Vessel Traffic Service Houston/Galveston

1
Vessel Traffic ServiceHouston/Galveston
State of the Waterway - 2001
2
VTS MOVEMENTS - 2001

• User Statistics 147,726 (-1.5 fm 00)
• Ships 19,595
• Tug/Tow 113,071
• Public 1,139
• Other 13,921
• Ferries 86,241
• Total w/Ferries 233,967

3
TRANSIT SUMMARY - 2001
4
VTS TRANSITS 1991-2001
(DOES NOT INCLUDE FERRY TRANSITS)
5
TRANSIT TRENDS

• Overall Reduction in Transits 00-01 1.5
• Percentage Change by Type
• Ships -5.2
• Tows -4.7
• Other 40.4
• Change Factors
• Economic Slowdown Summer 01
• Fuel Costs
• Revitalization of Oil Patch OSV Megaport

6
INCIDENT SUMMARY - 2001

• 196 INCIDENTS
• 85 VESSEL CASUALTIES
• 56 GROUNDINGS
• 34 MISCELLANEOUS
• 12 COLLISIONS
• 9 ALLISIONS
• 56 UNUSUAL EVENTS
• 26 VESSEL CASUALTIES
• 24 MISCELLANEOUS
• 3 ALLISIONS
• 3 COLLISIONS

7
MAJOR INCIDENTS - 2001

• I 610 Bridge Allision, M/V LEON 05/31
• Tropical Storm Allison 06/05 to 07/11
• From Initial Passage to End of Restrictions
• Collision and resultant spill between M/V NEW
  AMITY and UTV CARSON 9/22
• Trends from past two years
• Decrease in Groundings and Allisions
• Increase in Vessel Casualties and Collisions

8
I-610 Bridge
Greens Bayou Post Allison
9
VESSEL CASUALTIES

• 85 TOTAL VSL CASUALTIES
• 54 SHIP
• 28 TOW
• 3 MISC

10
2001 VESSEL CASUALTIES

• 54 TOTAL SHIP CASUALTIES
• 28 WITHIN 30 MIN OF GETTING UNDERWAY
• 44 PROPULSION FAILURES
• 6 GENERATOR/ELECTRICAL FAILURES
• 2 STEERING CASUALTIES
• 2 GYRO COMPASS FAILURES
• 1 SHIP CASUALTY PER 363 SHIP TRANSITS
• 28 TOTAL TOW CASUALTIES
• 20 PROPULSION FAILURES
• 5 STEERING CASUALTIES
• 3 GENERATOR/ELECTRICAL FAILURES
• 1 TOW CASUALTY PER 4038 TOW TRANSITS

11
GROUNDINGS

• 56 TOTAL GROUNDINGS
• 54 TOW GROUNDINGS
• 1 PER 2094 TOW TRANSITS
• 2 SHIP GROUNDINGS
• 1 PER 9798 SHIP TRANSITS

12
2001 GROUNDINGS

• 54 TOTAL TOW GROUNDINGS
• 23 GICW AREA
• 3 TEXAS CITY
• 8 LOWER BAY (GB-REDFISH)
• 12 UPPER BAY (REDFISH-MP)
• 8 UPPER CHANNEL
• 2 TOTAL SHIP GROUNDINGS
• 1 TEXAS CITY
• 1 UPPER BAY (MORGANS PT)

13
Houston
UPPER BAY - 8
GROUNDINGS 2001
Morgans Point
Galveston Bay
MID BAY - 12
LOWER BAY - 8
Texas City
ICW - 23
TX CITY - 3
Galveston
14
2001 COLLISIONS

• 12 COLLISIONS
• 7 SHIP/TOW
• 5 OVERTAKING
• 1 MEETING
• 1 CROSSING
• 4 TOW/TOW
• 1 TOW/SHRIMPER
• 1 TOW COLLISION PER 9,423 TOW TRANSITS
• 1 SHIP COLLISION PER 2,799 SHIP TRANSITS

15
2001 ALLISIONS

• 9 ALLISIONS
• 4 INVOLVING TOWS
• 3 W/DOCKS
• 1 W/DOCKED SHIP
• 1 PER 28,268 TOW TRANSITS
• 5 INVOLVING SHIPS
• 2 W/ I-610 BRIDGE
• 3 W/DOCKS
• 1 PER 3,919 SHIP TRANSITS

16
2001 CHANNEL CLOSURESReported in hours
17
VTS MILESTONES - 2001

• In response to User concerns about radio
  congestion, a joint work group focused on the
  problem and developed a solution add VHF 05A
  for VTS check-ins
• As a means to improve watchstander effectiveness
  and automate database functions, the Coast Guard
  Vessel Tracking System was brought on line in
  April
• Standard System at four VTSs (NY/HG/SF/PS)
• Allows for dead reckoning and radar tracking of
  vessels
• Displays AIS capable vsls
• The Second Edition of the Facility
• Information Guide was completed,
• including Freeport and Chocolate
• Bayou

18
CURRENT PROJECTS

• Continued HOGANSAC and Industry partnerships
• ATON Knockdown Subcmte
• Mooring Safety Subcmte
• Interagency Coordination Team
• Dredging Safety
• Bridge Allision Group
• Port Security
• Providing COTP with pressure barge data
• Last check gate for surprise high risk vessels
• Camera surveillance of Houston Ship Channel
• Improve Upper HSC Comms
• Eliminate known weak spots on VHF 11 by
  establishing comms site at Lynchburg tower

19
ON THE HORIZON

• Harbor Safety Conference 2002
• Moody Gardens, 3-5 March
• Revised VTS Users Manual
• Extension of VTS Area w/GBEC realignment for
  Deepening and Widening
• VTS Change of Command , Summer 02

20
VTS Contact Information

• CDR Peter Simons, Commanding Officer
• 713 671 5164
• psimons_at_vtshouston.uscg.mil
• LT Jeff Novak, Operations Officer
• Will be relieved by LT Marc Burd, 01 April
• 713 671 5155
• jnovak(or mburd)_at_vtshouston.uscg.mil
• Vessel Traffic Center, Watch Supervisor
• 24 hours, 365 days
• 713 671 5103
• vtshouws_at_vtshouston.uscg.mil