Ports making progress on reopening facilities after Ike

Ports making progress on reopening facilities after Ike The Port of Houston Authority said its terminals, including Barbours Cut and Bayport Container Terminals, had recovered enough from Hurricane Ike to resume normal business operations Friday morning, and will operate under normal gate hours.
   The Coast Guard said it has reopened portions of the Houston Ship Channel to commercial traffic, with restrictions. The channel is open at all times to maritime traffic with a draft of 16 feet or less, but will remain open for daylight transit only from the sea buoy to Sims Bayou at project depth and Sims Bayou to the Turning Basin for ships with a draft of 34 feet or less.
   The Association of American Port Authorities has created a Web site for all ports affected by Ike at www.aapa-ports.org/content.cfm?ItemNumber=10673. Included is information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on operating restrictions on waterways.
   Other ports said they were making recovery progress:
   ' Port of Beaumont said BBC Delaware, a ship carrying wind energy cargo, had docked to discharge cargo on Wednesday. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard have completed initial surveys of the Sabine-Neches Waterway. The ship channel was reopened to limited traffic on Wednesday for vessels with up to 36-foot draft with deeper-draft vessels expected to be allowed as further evaluation is completed.
   ' Port Fourchon said, “Belle Pass and all port waterways are open for two-way marine traffic; however, the U.S. Coast Guard has restricted Belle Pass to a maximum 20-foot draft.”
   ' Port Freeport said Wednesday it was “back in business.” It said it was cleared to accept vessel traffic, but that vessel movement would be restricted to daylight hours only and 36-foot draft due to damaged range lights and shoaling at the channel entrance. It noted the Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District is requesting supplemental funding to address the emergency dredging needs at Texas ports affected by Ike.
   ' Port of Galveston Port Director Steve Cernak reported all port authority employees have been accounted for and are safe, AAPA said. Surveys of the channel and docks are being performed. The port is assessing damage to its facilities and expects to have limited operations within two weeks and anticipates operating effectively within a month. The cruise terminal experienced about two feet of water. Additional assessments should be available in the next day or two.”