33 CFR 165.813: Cruise ship security zones in Houston-Galveston

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section creates moving security zones of 500 yards around cruise ships in the Ports of Houston and Galveston, Texas. Vessels may enter within 500 yards but not closer than 100 yards at minimum safe speed. Entry within 100 yards needs express authorization from the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston.

Applies toIt applies to vessels and persons within 500 yards of a cruise ship between Galveston Bay Approach Lighted Buoy "GB" and up to, and including, Barbours Cut.

What it says

  1. Moving security zones cover all waters within 500 yards of a cruise ship between Galveston Bay Approach Lighted Buoy "GB" and up to, and including, Barbours Cut.

    33 CFR 165.813(a)“moving security zones are established encompassing all waters within 500 yards of a cruise ship”

  2. The zones stay in effect during the entire inbound and outbound transit of the cruise ship and continue while it is moored or anchored.

    33 CFR 165.813(a)“These zones remain in effect during the inbound and outbound entire transit of the cruise ship and continues while the cruise ship is moored or anchored.”

  3. Vessels may enter within 500 yards but not closer than 100 yards of a cruise ship if they operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course.

    33 CFR 165.813(b)(1)(i)“Vessels may enter within 500 yards but not closer than 100 yards of a cruise ship provided they operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course.”

  4. No person or vessel may enter within 100 yards of a cruise ship unless the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston expressly authorizes it.

    33 CFR 165.813(b)(1)(ii)“No person or vessel may enter within 100 yards of a cruise ship unless expressly authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston.”

  5. Moored vessels, or vessels anchored in a designated anchorage area, are permitted to remain within 100 yards of a cruise ship while it is in transit.

    33 CFR 165.813(b)(1)(iii)“Moored vessels or vessels anchored in a designated anchorage area are permitted to remain within 100 yards of a cruise ship while it is in transit.”

  6. Vessels that need to enter within 500 yards of a cruise ship but cannot slow to the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course must request express permission from the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston or his designated representative.

    33 CFR 165.813(b)(2)“must request express permission to proceed from the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston, or his designated representative.”

  7. A cruise ship is a passenger vessel over 100 gross tons, carrying more than 12 passengers for hire, on a voyage lasting more than 24 hours, any part of which is on the high seas, with passengers embarked or disembarked in the United States or its territories.

    33 CFR 165.813(b)(3)“a passenger vessel over 100 gross tons, carrying more than 12 passengers for hire, making a voyage lasting more than 24 hours”

  8. All persons and vessels within the moving security zone shall comply with instructions of the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston and designated on-scene U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel.

    33 CFR 165.813(b)(6)“All persons and vessels within the moving security zone shall comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston and designated on-scene U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel.”

Common questions

How close can I get to a cruise ship in Houston or Galveston?

Vessels may come within 500 yards but not closer than 100 yards if they operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course. Within 100 yards requires express authorization from the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston.

“Vessels may enter within 500 yards but not closer than 100 yards of a cruise ship provided they operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course.”

How do I request permission to enter a cruise ship security zone?

Contact "Houston Traffic" via VHF Channels 11/12 or via phone at 281-464-4837.

“To request permission as required by these regulations contact “Houston Traffic” via VHF Channels 11/12 or via phone at 281-464-4837.”

How will the public learn about the cruise ship security zones?

The Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston will inform the public of the moving security zones around cruise ships via Marine Safety Information Broadcasts.

“The Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston will inform the public of the moving security zones around cruise ships via Marine Safety Information Broadcasts.”

Can vessels in the narrow Houston Ship Channel go within 100 yards of a cruise ship?

Where the channel narrows to 400 feet or less between Houston Ship Channel Entrance Lighted Bell Buoy "18" and Barbours Cut, the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston may permit vessels that must transit the navigable channel to enter within 100 yards.

“the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston may permit vessels that must transit the navigable channel between these points to enter within 100 yards of a cruise ship.”

The text of 33 CFR 165.813

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Security Zones; Ports of Houston and Galveston, TX

(a) Location. Within the Ports of Houston and Galveston, Texas, moving security zones are established encompassing all waters within 500 yards of a cruise ship between Galveston Bay Approach Lighted Buoy “GB”, at approximate position 29°14′44″ N., 094°32′41″ W. [NAD 83] and up to, and including, Barbours Cut. These zones remain in effect during the inbound and outbound entire transit of the cruise ship and continues while the cruise ship is moored or anchored.

(b) Regulations. (1) Entry of vessels or persons into these zones is prohibited unless authorized as follows.

(i) Vessels may enter within 500 yards but not closer than 100 yards of a cruise ship provided they operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course.

(ii) No person or vessel may enter within 100 yards of a cruise ship unless expressly authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston. Where the Houston Ship Channel narrows to 400 feet or less between Houston Ship Channel Entrance Lighted Bell Buoy “18”, light list nos. 23900/36055 at approximately 29°21′04″ N., 094°47′00″ W. [NAD 83] and Barbours Cut, the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston may permit vessels that must transit the navigable channel between these points to enter within 100 yards of a cruise ship.

(iii) Moored vessels or vessels anchored in a designated anchorage area are permitted to remain within 100 yards of a cruise ship while it is in transit.

(2) Vessels requiring entry within 500 yards of a cruise ship that cannot slow to the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course must request express permission to proceed from the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston, or his designated representative.

(3) For the purpose of this section the term “cruise ship” is defined as a passenger vessel over 100 gross tons, carrying more than 12 passengers for hire, making a voyage lasting more than 24 hours, any part of which is on the high seas, and for which passengers are embarked or disembarked in the United States or its territories.

(4) The Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston will inform the public of the moving security zones around cruise ships via Marine Safety Information Broadcasts.

(5) To request permission as required by these regulations contact “Houston Traffic” via VHF Channels 11/12 or via phone at 281-464-4837.

(6) All persons and vessels within the moving security zone shall comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston and designated on-scene U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel. On-scene U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel include commissioned, warrant, and petty officers of the U.S. Coast Guard.

(c) Authority. In addition to 46 U.S.C. 70034, the authority for this section includes 46 U.S.C. 70116.

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.