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Galveston, TX

29°18.0′ N 94°48.0′ W

Port ApproachPort Facilities & Contacts

Port Overview

Local Marine Weather

Live data

GMZ355 — Coastal waters from High Island to Freeport TX out 20 NM

Forecast office: NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

  • Tonight

    Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Southeast 2 feet at 5 seconds.

  • Tuesday

    Southwest winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Wave Detail: Southeast 2 feet at 6 seconds. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.

  • Tuesday Night

    North winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 3 feet. Wave Detail: Southwest 2 feet at 5 seconds and east 2 feet at 6 seconds. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service · Issued Mon, Nov 2, 18:11 · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 21:47

Full NWS marine forecast (opens in new tab)

Nearby Tide Stations

Source: NOAA CO-OPS · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 21:47

Nearby Current Stations

Source: NOAA CO-OPS · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 21:47

Nearby NOAA/NDBC Stations

  • gtot28771450 - Galveston Pier 21, TX1 NM4 kt
  • gnjt28771341 - Galveston Bay Entrance (North Jetty), TX5 NM12 kt
  • grrt28771486 - Galveston RR Bridge, TX5 NM7 kt
  • eptt28771013 - Eagle Point, TX12 NM12 kt

Source: NOAA NDBC · Last retrieved Mon, Nov 2, 21:39

Salinity — USGS Water Quality

No USGS water-quality gauge within about 20 NM of this port is currently reporting salinity or conductivity.

Navigation Resources

Port Approach — Galveston Bay Entrance & Galveston Channel

Planning reference only. Consult current official charts, notices, surveys, and pilot instructions before navigation.

STATIC REFERENCE — not live data. Live observations are in Port Overview above.

A · Entrance & Approach

  • The federal project provides an Entrance Channel and Outer Bar Channel from the Gulf to about 2 miles west of the jetty ends, then the Inner Bar Channel to Bolivar Roads and Galveston Channel.[¶191]

  • Landmarks

    On a clear day early marks include two 363-foot condominium towers at the east end of Galveston Island and the 358-foot American National Insurance Co. Building (aircraft warning lights). The 116-foot abandoned lighthouse on Bolivar Point is also prominent.[¶182]

  • Aids

    Galveston South Jetty Light 5A marks the outer end of the south jetty. Entrance Lighted Buoy GB is 9.6 miles off it, and Lighted Buoy GA about 17 miles southeast.[¶183–185]

  • VTS

    VTS Houston/Galveston: Vessel Movement Reporting System participation is mandatory for vessels over 131 feet, towing vessels over 26 feet, and vessels authorized to carry 50+ passengers in trade. Check in with "Houston Traffic" on VHF-FM 5A; Channels 11 and 12 are also reserved for VTS.[¶186–187]

  • COLREGS line

    Lines for Galveston Bay are in 33 CFR 80.845.[¶189]

Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

B · Channels & Depth

Project depth ≠ available depth. Federal project (authorized) depths below are design figures. Current controlling depth not confirmed. Consult the latest USACE surveys and official notices.

  • Entrance & Outer/Inner Bar

    Federal project depth 45 feet in the Entrance Channel and Outer Bar Channel (authorized depth).[¶191]

  • Galveston Channel

    Federal project depth 40 to 45 feet.[¶191]

  • Use NOAA ENCs for USACE-reported minimum depths and USACE surveys for channel condition reports.[¶191]

  • Current controlling depth not confirmed. Consult the latest USACE surveys and official notices.
Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

C · Cautions & Restrictions

  • Wrecks & hazards

    Many unmarked dangerous wrecks lie in the approaches to the entrance. A spoil bank lies south of the Entrance Channel just outside the jetties. Heald Bank and offshore oil structures are the principal hazards.[¶197]

  • Wake breakers

    Heavy breakers from the bow wakes of large vessels occur in the Houston Ship Channel between Bolivar Roads and Morgans Point.[¶198]

  • Regulated navigation area

    An RNA applies in the eastern entrance to Galveston Channel.[¶200 · 33 CFR 165.827]

  • Pelican Island causeway

    The bascule span has 13 feet vertical and 120 feet horizontal clearance closed. The open leaf overhangs the channel above 75 feet; overhead power cables have a least clearance of 85 feet.[¶202 · 33 CFR 117.966]

  • Wind set-up

    Persistent east/southeast winds can raise water 2–4 feet above mean low tide; steady north winds can lower it 2–3 feet below.[¶205]

  • No dated restriction is presented as active here. Check current Local Notices to Mariners and Sector Houston-Galveston MSIBs.
Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

D · Anchorages

  • Designated

    Fairway Anchorages lie off the bar on either side of the inbound/outbound lanes (33 CFR 166). Temporary-use anchorage areas lie north of the Inner Bar Channel (33 CFR 110.197).[¶193]

  • Restriction

    Because of heavy traffic, Galveston Channel may be used only for temporary anchorage by vessels about to berth or just departing. Anchor clear of all active channels.[¶193–194]

  • General description

    Small craft may anchor in Galveston Bay outside dredged channels where depth suffices. Northers can lower bay water by up to 3 feet.[¶195]

Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

E · Pilotage

  • Requirement

    Compulsory for all foreign vessels and U.S. vessels under register; optional for U.S. coastwise vessels under enrollment with a federally licensed pilot on board.[¶214]

  • Boarding

    Large tankers drawing 40 feet or more board at Approach Lighted Buoy GA; vessels drawing less board just north of Entrance Channel Lighted Buoy 2A. Rig the ladder to IMO standards as directed by the pilot boat.[¶215, ¶218]

  • Radio & notice

    Galveston/Texas City Pilots: VHF-FM Channel 14 with 4-hour advance notice.[¶219]

  • No Houston Pilots telephone number appears in the cited paragraphs.
Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

F · USCG / Captain of the Port

Routine contact · USCG Heartland District

Sector Houston-Galveston

COTP: Captain of the Port, Houston-Galveston

13411 Hillard Street, Houston, TX 77034

281-464-4800(Sector Houston-Galveston main line)

Coast Pilot 5 App. A ¶64 · 33 CFR 3.40-28

Emergency

Maritime distress: VHF-FM Channel 16 / DSC Channel 70. The Sector office line above is for routine business.

  • VTS

    VTS Houston/Galveston: "Houston Traffic", VHF-FM 5A (also 11 and 12).[Ch. 10 ¶187]

Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

G · Reference Positions

Orientation only — not for navigation

  • Galveston South Jetty Light 5A

    29°19'40"N., 94°41'20"W.

    CP5 Ch. 10 ¶183

  • Galveston Bay Entrance Lighted Buoy GB

    29°14'44"N., 94°32'41"W.

    CP5 Ch. 10 ¶184

  • Galveston Bay Entrance Lighted Buoy GA

    29°09'29"N., 94°25'54"W.

    CP5 Ch. 10 ¶185

  • American National Insurance Co. Building

    29°18.4'N., 94°47.4'W.

    CP5 Ch. 10 ¶182 · landmark

Coordinates reproduced with the source's precision. Coast Pilot positions are referenced to NAD 83 unless stated otherwise.

Sources (1) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

H · Official Navigation & Conditions Links

Sources (2) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.

Port Facilities & Contacts

Port Authority & Public Contacts

Port of Galveston (Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves)

123 Rosenberg Street, Galveston, TX 77550

409-765-9321(Port of Galveston (Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves) main line)www.portofgalveston.com(opens in new tab)

  • Administration

    City-owned port authority administered by a Board of Trustees under a Port Director. Individual piers and terminals are administered by the firms operating them.

  • Harbor operations and Port Police contacts were not confirmed from a primary source in this review. Use the official website.
Gulf Port Directory (no port-specific service listings yet)

Listings come from official publications. Inclusion does not mean a terminal or shorebase is open to visiting vessels — confirm directly with the operator.

Sources (2) · static reference

“Source checked” means the document was reviewed; current channel conditions were not independently verified.