Port Freeport

1. Freeport Pilot boards28°51.8′N 095°13.4′W

Size limits

LOA 345m, beam 55.0m, 164,608DWT, draught 12.8m.

Water density

1020.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range less than 1.0m.

Freeport LNG (FLNG) Berth - tide ranges from 1.3 - 1.8m.

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

Approach

The chart and Port Authority should be consulted for the latest controlling depths. Following severe weather conditions, depths are likely to change.

Anchorages

There are designated anchorage areas.

It is reported that the limits of Outer Fairway anchorages are charted in the following positions:

North East: 28°50'N 095°07'W. In general depths of 15.0-20.0m.

South West: 28°49'N 095°15'W. In general depths of 12.0-20.0m, clear of production platforms.

The NE anchorage is preferred due to the set of the prevailing current on to the platforms in the SW anchorage.

Restrictions

Shoaling areas are located approx 6nm SW of the main entrance to Freeport, extending 5nm into the Gulf off the mouth of the river. The area is foul and should be avoided. Reportedly, vessels have been stranded in this area as depths are considerably less than charted, following silting from the River.

The following restrictions apply to Old Brazos River:

A power transmission line (approx 1nm above the upper turning basin) has a vertical clearance of 19.2m.

A tide gate with clearances horizontally of 23m, vertically 18m and a depth of 5.0m over the sill.

A fixed road bridge (0.3nm above the power line) with vertical clearance of 18.3m.

Daylight Restrictions - Inbound Vessels:

1. Greater than LOA 228.6m.

2. Greater than 32.6m beam.

3. Greater than 11.12m draught and greater than LOA 213.3m.

4. Dow A-14 - greater than LOA 182.8m or 30.4m beam.

5. Dow A-13.

6. LNG vessels.

7. BASF.

Daylight Restrictions - Outbound Vessels:

1. Greater than LOA 228.6m, 38.1m beam and draught 10.97m.

2. Dow A-14 - greater than LOA 182.8m or 30.4m beam.

3. Dow A-13.

4. Sailing from berths above Phillips 66 and Port Freeport Docks - greater than LOA 228.6m.

5. LNG vessels.

6. BASF.

Vessels judged unsafe for handling after dark will be limited to daylight hours only. Night operations will be suspended during times when weather conditions do not permit safe navigation.

Tugs

Tugs up to 4,200hp are available at Freeport.

1. All Docks - two house tugs or thrusters

2. Dow Berth A-14 - vessels with LOA greater than 190.5m will require both tugs and an additional twin screw flanking rudder tug with minimum of 3,900hp.

3. Dow Berth A-14 - vessels with a beam greater than 38.1m will require both house tugs and two additional twin screw flanking rudder tugs with a minimum of 3,900hp.

1. Dow Berth A-14 - vessels with LOA greater than 213.36m and beam greater than 38.1m will require both house tugs and an additional twin screw flanking rudder tug with a minimum of 3,900hp.

2. Dow Berth A-8 - vessels with LOA greater than 121.92m should have thrusters or tugs on the bow and on the stern due to strong currents.

Brazos Pilots recommend that all inbound vessels use a combination of tugs and thrusters so as to keep lateral control of the ship on the bow and on the stern. Most inbound vessels LOA 121.92m or greater should use two tugs, one tug and a thruster, or two thrusters.

Mooring

There are strong currents in the area which may make mooring difficult for larger vessels.

Freeport Mooring & Marine Services, Tel: +1 979 233 5605. Southern Mooring Service, Tel: +1 979 233 3716.

Charts and publications

BA 3849, 3850, 3854. Admiralty Pilot NP69A, NP286(5).

US Charts 11321, 11322. US Coast Pilot 5 (Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

LNG Vessels may enter and depart Port Freeport in daylight hours only.

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.

Health officials usually inspect vessels at their berths.

Customs and immigration

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

Notices and regulations

Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.

Speed: Should be restricted to 7kts in the channels and 4.5kts when passing wharves or moored 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

The Port itself has no facilities for carrying out major repairs on larger vessels, or dry docking them.

Larger vessels can be dealt with at Galveston. There are a number of shipyards in the area of Freeport that deal with repairs and maintenance of shallow draught vessels.

Dry docks

The nearest port with drydock facilities is Galveston; several firms are available for above water and small craft repairs.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available throughout 24 hours.

Stores: All types of provisions available.

Medical

Brazosport Memorial Hospital, Tel: +1 979 297 4411.

Transport

Nearest airport: Brazoria County Airport, Angleton, 12.8km. Houston Intercontinental Airport, 97km.

Nearest railway: Freeport; Union Pacific.

Note - bus lines offer frequent services to Houston.

Working hours

Normally 0800-1200hrs and 1300-1700hrs. Except on Saturdays and Sundays. Overtime available.

Where it is

Port Freeport, Texas, is situated on the Gulf of Mexico, close SE of the town, 3.5nm from the open sea, near the mouth of the Old Brazos River. Two straight breakwaters, each over 1Km long, stretch out in a South Easterly direction from the shoreline, giving shelter to vessels entering from Gulf waters. The Intracoastal Waterway crosses Old Brazos River approx 1nm above the jettied entrance.

The port

Freeport Harbor is locally known as Brazosport. The main export cargoes at Freeport are crude oil, petroleum gas, chemicals, plastics, halogenated compounds, phenols and polyethers. Principal import cargoes include motor vehicles, gasoline, ammonia, machinery and equipment. Fruits and bagged rice are also handled at the port.

Freeport LNG Quintana Regas Terminal handles the discharge of LNG from vessels to the regasification plant ashore. The LNG is then piped as vapour into the national gas grid. (Reportedly, due to substantial changes in global markets, facilities at this Terminal may be subject to "re-purpose").

Traffic

Approx. 39,000,000t of cargo, 117,000TEUs and over 1,300 vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Port Freeport?

The pilot boards at Freeport, 28°51.8′N 095°13.4′W.

What time zone is Port Freeport in?

Local time at Port Freeport 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 Freeport?

The deepest berth listed is at Enterprise Seaway: 12.80 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Port Freeport?

1020.

Which load line zone is Port Freeport in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Port Freeport?

Port State Control at Port Freeport: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Port Freeport?

The UN/LOCODE of Port Freeport is USFPO.

What crews who called at Port Freeport 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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