U.S., Caribbean ports brace for Hurricane Irma

The U.S. Coast Guard has declared port condition Zulu for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and condition Whiskey for various South Florida ports as the category 5 storm plows through the Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph.    Ports in the Caribbean and southeastern United States are bracing for Hurricane Irma, as the category 5 storm wreaks havoc on the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
   As of 11:00 a.m. eastern standard time, the hurricane’s center was just east of Puerto Rico, moving WNW at 16 mph with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. By Sunday, the center of Irma may be very close to South Florida.
   Consequently, the U.S. Coast Guard has set port condition Whiskey for PortMiami, the Miami River, Port Everglades, Port of Palm Beach, Port of Fort Pierce and all other South Florida terminals and facilities, including the Port of Key West, effective at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday. Port condition Whiskey means sustained gale force winds from a hurricane force storm are predicted within 72 hours.
   While port condition Whiskey remains in effect, these ports and facilities will be open to all commercial traffic and all transfer operations may continue.
   However, ocean-going commercial vessels and ocean-going barges greater than 500 gross tons should make plans to depart these areas, the USCG said.
   Vessels desiring to remain in port must immediately contact the Captain of the Port (COTP) for approval.
   “If and when port condition Yankee is set, meaning sustained gale force winds are expected within 24 hours, vessel movement shall be restricted, and all movements must be approved by the captain of the port,” the USCG said.
   Meanwhile, the USCG set port condition Zulu for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which took effect at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday.
   “While port condition Zulu is in place no vessels may enter or transit within these ports without permission of the COTP,” the USCG said. “All vessel movements are prohibited at this time, and all ship-to-shore operations must cease until further notice.”