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31 Jul 2015 / United States, Houston

Severe weather safety planning

The 2015 Hurricane Season will officially start on June 1, 2015. All facilities and vessels in the Houston-Galveston Captain of the Port (COTP) zone are encouraged to review their severe weather plans and begin preparations for the hurricane season. Please plan for: 1. The ports along the Gulf of Mexico provide inadequate safe mooring in hurricane conditions. I encourage all capable sea-going vessels to make timely departure for open sea on the approach of heavy weather. Commercial self-propelled vessels greater than 500 gross tone and oceangoing Integrated Tug Barge combinations intending to remain in port will be required to submit a Declaration of Intent to Remain in Port. This declaration is normally required within 12 hours after setting Port Condition Whiskey (72 hours prior to gale force winds). 2. Commercial vessels, including tug and barge tows that normally transit the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, should depart the area when threatened by a storm. If unable, they should seek alternative refuge by moving as far inland as possible and take shelter on the bayous and floating areas within the Houston Ship Channel. Special precautions should be taken and are expected for tows with CDC cargoes. The COTP recommends keeping a live watch onboard to tend lines and control power as the risk of groundings or allisions becomes an even greater concern. 3. Dependent on the severity of the storm, vessels that remain in port may be required to fill out the Vessel Post Storm Self-Assessment Checklist for Coast Guard review and potential on-site assessment. 4. Commercial fishing vessels should leave port or find shelter inland to avoid damage during a storm's passage. It is recommended that commercial fishing vessels tie off adequately to fixed or moored structures and submit the Hurricane Evacuation Report Form. 5. In order to safeguard Coast Guard waterway reconstitution capabilities and maintain continuity of operations, Sector Houston-Galveston, Sector Field Office Galveston and MSU Texas City personnel and equipment may be relocated to an alternate site prior to the arrival of the storm. Depending on the severity of the storm, a remote command post may also be established at the alternate site. Should this be necessary, means to contact the remote command post will be disseminated via MSIB and Port Coordination Team teleconferences. VTS Houston-Galveston will remain active at a minimum until 12 hours before the arrival of hurricane force winds. 6. Facilities with storage tanks, missile hazards, dangerous cargoes and container or pallet stacks should secure or remove these entities to prevent further issues due to severe winds and storm surge. Pressed up tanks will sustain less wind damage than those left empty or partially full. All containers stores near flood-prone areas should be moved prior to Port Condition Yankee. 7. The responsibility to survey berths rests with each facility. Waterfront facilities are encouraged to conduct an annual pre-hurricane survey. Facilities should be prepared to conduct an emergency survey of their docks as soon as practical after a hurricane passes if there is reason to believe that bottom conditions have changed. The surveys can determine whether water depths have been reduced and whether ship traffic is able to safely proceed. All regulated waterfront facilities should fill out a Facility Pre-Storm Checklist up through General Pre-storm by June 1, 2015. Post hurricane, facilities may be required to fill out the Facility Post Storm Self-Assessment Checklist prior to Coast Guard inspectors verifying readiness to resume operations, dependent on the severity of the storm. (For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at [email protected]) Source: Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston Marine Safety Information Bulletin 07-15

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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