Houston pilots clarify rules on hulls

Houston pilots clarify rules on hulls    Vessel pilots in Houston said that, effective July 1, any wide-body vessel entering the Houston Ship Channel with a beam of 120 feet or greater will be required to be double-hulled when sailing in darkness on the waterway and while in ballast.
   Three years ago, when pilots in Houston began sailing wide-body vessels at night, they required such ships to be double-hulled. The industry requested and received a waiver for double-sided vessels with single bottoms. That waiver expires July 1.
   'In collaboration with the oil tanker industry, the Houston Pilots agreed last year to allow larger vessels to begin transiting the Houston Ship Channel. The maximum allowable beam increased to 166 feet (50.6 meters) from 145 feet (44.2 meters), based on the industry's anticipation of larger vessels calling at Houston's port facilities. In addition, the pilots and the tanker industry agreed to require double hulls on all vessels with beams in excess of 145 feet,' the Houston Pilots said in a statement.
   The group added that 'this information is intended to correct and clarify a widespread industry news report last week that was inaccurate.' For more information, visit www.houston-pilots.com/widebodyrule.html.