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Port of Houston

USHOU🇺🇸USA

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Port of Houston USHOU

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About Port of Houston

Also known as: Houston River Canal, Houston River Irrigation Canal

This major US port complex is situated along a 50-mile canal leading to the Gulf of Mexico. It handles a vast amount of foreign and overall tonnage, making it the busiest port in the United States. The port features diversified public and private facilities and requires compulsory pilotage and tug assistance.

Background
The Port of Houston is one of the world's largest ports and serves the metropolitan area of Houston, Texas. The port is a 50-mile-long (80 km) complex of diversified public and private facilities located a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico. Located in the fourth-largest city in the United States, it is the busiest port in the U.S. in terms of foreign tonnage and the busiest in the U.S. in terms of overall tonnage. Though originally the port's terminals were primarily within the Houston city limits, the port has expanded to such a degree that today it has facilities in multiple communities in the surrounding area. In particular the port's busiest terminal, the Barbours Cut Terminal, is located in Morgan's Point.

Current Conditions

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Vessel Limits

Channel Depth
14ft
Elevation
7m

Operations & Services

Port of Entry
Yes
Pilotage Compulsory
Yes
Tug Assistance
Yes
Cranes
Fixed, Mobile, Floating
Drydock
Medium
Repair Code
A
Terminals
3

History

Established
1973

Terminals (3)

BARBOURS CUT MARINE TERMINAL

PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY

1515 E. Barbours Cut Boulevard, La Porte, TX 77571, USA

porthouston.com →

BAYPORT TERMINAL

PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY

12621 Port Road, Pasadena, TX 77586, USA

porthouston.com →

JACINTOPORT

JACINTOPORT INTERNATIONAL LLC.

16398 Jacintoport Boulevard, Houston, TX 77015, USA

www.jacintoport.com →

Identification

UN/LOCODE
USHOU
Country
🇺🇸USA
Time Zone
UTC-6
Feature Type
CNL (Canal)

Classification

Type
Port
Harbor Type
River tide gate
Shelter
Good

Region

Subdivision
US-TX
Area
Gulf of Mexico
Latitude
29.7278°
Longitude
-95.2700°

References & Identifiers

WPI No.
9240 →
GeoNames ID
4328028 →
Wikidata
Q1921365 →
Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Official Site
www.porthouston.com →

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I navigate the approach to the Port of Houston?

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The approach to Houston is supported by 5 navigation aids within 50 nautical miles. The nearest is Beacon Island Lighthouse at 15.1 NM to the SE. Other aids include South Shore Harbour (16.7 NM ESE), Upper Galveston Bay Inner (16.7 NM ESE), Kemah (17.3 NM SE), Morgan'S Point Approach Outer (19.3 NM ESE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart and List of Lights for full approach details.

What sea or ocean is the Port of Houston on?

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The Port of Houston is situated on the Gulf of Mexico in US. The area falls within the subtropical climate zone with mild winters and warm summers, which can influence port operations and seasonal shipping patterns.

How do I track vessels arriving at or departing from the Port of Houston?

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You can track vessels near Houston (USHOU) in real time using MarineRadar. The platform displays live AIS positions of nearby ships, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page or search for USHOU on the live map.

Where is the Port of Houston?

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The Port of Houston is a port in US. Its UN/LOCODE is USHOU — the five-character code the UNECE assigns to trade and transport locations, and the identifier used on shipping documents and in port calls.

What does the UN/LOCODE USHOU mean?

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The first two characters, US, are the ISO country code for US. The remaining three identify the location within that country. The code is issued by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and is the international standard for naming ports in trade and transport systems.

What are the operating hours and time zone for the Port of Houston?

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The Port of Houston operates in the UTC-6 time zone. Operating hours, VTS schedules, and pilot availability vary — vessel agents should confirm with the port authority in advance, especially for night arrivals or weekend operations.