Galveston Bay Mariners Info
The sailboat racers with the Galveston Bay Cruising Association (GBCA - www.gbca.org) have kindly kept track of a number of visible and underwater obstructions that they have encountered in their racing on Galveston Bay. They have created a map using Google Maps that show the locations. When you see the various marks on the map, you can just move your mouse over them, and they will describe what is known about the obstructions, as well as give the exact latitude and longitude (per the skipper of the given boat) that the obstruction was encountered at. Click here to see the map.
This update regarding the decommissioning of two of the WAAS satellites and the corresponding degradation in signal expected is reported by Hemisphere GPS ( www.hemispheregps.com ). Click here to see their report.
Due to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, boating in and around major ports the world over has changed. Galveston Bay is no exception. In fact, due to the petrochemical and cruise ship activity we have, we are probably at as great a risk as any port in the United States. Because of this, the U.S. Coast Guard has issued a bulletin outlining what areas fall under security measures, and what is expected of you - the professional or recreational boater. Click here http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/so/USCG%20Marine%20Bulletin%2012-04-01.pdf to read the statement in full, directly from the Coast Guard site. It is an Adobe Acrobat file. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, see our Newsletter page to get your free download copy, and then go read this very important message.
Dear Galveston Bay Waterway Users,
Dredging for the 300-foot wide, 8-foot deep south boater cut Houston Ship Channel Light 61/62 was completed by the Galveston District, US Army Corps of Engineers, last week. The US Coast Guard remains on schedule to mark the cut during the week of February 10. Once marking is finished, another message will be sent indicating that the cut is officially available for use. For additional information regarding dredging activities on the Houston Ship Channel visit the Galveston District Safety Office web site at www.usace.army.mil/so .
Thank you.
Dan Wyatt
Chief, Safety &
Occupational Health
Galveston District
Dear Galveston Bay Waterway Users:
The US Coast Guard is planning on installing navigation aids marking the South Boater Cut at Houston Ship Channel Light 61 sometime between February 1 and February 15, 2003, in accordance with the following 8th Coast Guard District Notice to Mariners Number 53/02, dated December 31, 2002:
TX - UPPER GALVESTON BAY - Houston Ship Channel The following changes to aids to navigation will be made in the Houston Ship Channel between February 1, 2003 and February 15, 2003:
South Boater Cut Lt 1 (LLNR-23136) will be established in approximate position 29-32-35.1N 094-53-12.2W showing Fl G 4s 17 ft 3M.
South Boater Cut Daybeacon 3 (LLNR-23136.3) will be established in approximate position 29-32-32.0N 094-53-37.0W showing SG on pile.
South Boater Cut Daybeacon 4 (LLNR-23136.4) will be established in approximate position 29-32-36.0N 094-53-37.6W showing TR on pile.
Houston Ship Channel Lt 61 (LLNR-23130) will be relocated to approximate position 29-32-24.1N 094-54-09.9W.
Houston Ship Channel Lt 62 (LLNR-23135) will be relocated to approximate position 29-32-28.9N 094-54-01.9W.
South Boater Cut Daybeacon 5 (LLNR-23136.5) will be established in approximate position 29-32-24.2N 094-54-39.3W showing SG on pile.
South Boater Cut Daybeacon 6 (LLNR-23136.6) will be established in approximate position 29-32-28.2N 094-54-39.9W showing TR on pile.
South Boater Cut Lt 8 (LLNR-23136.8) will be established in approximate position 29-32-25.1N 094-55-04.8W showing Fl R 4s 17 ft 3M.
Charts: 11326, 11327
Ref: ANDP 08-03-02D
According to US Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District personnel associated with the Mid Bay project, this timetable appears valid. Therefore, assuming no unforeseen delays, the south boater cut should be available for use by mid February.
Recent rescheduling of dredging priorities associated with the Mid Bay Project has resulted in a revised estimated closing date of the Houston Ship Channel crossing at Light 68 to around mid-April 2003. However, the Mid Bay project contractor, Weeks Marine Inc, can start construction of the mid bay placement area, which will block the crossing near Light 68, at any time after the US Coast Guard completes marking of the south boater cut. Boaters are encouraged to visit our website, <http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/so/>
http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/so/ for the latest information. A chart prepared by the Coast Guard in early 2002, and recently revised to include the word "Proposed", depicting the proposed marking of the south boater cut is included below as the first attachment. The second attachment gives the latitude and longitude of the boater cut's west and east ends.
The reconstruction of Redfish Island by the Galveston District is complete and will be turned over to the Port of Houston Authority, the project sponsor, to operate and maintain. See attachments three and four for pre-construction water depth information around Redfish. Boaters are reminded that water depths south of the reconstructed portion of Redfish remain as shallow as one and two feet. Hard copies of a new map, depicting post-construction water depths around Redfish, will be distributed to Clear Lake area marine stores shortly.
If you are unable to open the attachments, they can be viewed on the above web page as part of our public briefing slides.
Thanks are extended to all vessel operators, both recreational and commercial, for your assistance in going over a year so far on the Mid Bay deepening and widening project of the Houston Ship Channel without any personal injuries involving vessel collisions.
For additional information concerning the Houston Ship Channel deepening and widening project contact the Galveston District Project Manager, Dalton Krueger, at 409-766-3026. If I can provide assistance with safety aspects of the project, contact me at 409-766-3101.
Danny Wyatt
Chief, Safety & Occupational Health
Galveston District
US Army Corps of Engineers
EDITORS NOTE: Danny Wyatt also provided the following three files regarding the boaters cut and Redfish island. Two are PDF files (requiring acrobat reader - Click here to install) and one picture file (JPG). He also included a link to the Corp Of Engineers web page. I have not condensed any of the three so that you can download them and view them in full resolution:
RedFishAnchorage.pdf (102 KB)
RedFishDesign.pdf
(168 KB)
S Boaters
Cut.jpg (984 KB)
Boater
Cuts - Web Info.htm (10 KB)