Ship Navigation Simulation Study, Houston-Galveston Navigation Channels, Texas.Report 4. Houston Ship Channel, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Intersection

摘要

The Houston/Galveston Navigation Channels are located along the Gulf of MexicoCoast in eastern Texas. These channels include the Entrance Channel, the Bar Channels (Bolivar Roads Area), Galveston Channel, the Texas City Channel, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), and the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) which branches off the Bolivar Roads Channel, traverses Galveston Bay, and ends in Houston. The intersection of the HSC and GIWW is a navigation concern because of the high volume of towboat and ship traffic in the area. Tows turning from the GIWW into the HSC block the ship lanes while making the turn toward Houston. A navigation study was conducted for this intersection, including a real-time ship simulation of the project area, to determine a cost-effective channel design for safe navigation. Considerations in designing the turn include: strong currents, ship-to-tow interactions, bank effects, and channel marking. Hydrodynamic modeling of Galveston Bay was a key element of the study and provided currents for the navigation design. Deep-draft navigation, Houston, Galveston, Navigation channels, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Ship simulation.