Runoffs and Silting Deter Crude Oil Tankers at Galveston Bay

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Runoff and silting of rivers and waterways flowing into the Galveston Bay still remains a concern for opening up the Houston Ship Channel and its four ports to vessels that require more draft, like Aframax and Suezmax, an official at a marine agency said Thursday.

Current weather is not a concern, Michael Cunningham, director of project management with the Greater Houston Port Bureau, said in an interview.

“The hydrographic surveys being currently conducted are seeking to answer that question about shoaling [silting of the waterway] and whether the draft in the waterways and alongside facilities been reduced significantly,” he said.

“Theoretically, an Aframax or Suezmax tanker could come into Houston right now, so long as they are not drawing more than 37 feet of water,” Cunningham said.

But if there has been significant shoaling, the US Coast Guard will need to determine that with a higher degree of certainty and state what size of vessels can be brought in, he said.

At current drafts of 33 feet to 37 feet, most tankers — clean or dirty — will not be able to transit the Houston Ship Channel until the restrictions are lifted. Barges will be able to get through, but they are susceptible to fast currents, so they probably will not be moving much.

The bureau is a member agency that coordinates the movement of all vessels in the Houston-Galveston marine complex, which includes Port of Houston, Port of Texas City, Port of Galveston and Port of Freeport.

“Given the number of survey assets currently in, or soon to be in, I expect we’ll have a much clearer picture of water depth for this afternoon’s [Port Coordination Team meeting] or tomorrow morning’s at the latest,” he said.

The team is holding a meeting daily at 9 am CDT (1400 GMT) and 4:30 pm CDT (2130 GMT) to work out ways to open the Houston Ship Channel to crude tankers and container terminals, Cunningham said.

The US Coast Guard has requested that surveys of the anchorages along the Houston Ship Channel be prioritized and work is underway to repair aids, lights, and ranges, the bureau said in its release Thursday.

The US Coast Guard yesterday re-opened the Ports of Houston, Texas City, Galveston, and Freeport restricted to daylight hours only and draft restrictions.

Texas City, Galveston, and Freeport are restricted to vessels with a draft of 33 feet or less and Houston is restricted to vessels of vessels of 37 feet or less, it said yesterday.

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Source: Platts