2011 Port Heavy Weather Plan for Northeast and Eastern Central Florida

1. 2011 Port Heavy Weather Plan for Northeast and Eastern Central Florida Jacksonville, FL08 June 2011

2. Overview • Contents of the Plan • Hurricane Readiness Conditions • Port Preparedness • Reopening the Ports • Post-Storm Surveys • Operational Priorities US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

3. 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 19 annexes (A-S) *we will focus on Chapters 3 & 4 for this presentation US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

4. Hurricane Readiness Conditions US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

5. Sector Jacksonville Hurricane ICS Organization (Annex B)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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 one, and Canaveral has 4. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

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

24. 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

25. 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

26. Operational Priorities Operational Priorities as per D7 SOP: • Continue essential assigned missions and assure internal security of the unit, including safety of dependents. • Provide other military commands assistance as required to allow them to execute their assigned missions. • Provide nonmilitary federal agencies whatever off-station assistance is required to protect the interests and property of the U. S. Government. • Provide aid to civil authorities in the event the established civilian agencies are overwhelmed. • In cases of domestic disturbance, take action in accordance with the Coast Guard Civil Disturbance Support Plan. US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

27. Upon setting Hurricane Condition III/Port Condition YANKEE, Conference Calls will be held daily with stakeholders in Jacksonville and Fernandina. 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 BNTMs 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

28. Annex J (Facility Status Boards) Updated to better reflect port infrastructure & locations Changes to the 2011 Plan US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville

29. Questions? US Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville