Houston Pilots have issued an alert to inform vessels to override their engine or shaft power limiters prior arrival at the Houston Ship Channel. As part of their efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, some vessel operators have installed (or modified existing) engine power or shaft power limiters. However, in some cases, these limiters may reduce vessel maneuverability in a confined channel to an unacceptable level.
In that regard, Houston Pilots refer to section 2.04 (Engine Revolutions) of the Houston Pilots Navigation Safety Guidelines to highlight the following:
- The maneuvering revolutions and resultant speeds established for a vessel by her builders and designers must be posted and made available to the Pilot upon boarding. All vessels maneuvering in the Houston Ship Channel must be capable of promptly attaining the maneuvering RPMs as posted in the vessel’s wheelhouse.
- All vessels must be able to alter engine speed and direction promptly considering vessels of similar class and engine type. Vessels must be able to answer all engine and helm commands at all times while underway. Any load limiting or automatic acceleration limiting devices or software that would limit the speed of response to engine orders must be capable of being overridden immediately by the Master of Mate on watch from the bridge in case of an emergency.
- Any vessel without the capacity to attain its posted RPMs in a timely fashion because of engine maintenance, engine break in requirements, or engine power limiting devices that cannot be overridden may, be restricted to daylight transit and/or additional Pilotage or tug requirements.
To identify vessels that may pose additional risk to the channel due to a power limiting device, Houston Pilots Dispatch will, at the time an order for pilotage is taken, request the following information:
- Is the vessel equipped with an engine or shaft power limiter? If yes, is the limiter mechanical or software based?
- If the vessel is equipped with a mechanical limiter, will it be removed or disabled prior to Pilot boarding?
- If the vessel is equipped with a software- based limiter, will the ship’s crew be able to override it immediately at the request of the Pilot?
The attending Pilot for the vessel transit will confirm the information provided previously to Dispatch during the Master/ Pilot exchange.
Any vessels that arrive in Houston that are unable or unwilling to override a power limiter many be subject to transit risk mitigations including but not limited to: daylight restrictions, additional pilotage, tug requirements/ escorts.
