News

GalTex 2022 Annual Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GALVESTON TEXAS CITY PILOTS RECAP MONUMENTAL YEAR OF SERVICE
2022 Continues Legacy of Safe, Efficient Vessel Movement and Community Involvement

GALVESTON, TX - December 5, 2022 - The Galveston Texas City Pilots experienced a monumental year in 2022, not only for members but for the thousands of vessels and stakeholders that partner with us for safe waterway movement. 

Remarkable Movements, Incredible Vessels

While the Galveston Texas City Pilots moved over 5,000 vessels through Galveston, Texas City, and the Bolivar Roads Anchorage, there were several unique vessels that deserve detail. 

USCG Eagle

The Galveston Texas City Pilots piloted a very special guest into the Port of Galveston this June: the United States Coast Guard Eagle (WIX-327).  At 295 feet in length, Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the stars and stripes and the only active square-rigger in US government service. Eagle has served as a classroom at sea to future Coast Guard officers since 1946, offering an at-sea leadership and professional development experience as part of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy curriculum. This summer, Coast Guard Academy Cadets completed a transatlantic voyage and experienced port calls in Azores, Iceland, and Bermuda. The Eagle was brought in and anchored at Bolivar Roads by Captain Butch Schuessler, accompanied by Pilot Commissioner Fritz Kuebler. 

Battleship Texas

In August, the Battleship Texas arrived at the Port of Galveston and Galveston Texas City Pilots were onboard to bring this historic vessel in. This movement was the culmination of months of planning and coordination to bring the vessel to dry dock at Gulf Copper Dry Dock & Rig Repair, initiating an incredible renovation project that will restore the battleship to ensure its legacy. 

The Allure of the Seas

November saw cruise ship activity of epic proportions as the Galveston Texas City Pilots piloted the Allure of the Seas, the state’s largest cruise ship yet. This Oasis-class ship by Royal Caribbean is one of the largest passenger vessels in service. The Galveston Texas City Pilots were honored to have Senator Larry Taylor onboard as we moved this tremendous vessel.

Pilot Boat Texas City

The Galveston Texas City Pilot’s third 70' Texas Class pilot boat will be arriving in mid-December. Powered by triple Volvo IPS propulsion units, it will consume approximately 25% less fuel than our existing 70' boats resulting in future cost savings and helping to reduce our carbon footprint. In addition, the Texas City features a Seakeeper gyro stabilizer which greatly reduces the rolling of the vessel when underway. This is the first pilot boat equipped with a Seakeeper in the U.S.

Additional Vessels with a Focus on Safety  

Additional vessels worth noting are the lay berths provided to all vessels in the Port of Galveston. The Port of Galveston has been marketing its berths for one-off stays for non-cargo activities such as repairs and inspections and many of these vessels pose unique challenges to movement in and around the port. This was the case with the Eagle San Diego, an 898 ft long, 157849 DWT carrying capacity crude oil tanker that berthed in 2021/2022. The Eagle San Diego was 35 miles offshore at anchor and disabled.  The Galveston Texas City Pilots developed and executed a plan using harbor tugs to pilot her into Galveston for repairs. The repairs took several months to effect and the ship had to be moved 25 times to accommodate vessel traffic in Galveston.

The Galveston Texas City Pilots continue to work closely with the port, industry, and regulatory agencies to execute these challenging vessel movements while maintaining the safety and efficiency of regular port operations. We are proud to report zero lost time injuries in 2022 as a demonstration of this commitment to safety.

Advocacy for the Waterways
The Galveston Texas City Pilots are honored to lead the Pelican Island Advocacy Committee, a dedicated group of stakeholders representing industry along the Port of Galveston. In 2022, the committee successfully lobbied for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which includes substantial funding for dredging to extend and maintain the federal Galveston Ship Channel to its permitted depth of 46 feet. 

Commitment to Our Community

The Galveston Texas City Pilots continue a legacy of community commitment and impact through both service and financial support.  As members of the Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee, we provided funding for a “Big Waves/Small Boats” initiative providing signage at public boat ramps, warning recreational boaters about the dangerous wakes that large vessels can produce when transiting the ship channel.

Caring for the men and women who work at sea is important to our organization. The Galveston Texas City Pilots provide service and financial support to the Galveston Seafarers Center, volunteering time and transportation to care for these important industry workers. This year, Pilots and their families stuffed over 50 Christmas boxes full of toiletries, socks, hats, and personalized cards for these hardworking men and women. 

We are active supporters of Texas A&M University at Galveston’s many student organizations, from crawfish boils to scholarship programs through the Galveston Propeller Club.

As we close out an exciting, safe 2022, we thank our many vessel partners, the Port of Galveston, the Port of Texas City, and you, for making this a successful year for the Galveston Texas City Pilots.