 2nm above the junction of the canal with Taylor Bayou and down river from the public wharf.

Charts and publications

BA 3192. Admiralty Pilot NP69A, NP286(5).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.

Documents

Please see country information for details of documentation requirements.

Health

No action initiated unless there is illness onboard.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificates: Please see country information.

Public Health Service officials usually inspect vessels at their berths.

Customs and immigration

For crew not to be detained onboard each crew member must have a valid US visa in their passport or Seaman's Book.

Notices and regulations

Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.

Regulations concerning entry: Navigation rules for inland waters must be followed inside a line drawn between the breakwater heads at each side of Jetty Channel.

A Regulated Navigation Area, in which traffic movement may be controlled in dangerous conditions, has been established in the Sabine-Neches Waterway, including Sabine Pass Channel, Port Arthur Canal, Sabine-Neches Canal, Neches River and Sabine River.

Although not mandatory, the use of Safety Fairway is recommended.

Sabine-Neches Waterway Guidelines have been established to control the meeting and passing of vessels in the waterway. The procedures, which are promulgated by the Sabine Pilots co-ordination service, take into account the combined beam and draught of such vessels.

Port State Control here: US Coast Guard.

Foreign ships are examined by the US Coast Guard. File the Advance Notice of Arrival 96 hours ahead (33 CFR 160).

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: United States Coast Guard, Office of Compliance. Address: 2100 Second St, SW, Washington DC, 20593, USA. Tel: +1 202 267 2978. Fax: +1 202 267 4858. Email: [email protected]. For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www2.imo.org/ISPSCode.

Repairs

Available. Gulf Copper have three yards in the Port Arthur area providing most types of repairs for inland tugs, towboats, barges, and platform support vessels.

For specialist diving services, Cal Dive have an offshore support and diving training centre to the N or Port Arthur.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: DO bunker Available.

Medical

Medical Centre of Southeast Texas 6km.

Transport

Nearest airport: Southeast Texas Regional, 16km. Houston International.

Airport facilities: Two terminals for crew changes and airfreight.

Nearest railway: In town, Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific.

Working hours

Normally Mon-Fri 0800-1200hrs, 1300-1700hrs; 1700-0800hrs. Between 1200-1300hrs on weekdays together with all hours on holidays, Sat and Sun shall be considered overtime. The charges for loading or unloading, when performed on request of shipper or his agent during overtime, will be on basis of 50% in addition to the regular charges; except that when service is requested to be performed during double time work hours, the charge will be 100% in addition to the regular charges. Double time work periods are the meal hours; vis: 1200-1300hrs, 1800-1900hrs, and 2359-0100hrs. The double time rate will continue until the men are relieved for a 1 hour meal period.

Where it is

Port Arthur lies on the W shore of Sabine Lake at the juncture of Taylor's Bayou and the Port Arthur Ship Canal, 27km above the Sabine Pass entrance to the Sabine Neches Waterway.

The port

The port primarily handles all types of breakbulk and general cargo including forest products, iron and steel products, dry bulk cargoes, project and military cargo, bagged and bailed goods. Port Arthur International Public Port is designated as a US Strategic Sea Port because of its location on the 1,930km long Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, 459km W of New Orleans and 19km from New Orleans. Sabine Pass terminals are under separate entry.

Traffic

Approx 40,000,000t of cargo and 3,400 vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Port Arthur?

The pilot boards at Port Arthur, 29°35.9′N 093°48.3′W.

What time zone is Port Arthur in?

Local time at Port Arthur is UTC−6. Clocks go to UTC−5 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−6 on 7 Nov 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Port Arthur?

The deepest berth listed is at Port of Port Arthur: 12.40 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Port Arthur?

1013. Density varies with the amount of rainfall and tidal conditions.

Which load line zone is Port Arthur in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Port Arthur?

Port State Control at Port Arthur: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Port Arthur?

The UN/LOCODE of Port Arthur is USPOA.

What crews who called at Port Arthur say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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