Port Heavy Weather Plan Port Heavy Weather Plan for Northeast and Eastern for Northeast and Eastern

Central FloridaCentral Florida

• Contents of the Plan

• Hurricane Readiness Conditions

• Port Preparedness

• Reopening the Ports

• Post-Storm Surveys

• Operational Priorities

OverviewOverview

Heavy Weather Plan OutlineHeavy Weather Plan Outline

• Chapter 1: Introduction

• Chapter 2: Unit Preparedness

• Chapter 3: Port Readiness & Post Storm Actions

• Chapter 4: Unit Post Storm Operations

*we will focus on Chapters 3 & 4 for this presentation

Changes to 2006 Plan• Most of the changes minor

• Berthing arrangements Chapter 3

• MTS-RU Chapter 2 and Chapter 3

HURRICANE READINESS CONDITIONS

Unit Hurricane Condition

Port Hurricane Condition

When Set

5 5 December 1 - May 30

4 4 June 1 - November 30

Undefined Whiskey Sustained Gale Force winds from a hurricane

force storm predicted within 72 hours

3 X-Ray Sustained Gale Force winds from a hurricane

force storm predicted within 48 hours

2 Yankee Sustained Gale Force winds from a hurricane

force storm predicted within 24 hours

1 Zulu Sustained Gale Force winds from a hurricane

force storm predicted within 12 hours

Information Flow (Whiskey)• 8:30 am MSIB

• 1200 Port Conference Call (Jax/Fernandina)

• 5:30 pm MSIB

PORT

PREPAREDNESS

Port Preparedness - Chapter 3Port Preparedness - Chapter 3

Planning Factors• Safe Havens

• Vessel Sortie Policy

• Vessel Sortie Requirements

Vessel Evacuations• Bridges

• Harbor Tugs

• Pilots

• Lay-up Vessels

Planning Factors - Safe Havens

• The Ports of Jacksonville and Canaveral are not considered safe hurricane havens since surrounding low topography does not provide adequate windbreak.

Planning Factors - Vessel Sortie Policy

• All commercial, ocean-going vessels and ocean-going tug/barge combinations over 500 GT will generally be required to depart the port when hurricanes approach.

• No vessels are allowed to remain at facilities which are within one half mile of any bridge.

Planning Factors - Vessel Sortie Requirements

• Condition Whiskey (Alert – 72 Hrs) Make preparations to get underway within 48 hours. Set navigation and radio watch. “Dead” vessels unable to put to sea must make written application to the COTP to remain in port. Requests should be submitted prior to setting X-Ray.

• Condition X-Ray (Readiness – 48 Hrs) All vessels, are required to give COTP advanced notice of arrival. All vessels should prepare to complete cargo operations and depart port within 24 hours, or when Condition Yankee is set. Vessels and barges unable to depart must request permission from COTP.

Vessel Sortie Requirements (Cont.)

• Condition Yankee (Warning – 24 Hrs) Port is closed to incoming traffic without specific written approval of COTP. All ship-to-shore cargo operations must stop within 6 hrs of setting Zulu. All vessels must put to sea unless in receipt of specific written approval of the COTP to remain in port.

• Condition Zulu (Max Prep – 12 Hrs) Port is closed to vessel movements. No ship-to-shore movement of cargo is permitted.

Vessel Evacuations - Bridges

• Typically, mandatory civilian evacuations ordered about 18 hours prior to the arrival sustained gale force winds.

• About 8 hours prior the predicated arrival of sustained gale force winds, most bridges will be locked down and not reopened until severe weather has passed.

Vessel Evacuations - Harbor Tugs

• Masters and agents of deep draft vessels and tug/barges that require assistance during docking and transit should plan to depart the port early and anticipate some scheduling conflicts caused by the simultaneous departure of many deep draft vessels.

• Jacksonville regularly has 15 tugs available, while Fernandina has one.

Vessel Evacuations - Pilots

• Pilots generally stop working when conditions at the sea buoy prevent safe transfer from ship to pilot boat, or at the onset of sustained gale force winds.

Vessel Evacuations - Lay-Up Vessels

• Vessels in lay-up during the off-season (01 DEC-31 May) must depart port no later than May 31.

• Vessels unable to depart before June 1 each year must obtain written permission from the COTP to remain in port.

REOPENING THE PORTS

Reopening the PortsReopening the Ports

Post-Storm Reporting Requirements

Maritime Transportation System Recovery Unit

• Terminal and Facility Owners/Operators

• Barge and Barge Fleet Managers• Pilots • Harbor Tug Companies• Masters, Agents, Operators of All Commercial Vessels Remaining In Port

Reporting Requirements -Terminal and Facility Owners/Operators

• Survey facilities and report any damage, pollution, or unsafe conditions. Secure damaged areas.

• Re-establish security operations.• If shoaling is suspected, ensure soundings are taken and

report results.• Account for all vessels and barges moored at the facility

prior to the storm. Report status to MTS-RU.• Make a recommendation to the MTS-RU regarding the

operational status of your facility.• Use the form in Annex Q to report.

Reporting Requirements - Barge and Barge Fleet Managers

• Survey the barges or barge fleets. Account for all barges moored prior to the storm.

• Use the form in Annex Q to report the status of your barges, including any damage, pollution or unsafe

conditions to the MTS-RU

Reporting - Pilots

• Help the COTP make decisions regarding the status of the main channels, the need for extensive surveys, and the timeline for re-opening the port.

Reporting Requirements Harbor Tug Companies

• Survey all tugs and facilities. Use the form in Annex Q to report and damage, pollution, or unsafe conditions. Make a recommendation to the COTP via the MTS-RU regarding the availability of tugs.

Reporting Requirements -Masters, Agents, Operators of All Commercial Vessels Remaining In Port

• Survey vessels and mooring facilities. Use the form in Annex Q to report any damage, pollution or unsafe condition.

• Inform the MTS-RU regarding the operational status of each vessel.

• Make any requests for shifting berths, deadship movements, or vessel departures as soon as possible.

POST-STORM OPERATIONS

Post-Storm Operations – Chapter 4

• Post-Storm Surveys• Restoration of Waterway Services for Commerce and

National Defense• Communication within the Port

Post Storm Surveys -ATON

• Navigation aids may become damaged during periods of severe heavy weather.

• Even upon re-opening a waterway, port pilots may not bring vessels into port if critical navigation ranges/buoys are damaged or destroyed.

• Pilots and other expert mariners have often reported that the extinguishment or damage of fixed navigational ranges is the primary ATON discrepancy that would inhibit safe vessel operation.

• While floating ATON generally provide assistance to mariners, they are not to be relied upon for their designated position, especially after sustained heavy weather.

Post Storm / Bottom Surveys• The USCG has no organic capability to perform bottom

surveys other than with depth sounders.

• The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) maintains two Navigational Response Teams (NRTs) that are available to respond to emergency navigation issues, particularly channel shoaling.

• The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has a capability to perform an immediate 3-line crosshatch bottom survey after passage of storms. This process must take place prior to USACE emergency dredging operations.

Restoration of Waterway Services for Commerce Restoration of Waterway Services for Commerce and National Defense (and National Defense (highhigh priority) priority)

• Reopen access to King’s Bay Naval Sub Base.

• Reopen access to NS Mayport, USMC Blount Island, and Jacksonville northside generating plant docks.

• Reopen access to NOTU and tankship docks in Port Canaveral.

• Restore ocean access to Jacksonville oil terminal and dry cargo docks.

Restoration of Waterway Services for Commerce and Restoration of Waterway Services for Commerce and National Defense (National Defense (mediummedium & & lowlow priority) priority)

• Restore ocean access to Fernandina commercial docks.• Restore access to Ponce Inlet pax vessels.• Restore exit route for commercial vessels that took

refuge on St. Johns River.• Restore exit route for commercial vessels that took

refuge on Banana and Indian Rivers.• Restore inshore access from Jacksonville to Fernandina.• Restore access to Port of Sanford.• Restore inshore access from Jacksonville to Port

Canaveral.

Communication within the PortCommunication within the Port

• Sector Jacksonville aims to manage expectations about port reopening timeframes and CG response.

• Sector Jacksonville will manage citizen awareness of SAR posture and recreational boating closures.

• Conference Calls will be held in the ports of Jacksonville/Fernandina and Port Canaveral

Online PlanOnline Plan

An online version of the Heavy Weather plan can be found by visiting the Sector Jacksonville internet site at:

http://www.uscg.mil/d7/sectorjacksonville/

Once on this page, go to Contingency Planning and Force Readiness and click on Heavy Weather Plan.