USCG opens Houston Ship Channel to most ships

HOUSTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday lifted nearly all Hurricane Ike-related limits on tankers, freighters and other ships traveling the Houston Ship Channel, a spokeswoman said.

The channel reopened to 24-hour-a-day travel at full depth, 45 feet (13.7 meters), for 47 miles (75.6 km) from the Gulf of Mexico to Shell-Pemex Deer Park. The channel was at full depth, 40 feet, for the next 7 miles to Manchester Terminal.

Draft was still limited to 34 feet for the final 5 miles from Manchester Terminal to the Turning Basin, but the nighttime limit to no more than 16 feet of draft was canceled. the Coast Guard said. (Reporting by Bruce Nichols)