Coast Guard reopens the Ports of Jacksonville, Fernandina with restrictions

News Release

Sept. 12, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville Office: (904) 714-7606/7607 After Hours: (305) 318-1864

Coast Guard reopens the Ports of Jacksonville, Fernandina with restrictions

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Effective 6 p.m. Tuesday, the Coast Guard Captain of the Port has reopened the Ports of Jacksonville and Fernandina and all other terminals and facilities with restrictions.

Hurricane Irma’s severe weather is no longer a threat to the ports of Northeast Florida.  However, the conditions of the waterways and port infrastructure are still unknown, and full assessments of the affected areas are still being conducted.  The Coast Guard will enforce a temporary safety zone for these post-storm recovery operations.   The regulated areas include:

(1) Fernandina  All waters within the Cumberland Sound and Amelia River encompassed within the following locations: starting at the demarcation line drawn across the seaward extremity of the St. Marys River Entrance Jetties; thence following the shoreline north to Stafford Island; thence north to Point 1 in position 30°50'00″ N., 81°29′10″ W.; thence west to Point 2 in position 30°50′00″ N., 81°30′47″ W.; thence southwest to Kings Bay in position 30°48′42″ N., 81°31′27″ W.; thence south following the shoreline south to point 3 in position 30°40′30″ N., 81°28′38″ W.; thence southwest to R “18” at Point 4 30°39′57″ N., 81°29′04″ W.; thence southeast to Point 5 30°39′48″ N., 81°28′57″ W.; thence following the shoreline northeast back to origin.

(2) Jacksonville  All waters within the Port of Jacksonville encompassed within the following locations: starting at the demarcation line drawn across the seaward extremity of the St. Johns River Entrance Jetties, thence following the northern riverbank west to the Sister's Creek Bridge, thence following the riverbank west to the Interstate 95 Trout River Bridge, thence following the riverbank south to the Henry H. Buckman Bridge, thence following the eastern riverbank back to origin.

Unless authorized by the COTP, all vessels greater than 500 gross tons are prohibited from transiting in a regulated area until a full assessment of the waterway and port infrastructure along the regulated area is conducted.  As the assessments are being completed, the COTP may open specific portions of a regulated area and/or allow certain vessels to transit these areas.

Vessels desiring to transit through a regulated area may contact the COTP Jacksonville via telephone at (904) 714-7557, to request authorization.  If authorization to transit through a regulated area is granted, all vessels receiving such authorization must comply with instructions. Due to potential effects from Hurricane Irma throughout the Jacksonville area, mariners are urged to transit with caution considering the possibility of aids to navigation discrepancies or other hazards to navigation. If discovered, please report any of these issues to the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville.

Due to potential effects from Hurricane Irma throughout the Jacksonville area, mariners are urged to transit with caution considering the possibility of aids to navigation discrepancies or other hazards to navigation. If discovered, please report any of these issues to the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville.

Mariners can view the latest port updates on the Coast Guard's Homeport site.

For breaking news, follow us on Twitter @USCGSoutheast.

 

-USCG-

IMPORTANT LINKS

U.S. Coast Guard Hurricane Irma Response News

FEMA Hurricane Irma Resources

Official U.S. Coast Guard Hurricane Irma video and imagery