Hurricane Harvey Impact: Update from Intermarine, L.L.C.Our Company appreciates your sincere concerns regarding the impact of the catastrophic weather events along the Gulf Coast. We wanted to provide an update regarding the status of Intermarine’s workforce, our operations, systems, and continuing service to our customers.

All of the Intermarine employees are all accounted for and safe. The majority of our employees are working remotely and with the full support of our New Orleans office, which is open and fully operational. For any questions or concerns, please call our main line: +1 800 229 8701 to be directed to our sales and customer service representatives.With regards to Houston port calls and cargo operations, Intermarine is following the directions of the Captain of the Port and other officials. We have included a ship channel update for your reference.

The Intermarine systems are fully operational and well protected. Intermarine’s systems are housed in a bunker facility that is designed allow for operations during disaster situations, and provides remote access for our employees for the benefit of our customers.

Tropical Storm Harvey – Morning/28th Update

PCT Morning Update for Upper Texas Coast
WGMA Houston Area Ship Channel Update
Monday, August 28, 2017

The Houston Area VTS conducted a Port Coordination Team (PCT) conference call today at 0900 hours. WGMA participated on the call and provides the following report. The Captain of the Port, Sector Houston-Galveston expects to remain at Port Condition ZULU for at least the next 48 hours, and traffic may not start moving until Thursday, and possibly later. National Weather Service: At 700 AM CDT, the center of Tropical Storm Harvey was located about 25 miles NE of Port O’Connor. Harvey is moving toward the southeast near 3 mph and a slow southeastward motion is expected to continue today. A slow northeastward motion is expected to begin on Tuesday.

The center of Harvey is emerging off the middle Texas coast, and it is expected to remain just offshore through Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Slight re-strengthening is possible later today and Tuesday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km) from the center. Offshore conditions for Galveston and Freeport, seas are reported at 8-10′ and SE winds of 20-30 mph with higher gusts. Seas and winds near the bands of heavy precipitation will be higher.

Life-threatening flooding continues over Southeastern Texas. Harvey is expected to produce additional rainfall accumulations of 15 to 25 inches through Friday over the upper Texas coast and into southwestern Louisiana. Isolated storm totals may reach 50 inches over the upper Texas coast, including the Houston/Galveston metropolitan area. Periods of mainly light to moderate rain with embedded showers and thunderstorms containing heavier rains can be expected across the area today and tonight as Tropical Storm Harvey moves off the coast near Matagorda Bay. Any heavy rain falling on locations that have already received record breaking rainfall will be devastating. Harvey is expected to work its way up the Texas coast on Tuesday and Wednesday. This track should bring periods of mainly light to moderate rain with embedded showers and thunderstorms containing heavier rains for the area. Any heavy rain falling on locations that have already received record breaking rainfall will be devastating. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for coastal counties from Mesquite Bay to High Island. southwest of Sargent TX.

USCG Houston-Galveston Vessel Traffic Service confirms they are approving emergent vessel movements on a case by case basis. It was further advised that this has so far been limited to movements above Lynchburg Ferry. VTS manager Captain Nerheim advised that all vessels moored alongside a facility during Port Condition ZULU should maintain radio watch on VHF Channel 13 in case of need. There were some barge breakaways last night in the Greens Bayou area, and Captain Nerheim expressed appreciation to G&H Towing for the harbor tug that assisted corralling those barges.

USCG Air and Water assets are working around the clock conducting urban search and rescue operations in the greater Houston area due to floodwaters in the area.

NOAA reported that a survey team left from Florida last night headed toward trying to get to Corpus Christi but getting past the area is uncertain due to the road conditions. They also have assets standing by in the area once conditions allow them to start working the area.

Houston Pilots reported that they sent a pilot boat out to assess the situation on the bar. Seas were reported 6-9′ seas inside the jetties. About 30 ships offshore in the anchorages.

Galveston-Texas City Pilots advised they too sent a pilot boat out and saw similar situation to what Houston Pilots reported.

Brazos Pilots reported the sea conditions were similar to that reported by Houston & Gal-Tex Pilots.

Port of Houston advised they are sending their fireboats out to survey the channels and ATONs, and they will be updating VTS with their findings.

Port of Galveston advised all of the cruise ships have diverted to other locations for reprovisioning and will return to the area after the storm’s passing. The banana ship has also diverted.

Port of Freeport advised the terminal is in fair condition and roads inbound are generally passable.

G&H Towing reported several tugs are having mechanical issues, plus the crews are exhausted and they have not been able to conduct crew changes since they’ve been unable to contact different terminals where the tugs could pull in for a crew change. They asked for assistance in getting food to their boats and arranging passage across several terminals for the crew changing.

CBP Houston Seaport Notice #3, Aug 27 @ 12PM: Please be advised, as a result of widespread flooding in the Houston area, the Houston Field Office has decided to close the following offices on Monday, August 28: Houston Airport (including Northbelt Port Office), Houston Hobby Airport, Houston Seaport, Galveston, Freeport, Corpus Christi and Port Arthur. Closures may extend beyond Monday, if weather conditions do not improve. Updates to follow.

Area ports and terminals on standby: Numerous personnel representing port authorities, terminals and facilities were on the call and reported they are standing by awaiting improvement of conditions. Discussions have begun amongst the various industry representatives to develop priority ship lists.

USCG Port Status remains unchanged since last update, Below closed ports should remain closed until late this week:

• Port of Corpus Christi: Condition Zulu – Port Closed
• Port of Brownsville: Open for all Traffic
• Port of Freeport: Condition Zulu – Port Closed
• Port of Houston/Galveston/Texas City: Condition Zulu – Port Closed
• Port of Beaumont/Port Arthur: Condition X-Ray – No Traffic due to Weather

D: Tropical Depression – wind speed less than 39 MPH
S: Tropical Storm – wind speed between 39 MPH and 73 MPH
H: Hurricane – wind speed between 74 MPH and 110 MPH
M: Major Hurricane – wind speed greater than 110 MPH

August 30th, 2017

We have been advised by Industrial Terminals that during hurricane Harvey the terminal is one of many areas affected by flooding. As a result, cargoes for Intermarine services may have been affected by water. Once the terminal is accessible and it is safe to do so, Industrial Terminals will organize the yard as such that cargo inspections may take place.

We realize the need for Intermarine’s clients to inspect cargo and the desire to do this as soon as possible. All cargo surveys will be done by an only appointment basis. We will further advise cargo interests on when they will be able to start scheduling surveys as soon as we can make that determination.

Please note that when scheduling an appointment, Intermarine will require: the names of the survey company and surveyor, the booking numbers (or B/L numbers for inbound cargo) to be inspected, the general cargo description; and on whose behalf the survey is being conducted. For cargoes that will require inspections on behalf of multiple interests, all inspections for a given cargo must be conducted at one time.

For any inquiries regarding this statement or if you have any questions or concerns, please call our main line: +1 800 229 8701 to be directed to the appropriate sales and/or customer service representative. We very much appreciate your patience and support, and will continue to keep you updated as the situation develops.

Further to our update on August 30, 2017, for cargoes booked on Intermarine services, Intermarine will begin taking requests for cargo survey appointments immediately. Cargo surveys themselves will commence on September 2, 2017.

When scheduling an appointment please advise: the names of the survey company and surveyor, whether such surveyor holds a TWIC card or requires an escort, the booking numbers (or B/L numbers for inbound cargo) to be inspected, the general cargo description, and on whose behalf the survey is being conducted. For cargoes that will require inspections on behalf of multiple interests, all inspections for a given cargo must be conducted at one time.

The terminal will be able to accommodate client surveys during the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To schedule a cargo survey, please contact Charles Hall by phone at: 713 294 4469 or by email at: charles.hall@intermarine.com.

For export cargo, once the cargo survey and condition assessment is complete, please contact Richard Sosa in Intermarine’s Traffic Department by phone at: 832 360 5863 or by email at: richard.sosa@intermarine.com to advise whether the cargo is released for forward shipment and for voyage scheduling.