Hurricane Port Conditions
& Preparedness
Heavy Weather Conditions
• Hurricane Conditions for U.S. Coast
Guard units will be set by the Sector
Commander or the District Commander
• Port Conditions are set by the COTP and
apply to vessels/facilities within the AOR
Hurricane Conditions
Hurricane Condition
Threshold For Setting
HURCON 5
01 Dec – 31 May
HURCON 4
01 Jun – 30 Nov
HURCON 3
Gale force winds w/in 48
hours
Gale force winds w/in 24
hours
HURCON 2
HURCON 1
Gale force winds w/in 12
hours
Port Conditions
Port Condition
Threshold For Setting
PORTCON 5
PORTCON 4
WHISKEY
01 Dec – 31 May
01 Jun – 30 Nov
Gale force winds w/in 72 hrs
X-RAY
Gale force winds w/in 48 hrs
YANKEE
Gale force winds w/in 24 hrs
ZULU
Gale force winds w/in 12 hrs
TROPICAL STORM ERIKA - 031200Q SEP09
TROPICAL
TROPICALSTORM
STORMERIKA
ERIKA- 032300Q
- 032000QSEP09
SEP09
Port Conditions
• Port Condition 5: set during what is
considered to be the non-hurricane season
from 01 December to 31 May each year.
• Port Condition 4: the alert signifying the
beginning of hurricane season and runs from
01 June to 30 November each year.
Note: This also the condition the unit should
return to after the passage of a major storm
during the hurricane season.
Port Condition WHISKEY
•
•
•
Set when gale force winds are expected to arrive at
the port within 72 hours.
Port Status: open to all commercial traffic.
Establish a Safety Zone that requires:
•
•
•
All oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs and all selfpropelled oceangoing vessels over 200 GT to report their
intention to depart or remain in port.
All oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs and all selfpropelled oceangoing vessels over 200 GT remaining in port to
complete a REMAINING IN PORT CHECKLIST and submit to the
COTP for approval.
Advise port of intentions for setting next port condition
(X-RAY).
Port Condition X-RAY
• Set when gale force winds are expected to
•
•
•
•
arrive at the port within 48 hours.
Port status: open to all commercial traffic
All REMAINING IN PORT - CHECKLISTs
submitted to the COTP for approval.
Individually assess vessels desiring to remain
in port, issue COTP Orders as appropriate.
Advise port of intentions for setting next port
condition (YANKEE) including degree of vessel
control.
Port Condition YANKEE
•
•
Set when gale force winds are expected to arrive at
the port within 24 hours.
As soon as practical after the storm passes – i.e.
vessel traffic control measures in effect.
• Port Status: vessel traffic/facility control
•
•
measures in effect.
Establish a Safety Zone controlling vessel
movements and activities as appropriate.
COTP approve or direct, as necessary, final
mooring arrangements for vessels remaining in
port.
Port Condition ZULU
• Set when gale force winds are expected
to arrive at the port within 12 hours.
• Port Status: closed to all vessel traffic
except for vessel movements and activities
specifically authorized by the COTP.
• Establish a Safety Zone prohibiting vessel
movement and activities.
Port Re-opening
• Priority following post storm is to reopen the
•
•
waterways
Set PORTCON YANKEE
Team effort
• Coast Guard
• Pilots
• Port Authority
• Industry
• ATON/Waterways Checks
• Port Assessment Teams
• Information passed via MSIB/BNM
Questions?
USCG Points of Contact
Chief of Planning, Sector San Juan:
LCDR Michael Pierno
(787) 289-2062
Michael.R.Pierno@uscg.mil
Hurricane Officer, Sector San Juan:
LT Alejandro Soto
(787) 289-2080
Alejandro.M.Soto@uscg.mil
Maritime Transportation System Recovery:
Mr. Ismael Torres, MBA
(787) 729-4314
Ismael.Torres@uscg.mil