VLCV Protocol
The protocol for scheduling one-way traffic around the 1100’ and greater VLCV’s are as follows:
VLCV Arrival:
Board VLCV 30 minutes before daylight.
This is the preferred boarding time for VLCV's due to minimal traffic delays.
Impact on Daylight Restricted Sailings:
- All daylight restricted vessels from Hotfoot and above can sail on time at daylight and arrive at the Bayport Flare after the VLCV has turned in.
- Exxon and Bostco will be scheduled 1 hour after the boarding time of VLCV.
- Barbours Cut sailings will be scheduled 3 hours after boarding.
- Bayport Sailings scheduled 4 hours after boarding.
Impact on Non Daylight Restricted Sailings:
- City Docks nothing between 5.5 hours before to 30 minutes before boarding time.
- Manchester to Crown Bend nothing between 5 hours before to boarding time.
- Targa to Greens Bayou nothing between 4.5 hours before to 30 min after boarding.
- Beltway 8 Bridge to Lynchburg nothing between 4 hours before to 1 hour after boarding.
- Bostco/Exxon nothing between 3 hours before to 1.5 hours after boarding.
- Barbours Cut nothing between 2.5 hours before boarding and 1.5 hours after boarding.
- Any vessel in Bayport Scheduled to sail 2.5 before through 3.5 hours after boarding will be scheduled 4 hours after boarding.
Board VLCV at cut off, 4 hours before sunset:
If vessel was unable to board 30 minutes before daylight the only other available option would be at the cutoff, 4 hours before sunset.
Impact on Daylight Restricted Sailings:
All daylight restricted vessels can depart at first light and make it to Buoy 18 before meeting the VLCV regardless of what dock they sailed from.
Impact on Non Daylight Restricted Sailings:
Same time frame as listed above.
Sailing:
VLCV sailing for first light:
Inbound Daylight Restricted Vessels:
These vessels would be scheduled to board starting 3 hours after the sail time of the VLCV so as to meet below buoy 18. These delays could be compounded as most of the vessels are already subject to our combined beam or combined draft rules. Scheduling for this time would also account for any possible combined LOA conflict as well.
Inbound Non Restricted Vessels:
No vessel would be scheduled to board inbound 2.5 hours before to 3 hours after scheduled sail time of VLCV.
VLCV sailing unable to depart at first light:
Any VLCV unable to depart at first light will be scheduled for the cutoff time of 3 hours before sunset.