SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard set Port Condition FOUR, Thursday, reopening maritime ports in Puerto Rico restricted to daylight operations in the navigable waterways only, while all other ports in the U.S. Virgin Islands remain closed under Port Condition ZULU, following the passing of Tropical Storm Ernesto.
All other seaports in the U.S. Virgin Islands remain closed under Port Condition ZULU until further notice. Coast Guard port assessment teams continue working with port partners and the maritime industry to finalize navigable waterway assessments to reopen these ports as soon as possible.
“The Coast Guard continues to work closely with our port partners and the maritime industry in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to finalize required assessments and ensure that the waterways are safe to reopen the remaining ports in the U.S. Virgin Islands and resume normal port operations throughout our area of responsibility,” said CAPT Luis Rodriguez, Commander of Sector San Juan and Captain of the Port for Puerto and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
During Port Condition FOUR, port facilities are open to all commercial vessel traffic. Currently, the ports navigable waterways in Puerto Rico are restricted to daylight operations only. Cargo operations at port facilities may resume without restrictions. All mariners are advised to use caution due to the potential for floating debris and report any abnormalities to the Coast Guard.
Ports under Port Condition ZULU are closed to all vessel traffic except unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, while cargo operations are suspended, including bunkering and lightering, however, waivers may be granted unless certain hazardous and dangerous cargo is involved.
For updates on the current port condition status of Sector San Juan ports in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands visit the Coast Homeport website at https://homeport.uscg.mil/.
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