MSU Port Arthur Maritime Industry PlanoPort Conditions

MSU Port Arthur Hurricane PlanoHurricane/Severe Weather Response Operations

Sector Houston – Galveston Instruction 3006oSevere Weather Plan

Port Hurricane Planohttp://homeport.uscg.mil/portarthur

VTS Port Arthur Websiteohttp://www.uscg.mil/d8/vtsPortArthur/Hurricanes.asp

• All vessel owners and operators should review available hurricane plans and checklists.

• Industry Hurricane Planning Information

• Remaining in-port checklists for ships

• Remaining in-port checklists for tugs/barges

► As there are no “safe havens” within the zone, the COTP believes that when sustained tropical storm winds or greater are imminent, evasion at sea is the safest course of action for all seaworthy, deep-draft vessels. This is a recommendation.

► Ultimately, the responsibility for the safety of a vessel and its crew rests with the vessel’s master. Therefore, unless a thorough assessment of the situation indicates a greater level of risk to the safety of life in the port, the COTP will respect a master’s decision to remain in port.

► Facility operators should be advised that the COTP will not order vessels to depart the facility if doing so would unduly

hazard the vessel.

► As there are no safe havens in the Port Arthur COTP zone, the risk of damage to our ports is reduced when the number of commercial vessels is minimized. Accordingly, commercial ocean-going vessels and ocean-going tug/barge combinations over 500 GT are encouraged to depart the port when hurricanes approach.

► Masters or agents of vessels unable to depart the port must submit a Remaining In Port Checklist and submit to VTS Port Arthur.

Press up tanks (Landside Facilities)

Know which vessels staying in port / departing

Extremely low probability of small vessels surviving the storm South of Texaco Island

CommunicationsoMarine Safety Info. Broadcast / Broadcast Notice to Mariners

oAlert Warning System 2.0 / HomePort Notification

oPort Coordination Team Phone Conferences

►Disaster Assessment Team – (DAT)o Evacuate to Kountze, TX – county courthouse

►Pre-storm SAR (when necessary)

►Pre-storm Assessmentso Complete facilities status updates

o Identify waterway hazards and risks

o Identify potential pollution risks

Time until gale Time until gale force windsforce winds Port ConditionsPort Conditions HurricaneHurricane

ConditionsConditionsHurricane Hurricane CategoryCategory Sustained WindsSustained Winds

Jun 1st – Nov 30th Normal 5 Tropical Storm 39-73 mph

96 hours Normal 4 1 74-95 mph

72 hours Whiskey 4+ 2 96-110 mph

48 hours X-Ray 3 3 111-129 mph

24 hours Yankee 2 4 130-156 mph

12 hours Zulu 1 5 157 mph/+

Gale force winds - greater than 34 knots (39 mph)

What is the Port Coordination Team (PCT):oThe PCT functions as an information exchange entity to help

coordinate closing/opening of Port.

oProven track record; worked well during previous waterway incidents & hurricanes.

oPCT is responsible for entering data into Common Assessment and Reporting Tool (CART) for vessels.

WHISKEY - Gale force winds landfall within 72 hourso The Captain Of The Port (COTP) will issue radio broadcasts

and Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) as needed to keep mariners informed of developing conditions. 

X-RAY - Gale force winds landfall within 48 hourso The COTP will update radio broadcasts and MSIB.

o Bunkering / lightering should be complete.

o Ships should complete cargo operations. 

o Anticipate that the COTP will order the port closed to all vessel movements except for emergency / rescue traffic at Port Condition Zulu.

YANKEE - Gale force winds landfall within 24 hourso The COPT will update radio broadcasts and MSIB. o Facilities notified that the COTP will order cessation of cargo handling

operations during condition ZULU. Facilities may insist that vessels depart their docks during this time.

o Movements will be permitted by the COTP at Port Condition Zulu only when a suitable lay berth or anchorage space is available nearby. Ships personnel should inspect the mooring / anchoring lines, note the possibility of storm surge.

o The COTP may close the port to all marine traffic except for

emergency / rescue traffic when sustained winds exceed 35 knots.

ZULU - Gale force winds landfall within 12 hourso The COTP may update radio broadcast and MSIB to notify

the maritime community that the port is closed to all commercial traffic with exception of emergency / rescue traffic.

o All cargo handling operations will be suspended.

o Ships personnel should inspect the mooring / anchor lines, note the possibility of storm surge.

Marine Transportation System Recovery Unit (MTSRU)o Included in the ICS structure (Commonly in Planning)

o Stood up prior to landfall

o Responsible for reaching out to facilities for data

o Responsible for entering data into CART for facilities

Coast Guard will contact youo PCT responsible for Vessels

• Will enter vessel data into CART

o MTSRU responsible for Facilities and Waterways

• Will enter facility data, channel closures, ATON discrepancies, etc. into CART

►Purpose of CART: oThe information contained in CART assists the MTSRU in

making MTS Recovery recommendations to the Unified Command and facilitates MTS Recovery Operations.

►Post-Storm response efforts will be directed from the Incident Command Post (ICP).oLocation of the ICP will depend of the severity of the storm

►Search and Rescue / Pollution Response Phaseo Rapid Assessment Team deployed to incident area

►Restoration of commercial operationso Channels surveyed to ensure safety of vessel traffic

o Vessel traffic prioritized