Port of Houston

🇺🇸 USA

Caribbean Sea · Multi-Purpose Port

UN/LOCODE
USHOU
Country
🇺🇸 USA
Port Type
Multi-Purpose Port
Ocean Region
Caribbean Sea
Latitude
29.7300° N
Longitude
95.0200° W

Regional Risk Context — Caribbean Sea

In the last 180 days, ArcNautical recorded 318 vessel arrivals at Houston, with Towing accounting for 28% of port calls — in line with the Caribbean Sea regional average of 23%. Houston in USA operates within a strategic crossroads connecting North and South American trade with the Panama Canal, Gulf of Mexico energy complex, and transatlantic routes. Hurricane season (June 1 – November 30) is the dominant natural hazard; category 4 and 5 systems generate winds above 130 knots and storm surges that devastate port infrastructure. Track forecasting has improved, but rapid intensification remains difficult to predict beyond 48–72 hours. Venezuela sanctions represent a significant compliance challenge for any vessel operating in the basin — the US has maintained comprehensive sanctions against Venezuela's oil sector since 2019, and the framework is modified frequently through general and specific licenses. Vessels with prior Venezuelan port calls face enhanced OFAC scrutiny.

Read the full Caribbean Sea risk briefing →

Sea Distances

Routed sea distances from Houston to the principal global hubs, computed by ArcNautical's routing engine — around land and through the canals a ship actually uses, not great-circle.

Top Vessel Types (last 180 days)

Across 318 distinct vessel arrivals, 305 carry a confirmed AIS ship-type code. The most common categories at Houston:

28%
Towing
85 vessels
26%
Tanker
79 vessels
24%
Unknown
72 vessels
19%
Cargo
59 vessels
2%
Other
5 vessels

Port State Control Context

Houston falls under the US Coast Guard. The US Coast Guard operates its own Port State Control programme rather than participating in a regional MoU. The USCG Port State Control Annual Report publishes detention statistics by flag and class society. ArcNautical evaluates per-vessel detention probability using flag performance (USCG QUALSHIP 21 status where applicable), vessel age, deficiency history, and ownership opacity.

Recent Arrivals at Houston

Last 10 vessel arrivals recorded by ArcNautical's AIS pipeline (last 90 days):

ArrivedVesselFlagType
2026-08-05 MICHAEL MCCREERY 🇺🇸 US Tug
2026-08-05 DREW DEVALL 🇺🇸 US Tug
2026-08-05 MICHAEL MCCREERY 🇺🇸 US Tug
2026-08-05 MICHAEL MCCREERY 🇺🇸 US Tug
2026-08-05 MICHAEL MCCREERY 🇺🇸 US Tug
2026-08-05 PELICAN STATE 🇺🇸 US Tanker
2026-08-05 PELICAN STATE 🇺🇸 US Tanker
2026-08-05 DREW DEVALL 🇺🇸 US Tug
2026-08-05 FRANK GOLEMI 🇺🇸 US Tug
2026-08-05 FRANK GOLEMI 🇺🇸 US Tug

Score a Voyage from Houston

Plan and score a voyage from Houston using 10 intelligence signals. Get composite risk scores, route-level threat exposure, sanctions screening, and fuel/CII estimates.

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Nearby Ports

🇺🇸 Freeport (TX)
USA · Tanker Terminal · ~50 nm
🇺🇸 Beaumont
USA · Tanker Terminal · ~52 nm
🇺🇸 Sabine Pass
USA · LNG Terminal · ~60 nm
🇺🇸 Lake Charles
USA · LNG Terminal · ~98 nm
🇺🇸 Corpus Christi
USA · Tanker Terminal · ~170 nm
🇺🇸 New Orleans
USA · Multi-Purpose Port · ~259 nm
🇺🇸 Gulfport
USA · Multi-Purpose Port · ~311 nm
🇺🇸 Mobile
USA · Multi-Purpose Port · ~367 nm