Houston Ship Channel shut by fog - Norton Lilly

Thick fog has reduced visibility and stopped all inbound and outbound vessel traffic through the Houston Ship Channel since this morning.

PHOTO: A view of the Houston Ship Channel with barges, loading docks and industrial plants in the background. Getty Images

At 23.02 local time yesterday (05.02 GMT today) there were 11 vessels waiting to enter the channel inbound, 11 outbound and one shifting vessel pending, Norton Lilly says.

There is a moderate to high risk of fog and reduced visibility forecast until next Monday, which could force authorities to shut the channel on and off.

The US Gulf Coast winter fog season typically runs until March, and intermittent closures of the Houston Ship Channel are common from January onwards. The channel is a key waterway for vessels going in and out of ports in the Houston area, including Galveston, Baytown and Texas City.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

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