Statutes, codes, and regulations
Code of Federal Regulations
Title 33 - NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERSChapter I - COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITYSubchapter P - PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETYPart 161 - VESSEL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
Subpart C - VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE AND VESSEL MOVEMENT REPORTING SYSTEM AREAS AND REPORTING POINTS
Section 161.35 - Vessel Traffic Service Houston/Galveston

33 C.F.R. § 161.35

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Current through May 31, 2024
Section 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 nameRadius (yds.)Center point
Latitude Longitude
Bolivar Roads400029°20.9' N94°47.0' W
Red Fish Bar400029°29.8' N94°51.9' W
Bayport Channel400029°36.7' N94°57.2' W
Morgans Point200029°41.0' N94°59.0' W
Upper San Jacinto Bay100029°42.3' N95°01.1' W
Baytown100029°43.6' N95°01.4' W
Lynchburg100029°45.8' N95°04.8' W
Carpenters Bayou100029°45.3' N95°05.6' W
Jacintoport100029°44.8' N95°06.0' W
Greens Bayou100029°44.8' N95°10.2' W
Hunting Bayou100029°44.3' N95°12.1' W
Sims Bayou100029°43.2' N95°14.4' W
Brady Island100029°43.5' N95°16.4' W
Buffalo Bayou100029°45.0' N95°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
1Galveston Bay Entrance ChannelGalveston Bay Entrance CH Lighted Buoy (LB) "1C"29°18.2' N; 94°37.6' W
2Galveston Bay Entrance ChannelGalveston Bay Entrance Channel LB 11 and 1229°20.6' N; 94°44.6' W
EBolivar Land CutMile 349 Intracoastal Waterway (ICW)29°22.5' N; 94°46.9' WTows entering HSC also report at HSC LB 25 & 26.
WPelican CutMile 351 ICW29°21.4' N; 94°48.5' WTows entering HSC also report at HSC LB 25 & 26.
GGalveston HarborGalveston Channel Lt. 229°20.2' N; 94°46.6' WCoast Guard Base.
TTexas City ChannelTexas City Channel Lt. 1229°22.4' N; 94°50.9' W
XHouston Ship Channel ICW IntersectionHouston Ship Channel (HSC) LB 25 and 2629°22.2' N; 94°48.1' WTow entering HSC from ICW or Texas Cut Only.
3Lower Galveston BayHSC Lt. 31 and LB 3229°23.8' N; 94°48.9' W
4Red Fish BarHSC Lt. 53 & 5429°30.3' N; 94°52.4' W
PBayport Ship ChannelBayport Ship Channel Lt. 8 and 929°36.8' N; 94°59.5' WBayport Land Cut.
4AUpper Galveston BayHSC Lt. 69 and 7029°34.7' N; 94°55.8' WTows only.
5Morgan's PointHSC Lt. 9129°41.0' N; 94°59.0' W
6ExxonHSC Lt. 109A29°43.5' N; 95°01.4' W
7LynchburgFerry crossing29°45.8' N; 95°04.8' W
8Shell OilBoggy Bayou29°44.1' N; 95°08.0' W
9Greens BayouHSC Lt. 15229°44.8' N; 95°10.1' W
10Hunting BayouHunting Bayou Turning Basin.29°44.4' N; 95°12.1' W
11LyondellSims Bayou Turning Basin.29°43.2' N; 95°14.4' W
12I-610 BridgeI-610 Bridge29°43.5' N; 95°16.0' W
13Buffalo BayouHouston Turning Basin29°45.0' N; 95° 17.4' W

33 C.F.R. §161.35

CGD 90-020, 59 FR 36324, July 15, 1994, as amended by CGD 95-033, 60 FR 28331, May 31, 1995; USCG-2000-7223, 65 FR 40058, June 29, 2000; USCG-2007-27887, 72 FR 45904, Aug. 16, 2007