MPX Card
The information card shall serve as a supplement to the Master/Pilot exchange (MPX) conference held prior to your transit upon the Houston Ship channel. In order to provide your vessel the safest possible transit, the pilot will require the following:
1. Completed IMO standard Pilot Information Card to include, at minimum:
A: Draft for and aft
B: Air draft
C: Type of propulsion, steering gear, astern power & limitations.
D: Gyro compass error.
E: Any other pertinent navigational information
2. The pilot requires personnel standing by forward, in radio communication with the bridge, and both anchors ready for letting go.
3. Have all systems required by 33 CFR 164.25 been tested and proven to be working? Are any systems not fully operational?
4. Place the radar's on ___mile & ___mile scale, fixed rings on. North up / head up.
5. Place the VHF radios on Ch. 74.
Passage Plan:
- Courses & speeds will be variable throughout the passage. I will give 20 minutes notice for taking tug lines.
- Vertical clearances for bridges over the Houston Ship Channel
- Fred Hartman - 175 Ft. / 53.34m
- Jesse Jones - 175 Ft. / 53.34m
- 610 Bridge - 135 Ft. / 41.15m
- Vertical clearance for Electrical Power lines over the Houston Ship Channel. (Vsl should allow an extra 10 Ft. / 3.1m).
- Project Depth for Houston is, (with 0 tide gauge):
- 40 Ft. / 12.19m up to S.P. Slip 49.8m
- 36 Ft. / 10.97m to the Turning Basin (mile 52.8)
If anytime during the transit, any bridge team member has a question or conern regarding safety of navigation, they must communicate that concern to the pilot immediately.
