Hurricane Port Conditions

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Hurricane Port Conditions Preparedness
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Heavy Weather Conditions

• Hurricane Conditions for U.S. Coast Guard units
  will be set by the Sector Commander or the
  District Commander
• Port Conditions are set by the COTP and apply to
  vessels/facilities within the AOR

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Hurricane Conditions
Hurricane Condition Threshold For Setting
HURCON 5 01 Dec 31 May
HURCON 4 01 Jun 30 Nov
HURCON 3 Gale force winds w/in 48 hours
HURCON 2 Gale force winds w/in 24 hours
HURCON 1 Gale force winds w/in 12 hours
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Port Conditions
Port Condition Threshold For Setting
PORTCON 5 01 Dec 31 May
PORTCON 4 01 Jun 30 Nov
WHISKEY Gale force winds w/in 72 hrs
X-RAY Gale force winds w/in 48 hrs
YANKEE Gale force winds w/in 24 hrs
ZULU Gale force winds w/in 12 hrs
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TROPICAL STORM ERIKA - 031200Q SEP09
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TROPICAL STORM ERIKA - 032300Q SEP09
TROPICAL STORM ERIKA - 032000Q SEP09
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Port Conditions

• Port Condition 5 set during what is considered
  to be the non-hurricane season from 01 December
  to 31 May each year.
• Port Condition 4 the alert signifying the
  beginning of hurricane season and runs from 01
  June to 30 November each year.
• Note This also the condition the unit should
  return to after the passage of a major storm
  during the hurricane season.

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Port Condition WHISKEY

• Set when gale force winds are expected to arrive
  at the port within 72 hours.
• Port Status open to all commercial traffic.
• Establish a Safety Zone that requires
• All oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs
  and all self-propelled oceangoing vessels over
  200 GT to report their intention to depart or
  remain in port.
• All oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs
  and all self-propelled oceangoing vessels over
  200 GT remaining in port to complete a REMAINING
  IN PORT CHECKLIST and submit to the COTP for
  approval.
• Advise port of intentions for setting next port
  condition (X-RAY).

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Port Condition X-RAY

• Set when gale force winds are expected to arrive
  at the port within 48 hours.
• Port status open to all commercial traffic
• All REMAINING IN PORT - CHECKLISTs submitted to
  the COTP for approval.
• Individually assess vessels desiring to remain in
  port, issue COTP Orders as appropriate.
• Advise port of intentions for setting next port
  condition (YANKEE) including degree of vessel
  control.

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Port Condition YANKEE

• Set when gale force winds are expected to arrive
  at the port within 24 hours.
• As soon as practical after the storm passes
  i.e. vessel traffic control measures in effect.
• Port Status vessel traffic/facility control
  measures in effect.
• Establish a Safety Zone controlling vessel
  movements and activities as appropriate.
• COTP approve or direct, as necessary, final
  mooring arrangements for vessels remaining in
  port.

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Port Condition ZULU

• Set when gale force winds are expected to arrive
  at the port within 12 hours.
• Port Status closed to all vessel traffic except
  for vessel movements and activities specifically
  authorized by the COTP.
• Establish a Safety Zone prohibiting vessel
  movement and activities.

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Port Preparedness

• Waterfront facilities
• Review update facility heavy weather plan
• Identify berths that are adequate for vessels to
  weather a hurricane
• Housekeeping
• Pre/Post-storm security
• Risk Factors
• Hazmat
• Missile Hazards
• Berthing Requirements
• Container stacking

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Port Preparedness

• Vessels
• Review update vessel heavy weather plan
• Ensure vessel crew safety
• Storm avoidance plan ahead
• Keep Coast Guard informed
• Submit mooring plan (gt 200 GT)
• Risk Factors
• Type of cargo
• Berthing availability
• Tug availability
• Ability to avoid storm

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Port Preparedness

• Towing Companies
• Maintain close liaison with CG/Port Authority
• Notification of tug availability pre/post storm
• Notification of hazardous conditions

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Port Preparedness

• Pilots
• Maintain close liaison with CG/Port Authority
• Notification of suspension/resumption of piloting
  services
• Notification of hazardous conditions
• Agents
• Ensure the most expeditious means of putting
  vessels to sea when heavy weather threatens.
• Provide to the COTP a written request and plan of
  action to weather the storm for vessels (gt200 GT)
  requesting to remain in port

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Port Re-opening

• Priority following post storm is to reopen the
  waterways
• Set PORTCON YANKEE
• Team effort
• Coast Guard
• Pilots
• Port Authority
• Industry
• ATON/Waterways Checks
• Port Assessment Teams
• Information passed via MSIB/BNM

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Questions?
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USCG Points of Contact

• Chief of Planning, Sector San Juan
• LCDR Michael Pierno
• [phone]
• Michael.R.Pierno_at_uscg.mil
• Hurricane Officer, Sector San Juan
• LT Alejandro Soto
• [phone]
• Alejandro.M.Soto_at_uscg.mil
• Maritime Transportation System Recovery
• Mr. Ismael Torres, MBA
• [phone]
• Ismael.Torres_at_uscg.mil