Coast Guard calls for mariners, boaters, volunteers to follow port closure warnings in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard MIAMI Office: 305- 415-6683 786-367-7649 U.S. Coast Guard  PUERTO RICO Office: 787-729-2381 787-510-7923 U.S. Coast Guard TAMPA BAY Office: 727-535-1437 Ext. 2142, 2143 305-965-4672 U.S. Coast Guard JACKSONVILLE Office: 904-714-7606/7607 305-318-1864 Press inquiries: D7CGirmamedia@gmail.com 786-224-7996

Coast Guard calls for mariners, boaters, volunteers to follow port closure warnings in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SAN JUAN — Coast Guard officials advise mariners, boaters and volunteers from Puerto Rico and St. Croix that most ports in St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands are unsafe and remain closed to all vessel traffic until further notice.

Vessels seeking to transport supplies or people to these affected areas will not be allowed to enter the port until all port and facility assessments have been completed and deemed safe for vessel traffic by the captain of the port San Juan.

"We understand the desire to assist people impacted in St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, said Capt. Eric King, U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port San Juan.  "At this time port conditions in these areas remain unsafe for vessel traffic, and people who choose to disregard port condition warnings could make a bad situation worse."

Currently, the Coast Guard has no active maritime search and rescue cases in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands associated with Hurricane Irma. The Coast Guard is working closely with the Virgin Islands Emergency Operations Center, including federal and territorial authorities for any land-based rescue operations or medevacs.

If in immediate danger and require rescue assistance contact the Coast Guard Command Center at 787-289-2041 or via VHF-FM channel 16.

For updated information in regards for St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands please call 340-774-2244 or go to www.usviupdate.com. Also see the latest port openings press release here or on Coast Guard Homeport page.

For humanitarian operations in the U.S. Virgin Islands please go to www.fema.com or www.nvoad.org

For Emergency Operations Center Puerto Rico go to http://puertoricoeoc.wordpress.com

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-USCG-

IMPORTANT LINKS

U.S. Coast Guard Hurricane Irma Response News

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