2012 Port Heavy Weather Plan for Northeast and Eastern Central Florida

1. 2012 Port Heavy Weather Plan for Northeast and Eastern Central Florida Port Canaveral, FL06 June 2012

2. Overview • Contents of the Plan – Major changes • Hurricane Readiness Conditions • Port Preparedness • Reopening the Ports • Post-Storm Surveys • Tropical Season FAQs US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

3. Forecast Track for Subtropical Storm Beryl(Tropical Storm Alberto forecast track and Cone of Uncertainty. Issued 11 pm EDT  Friday, May 25, 2012) US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

4. Heavy Weather Plan • Homeport • https://homeport.uscg.mil • Port Directory • Jacksonville US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

5. Heavy Weather Plan Outline • Chapter 1: Introduction • Chapter 2: Unit Preparedness • Chapter 3: Port Readiness & Post Storm Actions • Chapter 4: Unit Post Storm Operations • Annexes: The plan currently has 25 annexes (A-Y) *we will focus on Chapters 3 & 4 for this presentation US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

6. Chapter 3 – Port Preparedness and Port Post Storm Actions: Page 3-3 Changed Table 3.2 Condition YANKEE – old “[within 6 hrs]” new “[6 hrs prior to]” Annex F – Vessel Sortie Guidelines: No vessels should be allowed to remain at Seaport Canaveral (North Cargo Piers 1 & 2) due to vicinity of Loading Arms, Vapor Control Systems, and tank farm. Damage to this critical infrastructure could result in heavy pollution and an extended recovery period for this port. No vessels should remain along the sea wall on the north or south side cargo or cruise terminals. The channel throat is very narrow at this point, any vessel damage sustained in this location may leave the port completely blocked, further hindering port recovery. Changes to the 2012 Plan US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

7. Annex H – Remain in Port Requests: Combined the Ocean Going Vessels over 500 GT with Barges Annex J (Facility Status Boards) Updated to better reflect port infrastructure & locations Annex V – NOAA Product Changes for the 2012 Hurricane Season. Category 4 on the SSHWS will be broadened by one mph at each end of the range, yielding a new range of 130-156 mph. This will also result in a minor modification of the Category 3 and 5 wind speed thresholds. Changes to the 2012 Plan - Continued US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

8. Hurricane Readiness Conditions US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

9. Port Preparedness - Chapter 3 Planning Factors • Safe Havens • Vessel Sortie Policy • Vessel Sortie Requirements Vessel Evacuations • Bridges • Harbor Tugs • Pilots • Lay-up Vessels US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

10. 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. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

11. 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. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

12. 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 (refer to Annex H). US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

13. 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. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

14. Vessel Evacuations - Bridges • Typically, mandatory civilian evacuations ordered about 18 hours prior to the arrival sustained gale force winds. • About 8 hours prior the predicted arrival of sustained gale force winds, most bridges will be locked down and not reopened until severe weather has passed. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

15. Vessel Evacuations - Bridges (cont) • It is critical that vessels intending to evacuate the Ports of Jacksonville, Fernandina or Canaveral via the St. Johns River or the ICW depart early to avoid being blocked by bridges. • In the Port of Canaveral, once the SR 401 bridge has been locked down it is not possible to evacuate the port. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

16. 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, Fernandina has 1, and Canaveral has 4. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

17. 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. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

18. 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. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

19. Post-Storm Reporting Requirements Terminal and Facility Owners/Operators Barge and Barge Fleet Managers Dredge Operators Pilots Harbor Tug Companies Masters, Agents, Operators of All Commercial Vessels Remaining In Port Reopening the Ports US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

20. Reporting Requirements -Terminal and Facility Owners/Operators • Survey facilities listed in Annex J and report any damage, pollution, or unsafe conditions. • All damaged areas must be secured. • 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 COTP. • Make a recommendation to the COTP regarding the operational status of your facility. • Use the form in Annex N to report your Post-Storm Survey. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

21. Reporting Requirements - Barge and Barge Fleet Managers • Survey the barges or barge fleets. Account of all barges moored prior to the storm. • Use the form in Annex N to report the status of your barges, including any damage, pollution or unsafe conditions. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

22. Reporting Requirements - Dredge Operators • Survey all dredge equipment. Use the form in Annex N to report status to the COTP. • Assess availability of emergency dredge equipment. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

23. Reporting Requirements - Pilots • Make a recommendation to COTP regarding the status of the main channels, the need for extensive surveys, and the timeline for re-opening the port. • Re-stage assets for support of post storm assessment. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

24. Reporting Requirements - Harbor Tug Companies • Survey all tugs and facilities. Use the form in Annex N to report and damage, pollution, or unsafe conditions. Make a recommendation to the COTP regarding the availability of tugs. • Re-stage assets for support of post storm assessment. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

25. Reporting Requirements -Masters, Agents, Operators of All Commercial Vessels Remaining In Port • Survey vessels and mooring facilities. Use the form in Annex N to report any damage, pollution or unsafe condition. • Make a specific recommendation to the COTP regarding the operational status of each vessel. • Make any requests for shifting berths, deadship movements, or vessel departures as soon as possible. • Plan for resumption of operations. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

26. Post-Storm Operations – Chapter 4 • Post-Storm Surveys • Communication within the Port US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

27. 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. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

28. 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. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

29. Upon setting Hurricane Condition III/Port Condition YANKEE, Conference Calls will be held twice daily with the port of Canaveral. Times of calls and call-in numbers will be released via MSIBs once Hurricane Condition III/Port Condition YANKEE has been set. MSIBs will also regularly be released along with BNMs to keep the maritime community and public informed of the port conditions, port closures, location of the storm and the unit’s SAR posture. Communication within the Port US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

30. Tropical Season FAQs 2012 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Names • Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, FlorenceGordon, Helene, IsaacJoyce, Kirk, Leslie, Michael, Nadine, OscarPatty, Rafael, SandyTony, Valerie, William • Saffir-Simpson Scale • CatWind (kts) Damage • 1 64-82 Minimal • 2 83-95 Moderate • 3 96-112 Extensive • 4 113-136 Extreme • 5 > 136 Catastrophic • Cat 3/4/5 systems are “Major hurricanes” US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

31. Weather Information Websites • National Weather Service: www.srh.noaa.gov/jax/index.shtml • Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.fema.gov • U.S. Department of Homeland Security: www.dhs.gov & www.ready.gov • Florida Division of Emergency Management: www.floridadisaster.org • Duval County Emergency Preparedness Division: http://www.coj.net/departments/fire-and-rescue/emergency-preparedness.aspx • Jacksonville Electric Authority: www.jea.com • American Red Cross, North East Chapter: www.nefloridaredcross.org • Pet Friendly Lodging: www.petswelcome.com • Florida Disaster: http://www.floridadisaster.org/ • NOAA Weather Radio station KHB-39 broadcasting on 162.55mHz

32. Questions? US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville