Hurricane Planning 2012

1. Hurricane Planning 2012 SABINE-NECHES WATERWAY

2. Hurricane/Severe Weather Plans • MSU Port Arthur Maritime Industry Plan • Port Conditions • MSU Port Arthur Hurricane Plan • Hurricane/Severe Weather Response Operations • Sector Houston – Galveston Instruction 3006 • Severe Weather Plan

3. Port Plan Port Hurricane Plan http://homeport.uscg.mil/portarthur VTS Port Arthur Website http://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

4. 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. Port Plan Cont.

5. 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. Port Plan Cont.

6. Port Preparedness 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 Communications Marine Safety Info. Broadcast / Broadcast Notice to Mariners Alert Warning System 2.0 / HomePort Notification Port Coordination Team Phone Conferences

7. What are the Coast Guard’spre-storm actions? Disaster Assessment Team – (DAT) Evacuate to Kountze, TX – county courthouse Pre-storm SAR (when necessary) Pre-storm Assessments Complete facilities status updates Identify waterway hazards and risks Identify potential pollution risks

8. Port Conditions/HURCONs Gale force winds - greater than 34 knots (39 mph)

9. Port Coordination Team What is the Port Coordination Team (PCT): The PCT functions as an information exchange entity to help coordinate closing/opening of Port. Proven track record; worked well during previous waterway incidents & hurricanes. PCT is responsible for entering data into Common Assessment and Reporting Tool (CART) for vessels.

10. Hurricane Port Conditions • WHISKEY - Gale force winds landfall within 72 hours • 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. 

11. Hurricane Port Conditions • X-RAY - Gale force winds landfall within 48 hours • The COTP will update radio broadcasts and MSIB. • Bunkering / lightering should be complete. • Ships should complete cargo operations.  • Anticipate that the COTP will order the port closed to all vessel movements except for emergency / rescue traffic at Port Condition Zulu.

12. Hurricane Port Conditions • YANKEE - Gale force winds landfall within 24 hours • The COPT will update radio broadcasts and MSIB. • 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. • 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. • The COTP may close the port to all marine traffic except for emergency / rescue traffic when sustained winds exceed 35 knots.

13. Hurricane Port Conditions • ZULU - Gale force winds landfall within 12 hours • 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. • All cargo handling operations will be suspended. • Ships personnel should inspect the mooring / anchor lines, note the possibility of storm surge.

14. Port Restoration & Recovery Marine Transportation System Recovery Unit (MTSRU) Included in the ICS structure (Commonly in Planning) Stood up prior to landfall Responsible for reaching out to facilities for data Responsible for entering data into CART for facilities

15. Coast Guard’s Actions Coast Guard will contact you PCT responsible for Vessels Will enter vessel data into CART MTSRU responsible for Facilities and Waterways Will enter facility data, channel closures, ATON discrepancies, etc. into CART Purpose of CART: The information contained in CART assists the MTSRU in making MTS Recovery recommendations to the Unified Command and facilitates MTS Recovery Operations.

16. What are the Coast Guard’spost-storm actions? Post-Storm response efforts will be directed from the Incident Command Post (ICP). Location of the ICP will depend of the severity of the storm Search and Rescue / Pollution Response Phase Rapid Assessment Team deployed to incident area Restoration of commercial operations Channels surveyed to ensure safety of vessel traffic Vessel traffic prioritized

17. Questions Comments Concerns