Hot Port News from GAC
29-Aug-2019
PILOTS ISSUE NEW SAFE NAVIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS
New Orleans, United States
PORT CONDITION WHISKEY SET
Miami, United States
VICTORY DAY SWIMMING RACES
Turkish Straits, Turkey
DORIAN FORECAST TO STRENGTHEN INTO MAJOR HURRICANE
Bahamas
HURRICANE CONDITION WHISKEY SET
Fernandina/Jacksonville, United States
Pilots issue new safe navigation recommendations
Thursday, August 29, 2019, New Orleans, United States
Based on the most recent surveys, the Crescent River Port Pilots’ Association has issued a new recommendation maximum draft of 47’.
BAR Pilots have advised a new maximum recommended freshwater draft of 46’.
Both recommendations are effective immediately.
For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
Port Condition Whiskey set
Thursday, August 29, 2019, Miami, United States
In light of Tropical Storm Dorian, the U.S. Coast Guard Miami Sector set Port Condition Whiskey at 12:00 hours local time yesterday (28 August). This applies for the Miami River, the Port of Miami, Port Everglades, Palm Beach, Ft. Pierce and all other terminals and facilities with the Sector Miami area of responsibility.
Waterfront facilities should remove potential flying debris and hazards from dockside areas and container stacking plans should be implemented.
All ports in the area should follow Tropical Storm Dorian closely and prepare to set Hurricane Port Condition X-Ray. The Captain of the Port anticipates setting Port Condition X-Ray at 12:00 hours local time today (29 August), depending on the latest National Hurricane Center forecast.
For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com
Victory Day swimming races
Thursday, August 29, 2019, Turkish Straits, Turkey
Vessel traffic in the Dardanelles will be suspended both ways tomorrow (30 August), due to swimming races being held to commemorate Victory day.
The suspension will be from 05:30 hours local time (starting time of races) until 09:45 hours local time (completion time).
There is no planned suspension in the Bosphorus.
For information about operations in the Turkish Straits, contact GAC Istanbul at turkey@gac.com
Dorian forecast to strengthen into major hurricane
Thursday, August 29, 2019, Bahamas
At 500am AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Dorian was located near latitude 20.5 North, longitude 66.6 West. Dorian is moving toward the northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through Friday. A west-northwestward motion is forecast to begin Friday night and continue into the weekend.
On this track, Dorian should move over the Atlantic well east of the southeastern and central Bahamas today and on Friday, and approach the northwestern Bahamas on Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and Dorian is expected to become a major hurricane on Friday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km)…
RAINFALL:
Dorian is expected to produce the following rainfall accumulations this weekend into early next week:
– Central Bahamas: 2-4 inches, isolated 6 inches
– Northwestern Bahamas & coastal sections of southeast United States: 4-8 inches, isolated 12 inches.
This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods.
SURF:
Swells around the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico should gradually diminish today. Swells are likely to begin affecting the east-facing shores of the Bahamas and the southeastern United States coast during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
(For information about operations in the Americas, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at hub.us@gac.com)
Source: National Hurricane Center, Miami FL, Hurricane Dorian Advisory No.20 issued at 500am AST on 29 August 2019
Hurricane Condition Whiskey set
Thursday, August 29, 2019, Fernandina/Jacksonville, United States
Hurricane Condition WHISKEY [is] set in the Port of Fernandina and Jacksonville. All maritime interests are directed to complete preparations to implement the Port Heavy Weather Plan for Northeast and Eastern Central Florida.
The ports of Fernandina, Jacksonville and Canaveral remain open with no restrictions. It is important that you monitor the storm development as well as prepare for potential changes in Port Hurricane Conditions…
…Maritime interests are reminded that there are no “safe havens” identified within the ports of Jacksonville, Fernandina, and Canaveral for a vessel to safely survive tropical storm force winds, or storm surges without creating a threat to the safety of the port and public welfare. The safest condition for the port and during the arrival of a hurricane is when the inventory of vessels is at a minimum. All ships should coordinate their efforts in accordance with their evasion plan. Masters should take early and decisive action to ensure the safety of their vessels and crews.
Vessels desiring to remain in port during the Hurricane must request and receive permission. The request must be submitted in writing and explain the reasons why the vessel is submitting the request. All requests must also include a completed “Remaining in Port Checklist” that will describe the mooring arrangements and vessel specifics. This checklist must be signed by the vessel’s master and a representative of the facility where the vessel intends to moor. If the request is approved, additional measures may be required to ensure the safety of the port and the vessel. These measures may include, but are not limited to, the addition of extra mooring lines or fenders and the removal of cargo from the vessel.
All remain in port requests must be submitted to the Remain in Port Liaison Officer (RIPLO) at jaxdomestic@uscg.mil. If you have any questions regarding remain in port requests, please contact LTJG Andres Nealis at 904-714-7628.
Be advised, about eight hours prior to the predicted arrival of sustained gale force winds (above 39 mph), most bridges will be locked down and will not open until after the severe weather has passed. It is critical that vessels intending to evacuate the ports of Jacksonville, Fernandina, or Canaveral via the St. Johns River or the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway depart early to avoid being blocked by bridges.
(For information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.com)
Source: U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Jacksonville, Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) 034-19/032/19 dated 28 August 2019
