Texas City

Size limits

LOA 277.17m, beam 50m, draught 13.4m, 164,751DWT.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Range 0.45m.

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

Approach

The Port Authority should be consulted for latest controlling depths.

Approach is from the ESE by dredged channels leading from the entrance to Galveston Bay. Entry is made along Texas City Channel, marked by light buoys and light beacons.

The main ship channel to Texas City has been dredged by 1.5m to a depth of 14.0m. Connection anchorage and turning basin is approx 9.6km in length with bottom width 121m and depth 12.1m at MLT, navigable day or night. Protected from the NNE by an earth and rip-rap dyke. Berths are situated on the W side of Texas City turning basin.

Industrial canal: Extending from S end of turning basin westward approx 3.2km being 76m wide with 12.0m depth at MLT.

Turning Basin: Approx length 1,280m and width 365m with a depth of 12.1m MLT fronting on all slips and protected from the sea by a man-made island.

Traffic schemes and VTS

Reporting Points: Using the appropriate sector Primary VHF Channel, a VTS User should report vessel's name and Reporting Point Designator- 'name or location of vessel' when passing the following points;

Anchorages

The outer harbour, known as Bolivar Roads, is shared by Texas City, Galveston and Houston.

Vessels may anchor off the bar in the Galveston entrance anchorages just inshore of the intersection of the Galveston safety fairway with the Coastwise Fairway. An anchorage area, for temporary use only, is N of the realigned Inner Bar Channel, W of the spoil areas in Bolivar Roads. In all instances, vessels must anchor sufficiently clear of all active channels so as not to interfere with navigation or the usefulness of any established aids to navigation.

Because of heavy traffic, Galveston Channel can be used for temporary anchorage by vessels preparing to move in to berth at wharves or after leaving the wharves before going to sea.

Small craft anchoring in the designated areas should use the shallower portion so as to leave the deeper areas clear for larger vessels.

Galveston Harbor, Bolivar Roads: The anchorage area:

North-east Fairway Anchorage (mid-position 29°17.0'N 094°30.0'W) in 12.0-15.0m, keeping clear of charted dangers.

South-west Fairway Anchorage (mid-position 29°11.0'N 094°37.0'W) in 9.0-17.0m, keeping clean of charted dangers.

Bolivar Roads 'A' Anchorage (mid-position 29°21.0'N 094°44.0'W) in 9.4m, temporary anchorage, for vessels not less than 6.7m in draught, for periods not normally exceeding 48 hours without authorisation from the COTP.

Bolivar Roads 'B' Anchorage (mid-position 29°21.0'N 094°45.2'W) in 6.4-10.3m, keeping clear of charted obstructions, a temporary anchorage.

Bolivar Roads 'C' Anchorage (mid-position 29°21.0'N 094°46.4'W) in 3.0-11.0m, keeping clear of charted obstructions, a temporary anchorage, for vessels not less than 4.9m in draught, for periods not normally exceeding 48 hours without authorisation from the COTP.

Restrictions

The controlling draught from the pilot station to Texas City is 11m MLT. Houston/Texas City/Galveston area during the winter months with a strong N'ly wind blowing, for several days, may lower the water to a level 0.6-0.9m below MLT.

Tugs

Tugs are available at Texas City for berthing movements. They are not normally used for the transit to and from Bolivar Roads.

Mooring

Barges: Mooring line requirements shall consist of a minimum of 6 lines (2 head lines, 2 stern lines, 1 forward spring line and 1 aft spring line).

Charts and publications

BA 3186, 3854, 3850, 3849. 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

Officials usually inspect vessels at their berths.

No action initiated unless there is illness onboard.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificates: Please see country information.

Customs and immigration

The US Customs board on arrival. The nearest Customs port of entry is Galveston.

Notices and regulations

Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.

A safety zone has been established in the area of Texas City turning basin and its NE approach. Access to the zone is limited to authorised persons, vehicles and vessels only. Mooring or stopping, unless in emergency, is prohibited.

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 for small craft and barges only.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkers: Available.

Stores: Available, check with agent if loading of stores permitted at tanker berths.

Medical

Nearest hospital: HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland (10km).

Crew change

Possibility of crew change at the port. Immigration in this area have been known to require crew to travel directly to International airport on day of flight, no overnight stopovers in US.

Transport

Nearest airport: La Porte Municipal Airport (43km).

Working hours

Throughout 24 hours.

Where it is

The port of Texas City is situated on the W side of Galveston Bay, 17.6km inland from the Gulf of Mexico, 8km N of Galveston and 72km S of Houston.

The port

The port has dry and liquid bulk and petroleum facilities for foreign and coastal trade in chemicals, fertiliser, petroleum, tin ore and commodities.

Traffic

Approx 30,000,000t of cargo and 1,100 vessels handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Texas City?

Pilot service operates on a 24 hour all year round basis.

What time zone is Texas City in?

Local time at Texas City 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 Texas City?

The deepest berth listed is at Seaway Crude - Texas City Terminal: 13.40 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Texas City?

1025.

Which load line zone is Texas City in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Texas City?

Port State Control at Texas City: US Coast Guard.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Texas City?

The UN/LOCODE of Texas City is USTXT.

What crews who called at Texas City 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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