The COTP Zone remains at Port Condition Zulu. We are awaiting the COTP update for Port Condition Recovery to begin, which will be in effect once USCG determines that it is safe for their personnel and contractors to commence surveys.
Port Coordination Team calls were conducted today at 12:00 hrs for Lake Charles (Cameron) and 14:00 hrs for Sabine-Neches (Sabine Pass).
Please see the following truncated notes from the report for Lake Charles (Cameron):
- There is an active fire at BioLab chlorine plant in Westlake, resulting in shelter-in-place orders
- The Isle of Capri Casino broke free of its moorings and struck the I-10 Bridge
- Some laid-up oil equipment was blown off mooring in Cameron
- The I-10 corridor remains closed eastbound and westbound. The I-10 bridge will be closed until a full inspection of the bridge can be done by Louisiana Dept of Transportation
- The Highway 71 corridor southbound to Lake Charles is open
- USCG will be sending assessment teams back to Lake Charles this afternoon, in order to try and be ready to deploy their port assessment teams beginning tomorrow morning
- It is expected that the earliest any other assets will be made available to begin assessments will be tomorrow
- Louisiana Dept of Transportation has requested assistance from the Area Command to secure a boat to perform the inspection
- At the time of the PCT call, there was not much information flowing from Cameron or other locations on the ship channel
- The Lake Charles Pilots office and Cameron docks have sustained significant damage. The Sabine Pilots have reached out to offer assistance.
Please see the following truncated notes from the report for Sabine-Neches (Sabine Pass):
- Some small boats have begun moving throughout the port region, and the overall consensus is good. Individual small boats and shallow draft vessels are being granted permission on an as-needed basis
- An initial assessment of the ATONs has been completed. Several discrepancies and missing ATONs have been noted. Additional assets/boats have been dispatched to assist in restoring the ATONs
- There is still a sunken drydock in the Port Arthur Canal that must be moved
- Commerce is not moving
- The offshore reaches must be better assessed before the channel will be reopened
- The recently-built Sabine Pilots office held up well and is functioning as the dispatch center.
- Pilot boats are assisting with ATON repair and general surveying
- Pilots do not anticipate discovery of much shoaling since the storm passed so quickly and with relatively little rain. They are mainly concerned about the outer channel.
- The pilot station in Sabine Pass took some damage but should be operational – TBC
- Reopening in Port Arthur will be contingent upon clear surveys and removing the obstruction in the Port Arthur Canal. Two tugs have been ordered to start moving the sunken drydock tomorrow morning. The plans are being finalized to remove it during slack tide tomorrow. Owners are staging necessary equipment and personnel to begin refloating operations.
- Agents are requested to begin placing their orders as their ships come up to the bar. Vessels will be taken as and when conditions permit
- Strong currents reported on site this afternoon (outflow from the storm surge, not rain runoff)
- 2 US Army Corps of Engineers boats stationed in Port Arthur sustained no damage and the crews are preparing them to begin surveys. Another boat is coming from Corpus Christi .
- Survey plans still being formulated; will be published ASAP
- Various terminal representatives advised they have completed their assessments, are in great shape and ready to receive traffic
- Most advised they have recalled all personnel to begin normal operations tomorrow. No serious issues or concerns were noted other than a few reports of power outages
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Sabine Pass
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Date
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Temperature Low
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Dew Point High
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Fog Risk*
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26-Aug
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79
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°F
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78
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°F
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Low
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27-Aug
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78
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°F
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77
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°F
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Low
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28-Aug
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|
81
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°F
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78
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°F
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Low
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29-Aug
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79
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°F
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78
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°F
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Low
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30-Aug
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79
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°F
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78
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°F
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Low
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Source: Weather Underground
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Johnson's Bayou Station
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* Note: fog season not in effect at this time
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Sea Conditions
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*Forecast currently unavailable*
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Source: National Weather Service
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GMZ450
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Additional Notes:
- As of 06:00 hrs lt on 26 Aug, the COTP has set Port Condition Zulu (tropical storm force winds imminent).
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Event
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Date Time
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Remarks
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Port Condition Whiskey set
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8/22/2020 07:00
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TS Marco
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Port Condition Xray set
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8/22/2020 20:00
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TS Marco
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Channel closed
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8/24/2020 16:00
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Inbound traffic
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Channel closed
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8/24/2020 18:00
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All traffic – VTS approved emergencies only
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Channel closed
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8/25/2020 22:00
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All traffic, no pilots will be available
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Port Condition Yankee set
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8/25/2020 16:00
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Hurricane Laura
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Port Condition Zulu set
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8/26/2020 06:00
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Hurricane Laura
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COVID-19 Updates
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CBP-related Notes and Observations
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- CBP Beaumont is asking for all offsigning crew flights to be made direct from Houston or Dallas (no stopovers in USA), and owners must attest that all boarding requirements by the airline and country of destination have been met. Please inquire with our office about crew changes.
- Agents are still entering & clearing vessels using scanned copies of certificates for all vessels that are willing to cooperate, which means agents are not required to board the vessels in-person unless requested by the Master.
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USCG-related Notes and Observations
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- At this time, there are no USCG restrictions with reference to COVID-19, per se. Additional screening by VTS is in effect, but not hindering operations for the vast majority of vessels and terminals.
- “Administrative COC exams” allow for USCG to review necessary items by email only. These are conducted at USCG’s discretion and initiation, and cannot be specifically requested by agents nor owners, currently.
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Local Municipality Notes and Observations
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- The state of Texas is under precautionary guidance, which includes social distancing measures that our office is following. Vessel attendance by boarding agents is currently still limited to where strictly necessary.
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Terminal-related Notes and Observations
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- USCG has reiterated to all terminals with approved security plans to adhere to them, and to allow crew access as needed (MSIB 07-20 Change 2 as of 08 May).
- As of 21 Aug, Sabine Pass LNG terminal is requiring all crew changes to be conducted via launch, in addition to stores and visitors.
Surveyors and terminal personnel are not boarding vessels for exchange of paperwork. For the time being, all paperwork exchange remains via email only.
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Cameron
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Date
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Temperature Low
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Dew Point High
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Fog Risk*
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26-Aug
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82
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°F
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82
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°F
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Low
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27-Aug
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81
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°F
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81
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°F
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Low
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28-Aug
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82
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°F
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81
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°F
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Low
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29-Aug
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82
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°F
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81
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°F
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Low
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30-Aug
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81
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°F
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81
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°F
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Low
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Source: Weather Underground
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Johnson's Bayou Station
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| |
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* Note: fog season not in effect at this time
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Sea Conditions
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*Forecast currently unavailable*
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Source: National Weather Service
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GMZ450
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Additional Notes:
- As of 06:00 hrs lt on 26 Aug, the COTP has set Port Condition Zulu (tropical storm force winds imminent).
|
Event
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Date Time
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Remarks
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Port Condition Whiskey set
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8/22/2020 07:00
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TS Marco
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Port Condition Xray set
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8/22/2020 20:00
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TS Marco
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Channel closed
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8/24/2020 09:00
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Inbound traffic
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Channel closed
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8/24/2020 18:00
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All traffic
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Port Condition Yankee set
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8/25/2020 16:00
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Hurricane Laura
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Port Condition Zulu set
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8/26/2020 06:00
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Hurricane Laura
|
|
COVID-19 Updates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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CBP-related Notes and Observations
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- CBP has advised that all flights to Manila must depart before the vessel sails from its berth, and that additional requirements may be imposed on a case-by-case basis. For this reason, we continue to apply for all crew changes in writing, and are working directly with owners to mitigate the chances of unforeseen circumstances.
- Agents are still entering & clearing vessels using scanned copies of certificates for all vessels that are willing to cooperate, which means agents are not required to board the vessels in-person unless requested by the Master.
|
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USCG-related Notes and Observations
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- At this time, there are no USCG restrictions with reference to COVID-19, per se. Additional screening by VTS is in effect, but not hindering operations for the vast majority of vessels and terminals.
- For LNG tankers, COC exams are still conducted dockside.
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Local Municipality Notes and Observations
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- At this time, Cameron Parish (including Lake Charles and Cameron) is not restricting travel nor operations. In observance of DSHS guidelines and for the safety of vessel crew, our office is limiting boarding agent attendance to where strictly necessary.
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Terminal-related Notes and Observations
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- USCG has reiterated to all terminals with approved security plans to adhere to them, and to allow crew access as needed (MSIB 07-20 Change 2 as of 08 May).
- All visitors or deliveries to Cameron LNG that are not directly related to cargo are being denied at the gate, and may instead attend via launch only. This includes crew for crew change.
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For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at [email protected]
