#### § 161.70 Vessel Traffic Service Port Arthur.

(a) The VTS area consists of the navigable waters of the United States to the limits of the territorial seas bound by the following points: 30°10.00′ N., 92°37.00′ W.; then south to 29°10.00′ N., 92°37.00′ W.; then west to 29°10.00′ N., 93°52.25′ W.; then northwest to 29°33.70′ N., 94°21.25′ W.; then north to 30°10.00′ N., 94°21.25′ W.; then east along the 30°10′ N. latitude to the origination point.

Note:

Although mandatory participation in VTS Port Arthur is limited to the area within the navigable waters of the United States, prospective users are encouraged to report at the safe water marks in order to facilitate vessel traffic management in the VTS Area and to receive advisories or navigational assistance.

(b) *Precautionary areas.*

Table [161.70](/on/2024-09-19/title-33/section-161.70)(b)—VTS Port Arthur Precautionary Areas

| Precautionary area name | Radius | Center point latitude | Center point longitude |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Petco Bend(1) | 2000 yds | 30°00.80′ N. | 93°57.60′ W. |
| Black Bayou(1) | 2000 yds | 30°00.00′ N. | 93°46.20′ W. |
| Orange Cut(1) | 2000 yds | 30°03.25′ N. | 93°43.20′ W. |
| Neches River Intersection(1) | 2000 yds | 29°58.10′ N. | 93°51.25′ W. |
| Texaco Island Intersection(1) | 2000 yds | 29°49.40′ N. | 94°57.55′ W. |
| Sabine-Neches Waterway | N/A | All waters of the Sabine-Neches Waterway between the Texaco Island Precautionary Area and the Humble Island Precautionary Area. | |
| | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Precautionary Area encompasses a circular area of the radius denoted around the center point with the exception of the Sabine-Neches Waterway. | | | |

(c) *Reporting points (Inbound).*

Table [161.70](/on/2024-09-19/title-33/section-161.70)(c)—Inbound

| Designator | Geographic name | Geographic description | Latitude/ longitude | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Sabine Bank Channel “SB” Buoy | Sabine Bank Sea Buoy | 29°25.00′ N. 93°40.00′ W. | Sailing Plan Report |
| 2 | Sabine Pass Buoys “29/30” | Sabine Pass Buoys “29/30” | 29°35.90′ N. 93°48.20′ W. | |
| 3 | Port Arthur Canal Light “43” | Keith Lake | 29°46.50′ N. 93°56.47′ W. | |
| 4 | North Forty GIWW Mile 279 | North Forty | 29°56.40′ N. 93°52.10′ W. | |
| 5 | FINA Highline Neches River Light “19” | FINA Highline | 29°59.10′ N. 93°54.30′ W. | |
| 6 | Ready Reserve Fleet Highline | Channel at Cove Mid-Point | 30°00.80′ N. 93°59.90′ W. | |
| 7 | Sabine River MM 268 | 268 Highline | 30°02.20′ N. 93°44.30′ W. | |

(d) *Reporting points (Outbound).*

Table [161.70](/on/2024-09-19/title-33/section-161.70)(d)—Outbound

| Designator | Geographic name | Geographic description | Latitude/ longitude | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Sabine River Light “2” | Black Bayou | 30°00.00′ N. 93°46.25′ W. | |
| 2 | Ready Reserve Fleet Highline | Channel at Cove Mid-Point | 30°00.80′ N. 93°59.90′ W. | |
| 3 | FINA Highline Neches River Light “19” | FINA Highline | 29°59.09′ N. 93°54.30′ W. | |
| 4 | GIWW Mile 285 | The School House | 29°52.70′ N. 93°55.55′ W. | *Zone Shift* |
| 5 | Port Arthur Canal Light “43” | Keith Lake | 29°46.50′ N. 93°56.47′ W. | |
| 6 | Sabine Pass Buoys “29/30” | Sabine Pass Buoys “29/30” | 29°35.90′ N. 93°48.20′ W. | |
| 7 | Sabine Bank Channel “SB” Buoy | Sabine Bank Sea Buoy | 29°25.00′ N. 93°40.00′ W. | Final Report |

(e) *Reporting points (Eastbound).*

Table [161.70](/on/2024-09-19/title-33/section-161.70)(e)—Eastbound (ICW)

| Designator | Geographic name | Geographic description | Latitude/ longitude | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | GIWW Mile 295 | ICW MM 295 | 29°47.25′ N. 94°01.10′ W. | Sailing Plan Report |
| 2 | North Forty GIWW Mile 279 | North Forty | 29°56.40′ N. 93°52.10′ W. | |
| 3 | Sabine River MM 268 | 268 Highline | 30°02.20′ N. 93°44.30′ W. | |
| 4 | GIWW Mile 260 | 260 Highline | 30°03.50′ N. 93°37.50′ W. | Final Report |

(f) *Reporting points (Westbound).*

Table [161.70](/on/2024-09-19/title-33/section-161.70)(f)—Westbound (ICW)

| Designator | Geographic name | Geographic description | Latitude/ longitude | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | GIWW Mile 260 | 260 Highline | 30°03.50′ N. 93°37.50′ W. | Sailing Plan Report |
| 2 | Sabine River Light “2” | Black Bayou | 30°00.03′ N. 93°46.18′ W. | |
| 3 | GIWW Mile 285 | The School House | 29°52.71′ N. 93°55.55′ W. | Zone Shift |
| 4 | GIWW Mile 295 | ICW MM 295 | 29°46.20′ N. 94°02.60′ W. | Final Report |

(g) *Reporting points (Offshore Safety Fairway).*

Table [161.70](/on/2024-09-19/title-33/section-161.70)(g)—Offshore Safety Fairway

| Designator | Geographic name | Geographic description | Latitude/ longitude | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Sabine Pass Safety Fairway—East | East Dogleg | 29°35.00′ N. 93°28.00′ W. | |
| 2 | Sabine Pass Safety Fairway—West | West Dogleg | 29°28.00′ N. 93°58.00′ W. | |

[[78 FR 51671](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/78-FR-51671), Aug. 21, 2013, as amended by USCG-2018-0874, [84 FR 30881](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/84-FR-30881), June 28, 2019]