33 CFR § 161.35 - Vessel Traffic Service Houston/Galveston.
(a) The VTS area consists of the following major waterways and portions of connecting waterways: Galveston Bay Entrance Channel; Outer Bar Channel; Inner Bar Channel; Bolivar Roads Channel; Galveston Channel; Gulf ICW and Galveston-Freeport Cut-Off from Mile 346 to Mile 352; Texas City Channel; Texas City Turning Basin; Texas City Canal Channel; Texas City Canal Turning Basin; Houston Ship Channel; Bayport Channel; Bayport Turning Basin; Houston Turning Basin; and the following precautionary areas associated with these waterways.
(b) Precautionary areas.
Table 161.35(b)—VTS Houston/Galveston Precautionary Areas
| Precautionary area name | Radius (yds.) | Center point | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latitude | Longitude | ||
| Bolivar Roads | 4000 | 29°20.9′ N | 94°47.0′ W |
| Red Fish Bar | 4000 | 29°29.8′ N | 94°51.9′ W |
| Bayport Channel | 4000 | 29°36.7′ N | 94°57.2′ W |
| Morgans Point | 2000 | 29°41.0′ N | 94°59.0′ W |
| Upper San Jacinto Bay | 1000 | 29°42.3′ N | 95°01.1′ W |
| Baytown | 1000 | 29°43.6′ N | 95°01.4′ W |
| Lynchburg | 1000 | 29°45.8′ N | 95°04.8′ W |
| Carpenters Bayou | 1000 | 29°45.3′ N | 95°05.6′ W |
| Jacintoport | 1000 | 29°44.8′ N | 95°06.0′ W |
| Greens Bayou | 1000 | 29°44.8′ N | 95°10.2′ W |
| Hunting Bayou | 1000 | 29°44.3′ N | 95°12.1′ W |
| Sims Bayou | 1000 | 29°43.2′ N | 95°14.4′ W |
| Brady Island | 1000 | 29°43.5′ N | 95°16.4′ W |
| Buffalo Bayou | 1000 | 29°45.0′ N | 95°17.3′ W |
Note: Each Precautionary Area encompasses a circular area of the radius denoted.
(c) Reporting points.
Table 161.35(c)—VTS Houston/Galveston Reporting Points
| Designator | Geographic name | Geographic description | Latitude/ longitude | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galveston Bay Entrance Channel | Galveston Bay Entrance CH Lighted Buoy (LB) “1C” | 29°18.2′ N; 94°37.6′ W | |
| 2 | Galveston Bay Entrance Channel | Galveston Bay Entrance Channel LB 11 and 12 | 29°20.6′ N; 94°44.6′ W | |
| E | Bolivar Land Cut | Mile 349 Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) | 29°22.5′ N; 94°46.9′ W | Tows entering HSC also report at HSC LB 25 & 26. |
| W | Pelican Cut | Mile 351 ICW | 29°21.4′ N; 94°48.5′ W | Tows entering HSC also report at HSC LB 25 & 26. |
| G | Galveston Harbor | Galveston Channel Lt. 2 | 29°20.2′ N; 94°46.6′ W | Coast Guard Base. |
| T | Texas City Channel | Texas City Channel Lt. 12 | 29°22.4′ N; 94°50.9′ W | |
| X | Houston Ship Channel ICW Intersection | Houston Ship Channel (HSC) LB 25 and 26 | 29°22.2′ N; 94°48.1′ W | Tow entering HSC from ICW or Texas Cut Only. |
| 3 | Lower Galveston Bay | HSC Lt. 31 and LB 32 | 29°23.8′ N; 94°48.9′ W | |
| 4 | Red Fish Bar | HSC Lt. 53 & 54 | 29°30.3′ N; 94°52.4′ W | |
| P | Bayport Ship Channel | Bayport Ship Channel Lt. 8 and 9 | 29°36.8′ N; 94°59.5′ W | Bayport Land Cut. |
| 4A | Upper Galveston Bay | HSC Lt. 69 and 70 | 29°34.7′ N; 94°55.8′ W | Tows only. |
| 5 | Morgan's Point | HSC Lt. 91 | 29°41.0′ N; 94°59.0′ W | |
| 6 | Exxon | HSC Lt. 109A | 29°43.5′ N; 95°01.4′ W | |
| 7 | Lynchburg | Ferry crossing | 29°45.8′ N; 95°04.8′ W | |
| 8 | Shell Oil | Boggy Bayou | 29°44.1′ N; 95°08.0′ W | |
| 9 | Greens Bayou | HSC Lt. 152 | 29°44.8′ N; 95°10.1′ W | |
| 10 | Hunting Bayou | Hunting Bayou Turning Basin. | 29°44.4′ N; 95°12.1′ W | |
| 11 | Lyondell | Sims Bayou Turning Basin. | 29°43.2′ N; 95°14.4′ W | |
| 12 | I–610 Bridge | I–610 Bridge | 29°43.5′ N; 95°16.0′ W | |
| 13 | Buffalo Bayou | Houston Turning Basin | 29°45.0′ N; 95° 17.4′ W |