Texas ports keep watchful eye on Harvey, make preparations

The Golden Leo bulk carrier ship navigates through the Houston Ship Channel Jan. 3, 2017, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle ) The Golden Leo bulk carrier ship navigates through the Houston Ship Channel Jan. 3, 2017, in Houston. ( James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: James Nielsen, Staff Photo: James Nielsen, Staff Image 1 of / 236 Caption Close Texas ports keep watchful eye on Harvey, make preparations 1 / 236 Back to Gallery

Texas ports are monitoring and making preparations ahead of Hurricane Harvey.

Officials in Houston are monitoring the weather, but ports in south Texas are starting to evacuate ships.

The Corpus Christi Ship Channel was closed to ships entering the port at 1 p.m. Wednesday, said Henry A. de La Garza, spokesman for the Texas State Pilots Association. Pilots are tasked with guiding ships in and out of ports.

About a dozen ships and platforms are currently being moved out of the Port of Corpus Christi by the Aransas-Corpus Christi Pilots. The ship channel will close to ships leaving the port at 2 p.m. Thursday, he said.

The Brazos Pilots are moving three ships out of Port Freeport, and they're not allowing ships to enter the port. Pilot operations are continuing as normal in Houston and Galveston, he said.

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Lisa Ashley, spokeswoman for Port Houston, said officials are monitoring the weather. As of Thursday morning, there were no plans to close the terminals.

Port Houston has a communications plan in place to keep employees and customers up to date on the latest information regarding terminal operations.

She said officials are advising everyone to "exercise their own due diligence and caution regarding their personal safety."

As of 9:45 a.m. Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard said all ports remain open.