Port Update
Port Arthur, TX / Sabine / Neches
January 12, 2024
Notices
Sabine Pilots Status: AS OF 0230 ON 1/12/24 ALL FURTHER INBOUND AND OUTBOUND TRAFFIC HAS BEEN SUSPENDED DUR TO POOR VISIBILITY ON THE CHANNEL TRAFFIC WILL RESUME WHEN CONDITIONS IMPROVE.
Weather / Marine Zone Forecast
Attached, 3 months helicopter trial starting January 2024 by Sabine Bank Pilots.
Friday: Northwest winds 25 to 30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots. Seas 4 to 6 feet, occasionally to 8 feet.
Friday Night: Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots with gusts up to 25 knots, becoming north 5 to 10 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 4 feet.
Saturday: Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming south in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot or less.
Saturday Night: Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less, then around 2 feet after midnight.
Sunday: East winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Sunday Night: East winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to0 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A slight chance of showers after midnight.
Monday: Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A slight chance of showers in the morning, then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night: North winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. A chance of showers, mainly in the evening.
Tuesday: North winds 20 to 25 knots, diminishing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet.
Tuesday Night: North winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. winds and seas higher in and near thunderstorms.
Friday Night: Northwest winds 15 to 20 knots with gusts up to 25 knots, becoming north 5 to 10 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 4 feet.
Saturday: Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming south in the afternoon. Seas 1 foot or less.
Saturday Night: Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 foot or less, then around 2 feet after midnight.
Sunday: East winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
Sunday Night: East winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to0 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A slight chance of showers after midnight.
Monday: Northeast winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A slight chance of showers in the morning, then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night: North winds 20 to 25 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. A chance of showers, mainly in the evening.
Tuesday: North winds 20 to 25 knots, diminishing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet.
Tuesday Night: North winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. winds and seas higher in and near thunderstorms.
Port / Terminal Restrictions
2024 Channel Closures
Jan 05th- 0905 Pilot service suspended due to high winds / rough seas
Jan 05th- 1630 Pilot service resumed.
Jan 05th- 0905 Pilot service suspended due to high winds / rough seas
Jan 05th- 1630 Pilot service resumed.
Jan 12th- 0230 Pilots service suspended due to poor visibility
General Channel Restrictions/Info
* Max Safe Draft 40ft FW
* Air Draft above Valero Terminal – Less than 136ft for passing 3 fixed bridges
* 800ft wide channel from 29/30 Buoy to Texaco Island
* 400ft wide channel from Texas Island to Port of Beaumont
* “SB” Buoy is located at Lat. 29-25N Lon. 93-40W
* Navigational Charts NOAA 11341, 11342 & 11343 cover the entire waterway
* Sabine Pilots www.sabinepilots.com
Sabine Pilot Restrictions
* Vessels 85,000 DWT or over, 875 FT LOA or over or 125FT beam or over will transit during daylight hours only above Texaco Island. Only one (1) of the limitations has to be met to restrict a vessel.
* Daylight Restriction times are based on the daylight hours and are adjusted according to sun rise/sun set. Current times as follows, the terminals shown are the ones that handle Aframax size vessels which are typically daylight restricted.
(INBOUND)
ExxonMobil 0500-1030 Hrs Approx Transit time “SB” Buoy to Berth – 8hrs
Enterprise BMW 0500-1130 Hrs
Sun Terminal 0500-1200 Hrs
Phillips 66 0500-1200 Hrs
Motiva PN 0500-1330 Hrs
Total 0500-1400 Hrs Approx Transit time “SB” Buoy to Berth – 5.5hrs
(OUTBOUND)
ExxonMobil 0600-1400 Hrs
Enterprise BMW 0600-1430 Hrs
Sun Terminal 0600-1500 Hrs
Phillips 66 0600-1530 Hrs
Motiva PN 0600-1530 Hrs
Total 0600-1430 Hrs
* Vessels with the combined beam of one-half the width of the channel will not meet/pass day or night.
* Any vessel that meets or exceeds either or both 860FT LOA or 120FT beam will require two pilots.
Vessels that do not exceed the above size restrictions can transit day or night consistent with other port traffic movements. Vessels that are daylight restricted will generally have priority to move before non-daylight restricted vessels.
* Max Safe Draft 40ft FW
* Air Draft above Valero Terminal – Less than 136ft for passing 3 fixed bridges
* 800ft wide channel from 29/30 Buoy to Texaco Island
* 400ft wide channel from Texas Island to Port of Beaumont
* “SB” Buoy is located at Lat. 29-25N Lon. 93-40W
* Navigational Charts NOAA 11341, 11342 & 11343 cover the entire waterway
* Sabine Pilots www.sabinepilots.com
Sabine Pilot Restrictions
* Vessels 85,000 DWT or over, 875 FT LOA or over or 125FT beam or over will transit during daylight hours only above Texaco Island. Only one (1) of the limitations has to be met to restrict a vessel.
* Daylight Restriction times are based on the daylight hours and are adjusted according to sun rise/sun set. Current times as follows, the terminals shown are the ones that handle Aframax size vessels which are typically daylight restricted.
(INBOUND)
ExxonMobil 0500-1030 Hrs Approx Transit time “SB” Buoy to Berth – 8hrs
Enterprise BMW 0500-1130 Hrs
Sun Terminal 0500-1200 Hrs
Phillips 66 0500-1200 Hrs
Motiva PN 0500-1330 Hrs
Total 0500-1400 Hrs Approx Transit time “SB” Buoy to Berth – 5.5hrs
(OUTBOUND)
ExxonMobil 0600-1400 Hrs
Enterprise BMW 0600-1430 Hrs
Sun Terminal 0600-1500 Hrs
Phillips 66 0600-1530 Hrs
Motiva PN 0600-1530 Hrs
Total 0600-1430 Hrs
* Vessels with the combined beam of one-half the width of the channel will not meet/pass day or night.
* Any vessel that meets or exceeds either or both 860FT LOA or 120FT beam will require two pilots.
Vessels that do not exceed the above size restrictions can transit day or night consistent with other port traffic movements. Vessels that are daylight restricted will generally have priority to move before non-daylight restricted vessels.
