Thread: Port Closings: Issac

The U.S. Coast Guard has had the following ports under port condition WHISKEY since (I think) Thursday evening:

• KEY WEST
• PORT OF MIAMI
• PORT EVERGLADES (Ft. Lauderdale)

Port Condition XRAY is now Active for Miami and Ft. Lauderdale!

For those who don't know - Code whiskey is enacted prior to possible port closings, to put vessels on alert. The next step is code Xray.

FROM THE COAST GUARD:

The Port of Miami and Port Everglades are currently open to all commercial traffic and all transfer operations may continue while Whiskey remains in effect. Threatening winds between 39 and 54 mph from a hurricane-force storm are possible within 72 hours.


Mariners are reminded that there are no safe havens in the Port of Miami and that the port is the safest when the inventory of vessels is at a minimum. All oceangoing commercial vessels and oceangoing barges greater than 500 gross tons should make plans for departing the port. . . . Vessels bound for South Florida unable to depart 24 hours prior to threatening winds making landfall are advised to seek an alternate destination.

XRAY / YANKEE / ZULU port conditions

XRAY
Mariners can anticipate the Coast Guard setting port readiness condition X-ray when gale force winds from Tropical Storm Isaac are within 48 hours of landfall.

YANKEE
If and when port readiness condition Yankee is set, meaning hurricane force winds are expected within 24 hours, vessel movement shall be restricted and all movements must be approved by the Captain of the Port. During Port Condition YANKEE (gale force winds are anticipated to make landfall within 24 hours) ports are open to outbound vessel traffic only, while commercial inbound vessels are restricted from entering the port.

ZULU
In port condition ZULU, the port is completely closed. No vessels may come or go.

PORT OF MIAMI

August 24, 2012 TROPICAL STORM ISAAC ALERT: PortMiami Operations are Normal -- The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port has established Hurricane Port Readiness Condition X-RAY. We will continue to monitor and provide updates as information is made available.

http://www.miamidade.gov/portofmiami/

MIAMI — Effective 12 p.m. Friday, Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Capt. Chris Scraba, increased port conditions for the Port of Miami and Port Everglades to X-RAY, due to the expectation that gale force winds generated by Tropical Storm Isaac may arrive within 48 hours.

. . . Vessels more than 500 gross tons should make preparations to leave the port at this time or have received permission from the COTP to remain in port. Vessels unable to depart the port must contact the COTP and submit a safe mooring plan in writing when requesting and prior to receiving permission to remain in port.

Inbound vessels that will be unable to depart the port if Port Condition YANKEE is set, are advised to seek an alternate destination.


FROM Coast Guard sets Port Condition X-RAY for Miami, Fort Lauderdale | Coast Guard News

So if we wanted to equate the Coast Guard conditions with Homeland Security's it would be:
Whiskey - Blue or Guarded
XRay - Yellow or Elevated
Yankee - Orange or High
Zulu - RED or Severe

yep

PORT OF MIAMI CLOSING TONIGHT

l PortMiami Users Advisory Notice

August 25, 2012 TROPICAL STORM ISAAC ALERT: PortMiami is OPEN and is scheduled to close tonight at 11 p.m. U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port has established Hurricane Port Readiness Condition Modified YANKEE. The Port is scheduled to open on Monday; time to be announced.

http://www.miamidade.gov/portofmiami/

Port of Key West also closing at 11 PM
Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, too.

Thanks for the port closing announcements. And all your other storm tracking threads! Great coverage, useful information and I've learned a lot from them in the lat few weeks. Let's hope Tampa first get hit too hard/at all,

Thanks again Sheila!