HOGANSAC Houston-Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory Committee 2008 10th Annual Harbor Safety Committee Conference Seattle, Washington Good Afternoon I am TF, chair of HOGANSAC 1
HOGANSAC We have an average of 400 vessel movements per day Dynamic Port Often referred to at the energy capital of the world In 2007 we experienced 3.3% increase for the brownwater 2.4% increase for deep draft And a 2.2.2% overall growth increase 2
HOGANSAC Established by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1991 19 members appointed by the Secretary of DHS, serving 2-year 2 terms (4) Port of Houston, Galveston, and Texas City (2) Shipowners, Stevedores, Shipyards or Shipping (2) Tug/Barge Operators (2) Shipping Companies Liners, Break Bulk or Tramp Steamer (2) Pilots (2) At-Large (1 each) Labor, Licensed Mariners, Environmental, General Public, and Recreational Boating 3 Meetings Annually Announced in the Federal Register FINISH So why is HOGANSAC so successful, and yes, we think it is In one word, HOGANSAC is successful because of 3
RELATIONSHIPS U.S. Coast Guard and Industry Stakeholders Credibility Improve Safety Identify Concerns Develop Recommendations Influence Policy at the National Level Deep Draft Entry Facilitation Brownwater University Facility Visit Teams Resolution through Cooperation Resolution through Cooperation Our charter requires that we advise, consult with and make recommendations to the Coast Guard on matters relating to the transit of vessels and products through Galveston Bay, and to and from the Ports of Galveston, Texas City, and Houston. Provide a public forum Provide local expertise on such matters as communications surveillance traffic management anchorages, and other related topics dealing with navigation safety Provide advice on the development and operation of the Houston/ Galveston Vessel Traffic Service (VTS). We believe in resolution through cooperation vice regulation. 4
Navigation operations/maritime incident review Incident Review Workgroup Recommendations to Coast Guard and Relevant Stakeholders Facility Visit Team 24 facilities visited Pre-Construction Input Danger Signal Letter Safe Mooring Workgroup Slack Line Reporting 25% Drop in Parted Lines ATON Workgroup Partnered with Houston VTS Self Reporting Quick Response Card Safe Access Workgroup Safe Access Tool Bayport Workgroup Turning Basin/Close- Quarters Maneuvers INCIDENT Reviewed Incidents covering a 4 year period 256 Vessel Casualties most were related to propulsion and more specifically fuel quality 238 Groundings and identified 4 hot spots Lack of ATONs Tide/Current Poor Communication Groundings were down 47% in 2007 Much of this information has been incorporated into Brownwater University BAYPORT Establish dialogue between ship pilots and tow pilots to ensure safe operations due to port expansion and larger ship arrivals, In 2007 there was a 40% increase in ships drifting 40 or more In Bayport there is a 1600 foot turning basing where 1,000 foot ships must turn while tows are standing by in the proximity awaiting dock space. 5
Brownwater university Two-day Course October 2007 March 2008 September 2008 Unique and Challenging Operating Conditions High Tempo Operations Audience Coast Guard Industry Professionals Congressional Members Enhance the knowledge and understanding of each other s s roles Deteriorating Relationships The GIWW is a 1300 mile ditch 125 feet wide, 12 feet deep a 30,000 barrel tank barge is 54 feet wide. When you have two tows meeting each other, that leaves just 17 feet of play The navigational and operational challenges are many Confined narrow channels, Recreational development, Locks, bridges, Windy, rough, shallow, Open bays, currents and tides Over 120 Million tons/yr move on the GIWW, with Texas being the highest at about 70 million tons/yr Many Coast Guard personnel are with us only briefly 2 to 3 years versus Industry experience averages 25 years per person Upon arrival must CG personnel must absorb quickly the nuances of the industry and "blend" into established partnerships, while they are charged with being "Regulators" of the industry. It is to the advantage of all, and to long term waterway safety and efficiency, for both industry and CG to be effective working together in partnership. This happens best when both understand the mission and function of the other. We wish to provide a platform that fosters relationships and provides information because Relationships and dialog make for safe, efficient waterways 6
Harbor of safe refuge Risk assessments Consistent with IMO Resolutions Facilitate decision making Vessels in distress or seeking refuge Chemical and gas dispersion models Identified offshore HSR locations Decision-tree Oil Chemical Other cargo vessels Incorporated into the South Texas Coastal Area Plan Outreach and training for critical decisions makers and stakeholders HSR Locations Predetermined offshore safe refuge locations did not adversely impact or interfere with command platforms or routine commercial or recreational activities. The Harbor of Safe Refuge Committee expects to submit their final report to the full HOGANSAC committee at our next scheduled meeting. 7
dredging Forum to discuss and make recommendations for dredging issues related to safety Best Practice Guidelines for waterfront facilities Published Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) Pre-Hurricane Season 2007 and 2008 Waterfront Depth Survey Guidelines Letter Secure funding for emergency dredging Access to terminal depth information Pre-storm survey and asset identification Document Facility Restrictions Educate Port Authorities and Terminals Depth Alongside 8
Standing subcommittees Navigation Operations/Maritime Incident Review (NAVOPS) 6 Workgroups Deep Draft Entry Facilitation (DDEF) Monitoring Impact of LNG Operations Waterways Optimization Dredging Technology Bridge Allision Sensor Harbor of Safe Refuge (HSR) Maritime Awareness Recreational Boater/Commercial Fishing Outreach Increase Participation Commercial Recovery Contingency (CRC) Recovery from Critical Closure NAVOPS DDEF DREDGING TECHNOLOGY In the wake of 2 back to back incidents involving allisions with the I 610 bridge HOGANSAC tasked the Technology subcommittee with looking into some form of alert system. The subcommittee is working with North American Controls to develop and eventually build out bridge allision sensor. HARBOR OF SAFE REFUGE MARITIME AWARENESS Recreational boating community that does not require much in the way of licensing or education. The commercial fishing community has many barriers, language of which may be the least. The Maritime Awareness Subcommittee continues to present at local industry day functions and the enlist the services of translators when necessary to communicate message of maritime safety. OUTREACH Hosted the 1 st Annual Ship Channel Tour and Orientation for CG, members of HOGANSAC, Port Coordination Committee, Area Maritime Security Committee, Houston Ship Channel Security Managers, and Key Industry Stakeholders CRC This group will focus on the safe interface and multi modal response and recovery in the event of a critical closure of the waterway in order to move commerce into and out of the Houston Galveston area while looking beyond our local boundaries and encompassing a regional approach. Additionally, they will reach out beyond the maritime community to determine the resources, capabilities, and possible barriers in order to ensure the Continuity of Regional Port Operations. We realize this is quickly becoming a national priority and are very interested in tomorrow s panel discussion on this topic. TWIC lastly, while we do not have a specific committee tasked with TWIC, it is most certainly on our radar. We continue to monitor the progress of TWIC in our area and will work with both the TSA on issues relating to issuance and eventually the Coast Guard on issues relating to enforcement. 9
Relationships HOGANSAC Planning Preventing Protecting Recovering In keeping with the conference theme, we at HOGANSAC understand that building and maintaining relationships between the Coast Guard and Industry Stakeholders is the key to Planning, Preventing, Protecting, and Recovering in the ports of Houston, Galveston and Texas City. 10
HOGANSAC info www.hogansac.org Next Meeting May 22, 2008 0900 CST Houston Pilots Association Houston, Texas CDR Hal Pitts Chief, Waterways Management Sector Houston-Galveston (713) 671-5164 Hal.R.Pitts@uscg.mil Tava S. Foret Chairman, HOGANSAC Foret Enterprises, Inc. (281) 452-9940 tavaf@foretinc.com Thank you for your time and attention this afternoon. 11