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NAVOPLAN

Port Intelligence Brief

Galveston, United States

United States flag

66 Verified Intelligence Items

60Verified
Intelligence

40Official
Sources

90%Overall
Confidence

📍

CoordinatesN 29 19' .0012"
W 94 46' 59.9988"

⚓

Harbor ProfileGulf of Mexico; North Atlantic Ocean
Size: Large

🛂

EntranceTidal Range: .00 ft
Depth: 36.08 ft

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Port StatusPort of Entry: Yes
Shelter: Good

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Last UpdateJun 28, 2026
09:30 ET

🧭 Approach & Entrance 7 items

🛟 Shelter & Refuge 6 items

⚠ Local Cautions 8 items

🛒 Crew Rest & Resupply 7 items

☎ Harbor / Authority 5 items 🔒

📡 Contacts & VHF 7 items 🔒

🛥 Marinas 6 items 🔒

⛽ Fuel & Utilities 6 items 🔒

🛂 Clearance & Formalities 6 items 🔒

🚑 Medical & Emergency 7 items 🔒

1 - 10

Current Briefing

Approach & Entrance

Galveston approach intelligence includes pilotage, entrance channel depths, harbor communications, traffic density, anchoring restrictions, and operational cautions for arrival planning.

1 - 1

Verified Intelligence

Charting Authority / Primary Charts

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

Primary charting authority: NOAA (Office of Coast Survey). Primary NOAA chart products covering approaches and entrance: Chart 11323 (Approaches to Galveston Bay), Chart 11324 (Galveston Bay Entrance), Chart 11328 (Houston Ship Channel). Confirm current editions/ENCs before use.

95% Confidence

Entrance Character — Bolivar Roads / Jetties / Tss

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

Bolivar Roads = large deepwater area between north and south jetties; outer jetty separation ≈ 1.2 miles at outer ends; Traffic Separation Scheme / safety fairway in approach; heavy traffic — avoid anchoring in precautionary areas.

95% Confidence

Vessel Traffic Service (Vts) / Reporting Requirement

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

VTS Houston/Galveston covers Galveston Bay Entrance Channel, Bolivar Roads and associated waterways (33 CFR 161.35). VTS users/VMRS users must comply with reporting and directions; consult VTS-Houston/Galveston on VHF (user guide) and the CFR for mandatory areas.

95% Confidence

Security Zones / Cruise Ship Restrictions

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

33 CFR 165.813 establishes moving security zones in Ports of Houston and Galveston: moving zone can extend 500 yards around cruise ships; general restrictions include no entry inside 100 yards without authorization; contact Houston Traffic (VHF channels per regulation) for permissions.

95% Confidence

Shoals / Interior Bay Depths (Red Fish Bar / Upper Bay)

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

Coast Pilot: Red Fish Bar is a chain of small islets and shoals in mid‑bay; general depths in Galveston Bay (upper bay) ~7–9 ft; Houston Ship Channel is dredged through shoaled areas — check latest charted controlling depth and recent notices.

90% Confidence

Tidal/Current Predictions And Typical Entrance Velocities

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

NOAA publishes tidal and tidal-current predictions for Galveston Bay Entrance / Port Bolivar (use NOAA CO‑OPS Current Predictions). Coast Pilot and NOAA technical studies note entrance currents frequently exceed 1.0 knot and can be higher; verify predicted times/speeds via NOAA current predictions before approach.

80% Confidence

Pilotage — Operators And Verification Requirement

Operator Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

Pilotage for Galveston/Houston approaches is provided by state‑licensed pilots; active operators include the Houston Pilots Association and the Galveston‑Texas City Pilots. There is recent operational/legal friction over operator authority for some Bolivar Roads jobs — verify which pilot association is authorized for a given call and compulsory pilotage boundaries before arrival.

70% Confidence