Issued By: VITEMA Affected Jurisdictions: St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, Water Island Counties Headline: Coast Guard Captain of the Port Sets Port Condition X-RAY for All USVI and Puerto Rico Ports Coast Guard Sector San Juan Alternate Captain of the Port, Capt. David Flaherty, set Port Condition X-RAY at 6 p.m. Monday for all the ports in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico due to incoming Tropical Storm Chantal. During Port Condition X-RAY (48 hours before gale-force winds make landfall) all maritime operations including waterfront facility and vessel transits may occur until further notice and are subject to prudent seamanship and safe working practices. Inbound vessels that will be unable to depart if Port Condition YANKEE is set, are advised to seek an alternate destination. Container terminal operators shall reduce container stack heights to no more than three high, or propose alternate securing arrangements to the Captain of the Port. The Captain of the Port may require additional precautions to ensure the safety of the ports and waterways. The Captain of the Port anticipates that the port condition may be increased to YANKEE in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico within the next 12 hours if the track for Tropical Storm Chantal remains as forecasted. Pleasure craft operators are advised to seek safe harbor. Owners of larger boats are urged to move their boats to inland marinas where they will be less vulnerable to breaking free of their moorings or sustaining damage. Trailer able boats should be pulled from the water and stored in a place that is not prone to flooding. Those who are leaving their boats in the water are reminded to secure life rings, lifejackets and small boats. These items, if not secured properly, can break free and require valuable search and rescue resources be diverted and precluded from assisting people who may actually be in distress.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:17:47 +0000