September 2024 Commerce Club Luncheon Featuring a Bluewater/Brownwater Panel Discussion

The September Commerce Club highlighted the collaboration between the Brownwater and Bluewater industries for safe, sustainable, and efficient transportation on the Houston Ship Channel (“Ship Channel”) with a panel discussion on Sept. 12.  The panel was moderated by Port Bureau president, CAPT Eric Carrero, and featured Nathan Hough, Campbell Transportation Company; Captain Clint Winegar, Houston Pilots; and, Alberto Hernandez II, Vessel Traffic Service (“VTS”) at U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Houston-Galveston.

Winegar is presiding officer of the Houston Pilots and has served as a Pilot on the Ship Channel for almost 20 years. Hough began his career piloting on inland waterways and is currently vice president of Gulf Operations at Cambell Transportation. Hernandez has served as director at VTS for almost 20 years.

Each panelist described their specific maritime operations and the interactions of these operations with other industry segments.

“This is one of the safest ports in the country, and the work that's done in this port is just incredible. Nowhere else in the world do you see the amount of interaction that we see between blue and brown water,” remarked Winegar.

The first segment of the discussion addressed heavy weather preparations and the work of the Port Coordination Team (“PCT”). This team serves as an advisory working group from various segments of industry to provide guidance during any type of disruption, or a threat of disruption, to local marine operations, usually if the impact is expected to last longer than 48 hours. Disruptions may be from extended fog closures, preparations for severe weather, or reconstituting vessel traffic after severe weather or an incident.

The PCT identifies priority vessel movements (ship and barge) for each segment of industry so that the most critical vessel movements are prioritized when traffic resumes. Each PCT representative reports their industry segment’s priorities. The panelists noted the work done in just the previous few days, often after hours, as Hurricane Francine moved toward its landfall in southern Louisiana.

“The PCT is strategic in nature,” said Hernandez. “The group is focused on how we preserve the operating environment of the waterway so that it will be open tomorrow, knowing that today we are faced with a shutdown.”

“Our biggest concern,” added Hough as he spoke about representing brownwater operations during a PCT call, “is ensuring the safety of our mariners that are afloat. Fleet space is limited in this area, and we want to make sure we get many of those tows into safe water as we possibly can – and in a timely fashion.”

Another area of the panel discussion focused on the importance of VTS and its role in the port region. Panelists highlighted the value of the VTS and how “what we do here does not work without VTS”. The VTS staff is comprised of 48 men and women, with operations that are 24/7 every day of the year. “We take to heart every transit, every pilot, every mariner,” said Hernandez. “Every single vessel is important. Our most important customer is you.” 

Note: Panelists pictured above from left to right are panelists CAPT Eric Carrero, president of the Port Bureau; Nathan Hough, Campbell Transportation Company; Captain Clint Winegar, Houston Pilots; and, Alberto Hernandez II, Vessel Traffic Service (“VTS”) at U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Houston-Galveston.

Thank you to our Commerce Club sponsors!

Annual Table sponsors:

Callan Marine • Chevron/Kirby • Enterprise Products Partners • Kinder Morgan • Houston Pilots • Intercontinental Terminals Company • Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc. • Pemex  •  Shell • Targa Resources • TGS Ceder Port Industrial Park  • WGMA

September Table sponsors:

Campbell Transportation Company • Houston Mooring Company • Port Houston