(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.

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(b) Precautionary areas.

Table 161.35(b)—VTS Houston/Galveston Precautionary Areas

Precautionary area nameRadius (yds.)Center point
LatitudeLongitude
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

DesignatorGeographic nameGeographic descriptionLatitude/ longitudeNotes
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
[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]
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