WIDEBODY RULES

This rule is predicated on the 530 ft. channel and its barge lanes being completed. 

A widebody vessel is defined as any vessel with a beam of 120 ft. and over. 

Any widebody vessel transiting above buoy 18 will require two pilots at all times. 

Any widebody tanker proceeding with cargo will be daylight restricted above buoy 18. 

Any widebody vessel over 150 ft. in beam and/or over 900 ft. in LOA will be daylight restricted above buoy 18 at all times. 

Any widebody tanker over 145 ft. will be double-hulled and require a rudder angle indicator which is visible from all angles. 

The maximum beam of any vessel allowed to come to Houston is 166 ft. without prior approval from the Houston Pilots and the respective terminal. 

The maximum LOA above Morgan’s Point High Lines is 950 ft. without prior approval from the Houston Pilots and the respective terminal. 

Two widebodies meeting in the HSC between buoy 18 and beacons 75/76 shall be restricted to a combined beam 310 ft. and shall be limited to a combined draft of 85 ft. 

Two widebodies meeting in the HSC between beacons 75/76 and Boggy Bayou shall be restricted to a combined beam of 272 ft. and shall be limited to a combined draft of 77 ft. 

An inbound widebody vessel with a draft of over 40 ft. 00 in. will be provided with a tractor tug as an extended assist tug from Morgan’s Point to the vessels final destination.  An outbound widebody vessel with a draft in excess of 40 ft. 00 in. will be provided with a tractor tug as an extended assist tug from the departure dock to Morgan’s Point. 

As the new channel is complete we will begin with a maximum draft of 43 ft.  We will move up to 44 ft. in six months and 45 ft. in 12 months providing that our operational experience proves this feasible. 

Widebody ships 150 ft. or less in beam and 900 ft. or less in LOA will be sailed in ballast on a 24 hour basis provided there is no conflict with any other safety rules or guidelines.  The vessel must meet the following criteria: 

    Maximum draft of 32 ft. or less, with a drag of at least 3 ft.

    Have a rudder angle indicator that is visible from all angles

     Be of double-hulled construction (Double-sided widebody ship with single bottoms     will be allowed to sail under this rule until July 01, 2005) 

Ballasted vessels will have priority sailing one-half hour prior to daylight for sailings in the mornings.  No inbound widebody ship will restrict these A.M. sailings. 

All widebody vessels over 145 ft. in beam and over 35 ft. in draft will require a minimum of three tugs for docking.  These tugs MUST be of twin screw or tractor design.  08.18.04 

Vessels arriving or departing from HFO #2 will have a combined beam restriction of 290 ft. with any vessel berthed at HFO #3. 

All widebodies vessels can shift 24 hours a day within one zone (effective 05/26/04). 

There must be a 160 ft. beam clearance when docking/undocking in a slip.  This 160 ft. will allow for a tug and minimal safe clearance on the side of the ship and on the stern of the tug.

 Nothing in this rule shall limit a pilot’s discretion on the amount or use of tugs.

Industry must understand that we are trying to accommodate their needs as much as possible.  In the interest of safety we reserve the right to modify these guidelines based on operational experience.  We may require a certain amount of drag for selected widebodies, which in our judgment handle poorly in the HSC.