The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Press Release updating the status of waterways affected by Hurricane Rita. The port of Freeport is open for all vessel traffic. The
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is open to tug and barge traffic between the Colorado Locks and the Calcasieu Locks. The port of Galveston and the Galveston Channel are restricted to vessels with drafts of 35 feet or less and daylight transits only. The port of Texas City and the Texas City Channel are restricted to vessels with drafts of 35 feet or less and daylight transits only. Barbours Cut is restricted to vessels with drafts of 35 feet or less and daylight transits only. Bayport and the Bayport Channel are restricted to vessels with drafts of 35 feet or less and daylight transits only. For the Houston Ship Channel, vessels with a draft of 35 feet or less are allowed to transit both inbound and outbound during day and night above Bolivar Roads LB 25/26. Operations below Bolivar Roads LB 25/26 are restricted to daylight transits only. The Sabine/Neches Waterway is restricted to shallow draft tows and light tugs only from Texaco Island Intersection (ICW 289) to Sabine Pass, daylight transits only. The Neches River is restricted to shallow draft tows and light tugs only from Beaumont to the Neches River intersection with the GICW (MM 277), 24 hours. The Calcasieu River is restricted to shallow draft tows and light tugs only from the Lake Charles I-10 Bridge to the Calcasieu intersection (“Four Corners” – MM 232) allowed 24 hours. Only shallow draft tows and light tugs may operate on the Calcasieu River from the Calcasieu River Intersection to Cameron and these are restricted to daylight transits only.