Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew West | The Coast Guard Captain of the Port set port condition WHISKEY for Hawaii, Maui and...... read more read more
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Honolulu — The Coast Guard Captain of the Port set port condition X-RAY for Hawaii and Maui Counties, Friday.
Port condition WHISKEY was also set for Kauai County.
At 5 a.m., Hurricane Douglas was 895 miles east-southeast of Hilo, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph moving west-northwest at 18 mph. Douglas is currently a category 3 hurricane.
At port condition X-RAY, gale force winds of 39 mph are predicted to arrive within 48 hours. During port condition WHISKEY, gale force winds of 39 mph are predicted to arrive within 72 hours. Ports’ status are open to all commercial and recreational traffic.
Vessels that desire to remain in port must submit a safe mooring plan in writing to the COTP and DOT-Harbors Division and receive permission to remain in port. Requests to remain in port can be found here.
At Port conditions X-RAY and WHISKEY, all pleasure craft shall seek sheltered waters. All ocean-going commercial vessels and ocean-going barges that have not been granted permission from the COTP and State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, Harbors Division (DOTH), to remain in the port area must make plans for departure. Vessels will be required to complete cargo operations and depart the port within 60 hours for Whiskey and 36 hours for X-RAY.
If and when the Captain of the Port sets port condition ZULU, meaning sustained gale force winds are anticipated within 12 hours, all activity will be suspended, and the ports will close until the storm has passed and damage assessment surveys are completed.
The public is reminded of these important safety messages:
When hurricane or tropical-storm-force winds are present, stay off the water. The Coast Guard’s search and rescue capabilities degrade as storm conditions strengthen. This may delay help. Boaters should heed weather watches, warnings, and small craft advisories. Evacuate as necessary. Coast Guard personnel and other emergency responders may not be able to evacuate or rescue those in danger until after the storm has passed.
Secure belongings. Owners of large boats are urged to move their vessels to inland marinas where they may be less vulnerable to breaking free of moorings or causing significant damage. Trailer-able boats should be pulled from the water and stored in a place that is not prone to flooding. Those who are leaving their boats in the water are reminded to update Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) registration and secure them safely to the vessel before a significant storm. These devices often float free from vessels in marinas or at docks during hurricanes and signal a distress when there is none. Ensure life rings, lifejackets, and small boats are secured. These items, if not properly secured, can break free and require valuable search and rescue resources to be diverted to ensure people are not in distress.
Stay clear of beaches. Wave heights and currents typically increase before a storm makes landfall. Even the best swimmers can fall victim to the strong waves and rip currents caused by hurricanes. Swimmers should stay clear of beaches until local lifeguards and law enforcement officials say the water is safe.
Be prepared. Area residents should develop a personal or family plan, creating a 14-day disaster supply kit to include any prescriptions, having a place to go, securing their home, and having a plan for pets.
Stay informed. The public should monitor the progress and strength of the storm through local television, radio, and the Internet. Boaters can track its progress on VHF radio channel 16. Information is also available through small craft advisories and warnings on VHF radio channel 16.
Don’t rely on Social Media. People in distress should use 911 to request assistance whenever possible. Social media should not be used to report life-threatening distress due to limited resources to monitor the dozens of social media platforms during a hurricane or large-scale rescue operation.
For information on Hurricane Douglas’s progress and hurricane preparedness, please visit the National Hurricane Center's webpage.
For more information on port conditions click here.
The Coast Guard will continue to Broadcast Notice to Mariners and send out a Marine Safety Information Bulletin to notify the maritime community of port condition changes.
All maritime users are requested to monitor the progress of this hurricane and make preparations accordingly.
For Coast Guard updates regarding Hurricane Douglas follow the Coast Guard 14th District’s Twitter @USCGHawaiiPac
| Date Taken: | 07.24.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 07.24.2020 19:37 |
| Story ID: | 374606 |
| Location: | HONOLULU, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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