Port Update
Port Arthur, TX / Sabine / Neches
January 23, 2024
Notices
Sabine Pilots advise pilot service was suspended 1904/22nd due to fog.
Weather / Marine Zone Forecast
As per attached forecast, there is a high probability of fog 23rd-27th.
Today: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Areas of fog before 2pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog. Low around 63. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before noon, then patchy fog after 5pm. High near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 9pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 9pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Patchy fog before 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 10 mph becoming west after midnight.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 62.
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ATTACHED LATEST WEATHER REPORTS.
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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 12th- 0230 Pilot service suspended due to poor visibility
Jan 05th- 0905 Pilot service suspended due to high winds / rough seas
Jan 05th- 1630 Pilot service resumed
Jan 12th- 0230 Pilot service suspended due to poor visibility
Jan 12th- 0900 Pilot service resumed
Jan 12th- 1030 Pilot service suspended offshore due to high winds
Jan 12th- 2000 Pilot service resumed
Jan 15th- 1600 Pilot service suspended due to freezing temps and icy road conditions
Jan 12th- 2000 Pilot service resumed
Jan 15th- 1600 Pilot service suspended due to freezing temps and icy road conditions
Jan 16th- 1400 Pilot service resumed
Jan 18th- 0430 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Jan 18th- 0430 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Jan 19th- 0600 Pilot service resumed
Jan 22nd- 1904 Pilot service suspended due to fog
Jan 22nd- 1904 Pilot service suspended due to fog
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.
