International Maritime Shipping
Galena Marine Terminal’s maritime shipping division operates a highly capable deep-water petroleum terminal and vessel management platform in Houston, Texas. Strategically located within one of the United States’ busiest energy and shipping corridors—and supported by a growing global terminal network—we deliver comprehensive maritime shipping services across the full spectrum of liquid bulk petroleum cargoes.
Our deep-water jetty infrastructure is purpose-built to accommodate the world’s largest tanker classes, with dual berths enabling simultaneous VLCC loading and discharge operations. Complemented by an offshore Single Point Mooring (SPM) system, our maritime capabilities extend well beyond the jetty.
All maritime operations are coordinated through our 24/7 marine operations center, staffed by experienced professionals with in-depth knowledge of U.S. port regulations, international maritime law, and the complex operational requirements of petroleum cargo logistics.
- VLCC to Handysize vessel reception — all tanker classes accommodated
- Dual deepwater berths with simultaneous load/discharge capability
- Offshore SPM buoy for large-draft crude tankers and export operations
- Real-time vessel tracking and cargo management portal access
- Full pilotage, towage, and port authority liaison services
- MARPOL-compliant waste reception and bilge water facilities
What We Provide
Full-spectrum maritime terminal services for oil tanker operators, charterers, and cargo owners.
01Vessel Reception & Berthing
Complete berth management services from vessel nomination through to departure — including pre-arrival planning, NOR tendering, draft surveys, and demurrage calculations for all tanker classes.
02Ship-to-Shore Transfer
High-capacity marine loading arms and flexible hoses enabling crude oil and petroleum product transfers at sustained rates of up to 80,000 barrels per hour — minimising vessel port time and reducing demurrage exposure.
03Offshore SPM Operations
Single Point Mooring buoy operations for VLCC and ULCC-class crude oil exports and imports in open-water conditions — enabling large-draft vessels that cannot berth at the conventional jetty to load and discharge safely.
04Pilotage & Port Services
Coordination of all port authority interactions, pilot embarkation and disembarkation, tug assistance, mooring gangs, and customs and immigration clearance — ensuring smooth vessel arrival and departure at all times.
05Cargo Inspection & Survey
Independent cargo quantity and quality inspection at vessel manifolds and shore tanks, including draft surveys, ullage measurements, temperature gauging, and sampling — with Certificates of Quantity and Quality issued for every cargo.
06Marine Emergency & Spill Response
Dedicated 24/7 marine emergency response capability — including oil spill containment and recovery, jetty fire suppression, and full coordination with relevant U.S. maritime and petroleum regulatory agencies in line with established incident response protocols.
Tanker Classes We Accommodate
Our terminal infrastructure is designed and maintained to receive all internationally recognised tanker classes — from coastal product tankers to the world's largest crude carriers.
Jetty Operations
World-Class Jetty & Berth Operations
Our deep-water jetty complex serves as the core of Galena’s maritime shipping operations. Engineered to accommodate Suezmax-class vessels across dual berths with full simultaneous handling capability, the facility ranks among the highest-throughput petroleum cargo handling terminals in the United States outside major LNG hubs.
SPM Operations
Offshore Single Point Mooring
Our offshore Single Point Mooring (SPM) system extends Galena's maritime capabilities well beyond the jetty, enabling safe crude oil loading and discharge for VLCC and ULCC-class vessels operating in open-water conditions. The SPM is located 4.5 nautical miles offshore at a water depth of 32 metres.
The system is integrated with our onshore tank farm through a 4.5 km subsea pipeline and a 15 km surface-laid export line, ensuring continuous crude flow from storage to vessel. This configuration supports sustained high-volume transfer rates, making the SPM a highly efficient offshore loading solution within the Houston, Texas operational corridor.
How a Maritime Port Call Works
A streamlined, transparent process from vessel nomination to departure — designed to minimise port time and maximise operational efficiency.
Vessel Nomination
Charterer or operator nominates vessel. Galena's operations desk acknowledges NOR and provides pre-arrival checklist within 4 hours.
Port Entry Clearance
Customs, immigration, port health, and NPA clearances coordinated by our port liaison team. Pilot embarkation arranged 6 hours before ETA.
Berth Arrival & Survey
Vessel moored, hoses connected, and pre-transfer joint survey conducted by independent inspector and Galena cargo operator.
Cargo Transfer
Transfer commences after safe working conditions confirmed. Continuous monitoring of flow rates, pressures, and cargo quality throughout the operation.
Documentation & Departure
Bill of Lading, CoQ, CoA, and port clearance documents issued. Vessel clears berth — final time statement issued within 24 hours.
