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Office of External Affairs |
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| News Release |
Date: Sept. 19, 2008 |
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Update 3: Coast Guard continues restrictions on the ship channel |
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HOUSTON - The Coast Guard Captain of the Port of Houston-Galveston has re-opened portions of the Houston Ship Channel to commercial traffic, with restrictions. The following openings and restrictions are in effect: The Houston Ship Channel is open at all times to maritime traffic with a draft of 16 feet or less, but will remain open for daylight transit only from the sea buoy to Sims Bayou at project depth and Sims Bayou to the Turning Basin for ships with a draft of 34 feet or less. Currently, no changes to draft limitations have been made to all other affected waterways. To view the draft limits on all waterways not listed click here: http://www.d8externalaffairs.com/go/page/425/25407 Mariners are advised that aids to navigation may be off station and should exercise the slowest speed and use caution when transiting the area. All facilities are recommended to complete their facility self-assessment checklist before requesting a Coast Guard facility inspection. Local, state and federal agencies are continuing to survey all navigable waterways impacted by Hurricane Ike. All other waterway restrictions in the Houston-Galveston area remain in place until ongoing post-hurricane assessments for aids to navigation, pollution and navigational hazards are completed. The Coast Guard encourages all recreational boaters to stay off the waterways until further notice. There are still many obstructions and submerged navigational hazards. The Coast Guard's ability to communicate with mariners in distress is limited due to damage suffered after Hurricane Ike. For Ship Channel information please use the following link: http://www.uscgstormwatch.com/go/site/1769/ ### Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790. |
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