NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard has begun securing its area of responsibility Sept. 3 and adjusting port conditions along the Gulf Coast as the threat of Tropical Storm Gordon continues its northward motion. The Coast Guard urges all mariners to continuously monitor local and national weather sources and avoid coastal areas that may be impacted by the storm. Owners of large boats are urged to move those vessels to less vulnerable inland marinas to prevent damage. Trailer-able boats should be pulled from the water, tied securely to trailers and stored in non-prone flooding areas. Those who are leaving their boats in the water are reminded to update their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon registration, and secure EPIRBs safely to vessels prior to a major storm. The CG has set Port Condition X-Ray for the New Orleans’ Captain of the Port Zone, and the ports of Pascagoula and Gulfport, Miss. All commercial vessels and barges greater than 500 gross tons and all oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs shall report to the CG captain of the port their intention to depart or remain in port. Those planning to remain in port must complete an application and submit it in writing within 24 hours to Sector New Orleans’ captain of the port. Additional information on Port Condition X-Ray and the latest port conditions can be found on Marine Safety Information Bulletin Vol. XVIII Issue 60 found the Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Homeport website at https://homeport.uscg.mil/port-directory/new-orleans. All marine interests must take early and substantial action to ensure safety of the port and vessels. For updates on port statuses follow the Coast Guard Heartland Twitter account at @USCGHeartland. (Source: Coast Guard 09/03/18) UPDATE PORT CONDITIONS: The CG has now set Port Condition YANKEE for the Sector New Orleans and Sector Mobile, Ala., areas. Port Condition YANKEE is set when hurricane-force winds are possible within 24 hours. During YANKEE, all affected ports are closed to inbound vessel traffic greater than 500 gross tons. All vessels greater than 500 gross tons without permission to remain in port should have departed or be prepared to depart prior to the setting of Port Condition ZULU. For planning purposes, in ZULU the port is closed, and all port operations are suspended.
PORT CONDITION 'ZULU': The Coast Guard set Port Condition ZULU for the ports of Gulfport and Pascagoula, Miss., and Mobile, Ala. ZULU closes the port and suspends all port operations. It is set when hurricane-force winds are possible within 12 hours.
UPDATED POTENTIAL WEATHER CONDITIONS: Tropical Storm conditions for all of southeastern Louisiana east of Morgan City, including lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas, while a hurricane watch is in effect from the mouth of the Pearl River to the Alabama-Florida border. A storm surge warning is in effect for areas east of the Mississippi River, from Shell Beach in St. Bernard Parish (La.) east to Dauphin Island, Ala. A warning means there’s a danger of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline during the next 36 hours. A storm surge watch remains in effect for areas south of Shell Beach to the mouth of the Mississippi River. Forecasters with the Slidell office of the National Weather Service warned that residents of southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi should prepare for potential winds of 58 to 73 mph, or a strong tropical storm. (Source: NOLA.com 09/03/18)
