Houston Ship Channel closed as dense fog halts vessel traffic

Reduced visibility has halted both inbound and outbound movements, with several sailings and dockings expected to be impacted.

IMAGE: San Jacinto Monument with oil refinery in background, Harris County, Houston, Texas. Getty Images.

The Houston Ship Channel remains fully closed after pilots suspended both inbound and outbound vessel movements on Wednesday due to dense fog that has reduced visibility across the region, a source said.

The disruption is currently expected to impact around 18 docking operations and 7 sailings at the port of Houston.

Nearby ports, including Galveston, Texas City and Freeport, have also been closed to all vessel traffic, which is expected to result in delivery backlogs, a source said.

Dense fog is forecast to periodically affect US Gulf Coast ports throughout the week, with several locations including Galveston Offshore Lightering Area, Port Arthur and Lake Charles facing repeated high fog threats, particularly during nighttime and early morning hours.

Visibility during peak fog periods could fall to around 1–3 nautical miles, potentially disrupting vessel movements and port operations across the region.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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