The Harbormaster’s Office
The Harbormaster’s Office (HMO) is the communication hub of the Port of Corpus Christi and is responsible for the coordination, tracking and billing for all vessels calling upon the Port of Corpus Christi. The Harbormaster’s Office is open 24/7, 365 days a year, even during such severe weather events as Hurricane Harvey. The Harbormaster’s staff includes nine Vessel Traffic Controllers who handle over 5,600 ship movements and 20,000 barge movements annually. Our dedicated personnel take great pride in playing an integral part in helping the nation’s largest port in total revenue tonnage continue to meet the needs and demands of regional, national and global industry stakeholders.
Port of Corpus Christi – Navigational Best Practices
Contact Us
Dispatch
(361) 882-1773 or (361) 882-1774
Marine VHF Radio Channel 12 24/7
hmo@pocca.com
Harbormaster
Russell Cordo
(361) 885-6166
russell@pocca.com
HMO AT A GLANCE
Some of the numbers that define the Port of Corpus Christi Harbormaster’s Office.
24/7
OPEN 24/7
365 DAYS A YEAR
5,600
ANNUAL SHIP MOVEMENTS
20,000
ANNUAL BARGE MOVEMENTS
Facility & Communication
The Harbormaster’s Office has truly grown to meet the demands of its users. Four state-of-the-art Vessel Traffic Controllers Stations now complement HMO. Effective communication is the lifeblood of HMO. Equipped with a state-of-the-art radio system with two high-output antennas, HMO maintains constant contact with professional mariners calling on the Port of Corpus Christi. To help ensure the safe movement of vessel traffic, the Port of Corpus Christi proudly sponsored the installation of the Corpus Christi PORTS system, (Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System) which consists of 13 meteorological and seven visibility sensors located throughout the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. This system is available to everyone from the commercial mariner to the recreational boater, free of charge.
Technology
Another important tool utilized by our Vessel Traffic Controllers is the Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS), which allows HMO to maintain a visual track of the location of vessels in the ship channel in real-time. In keeping with the Port of Corpus Christi’s commitment to the safe and efficient movement of vessels, a new cutting-edge VTIS system was recently installed. Each one of these infrastructure improvements is evidence of the Port of Corpus Christi’s commitment to meeting the growing needs of industry while striving to keep our waterways safe.
Current Traffic