PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Captain of the Port (COTP) Hampton Roads set Port Condition Yankee Friday for the Port of Virginia in preparation for the anticipated weather impact of Tropical Storm Hermine.
Port Condition Yankee was set at 6 p.m. This condition means gale force winds are expected to reach the Virginia Capes within 24 hrs.
Vessels within the Port of Virginia will be able to move within the Port with no restrictions; however mariners are encouraged to proceed with extreme caution. The Port of Virginia will close Saturday from 6 a.m. until midnight to all inbound and outbound vessels at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. Any requests to arrive or depart the port will be made on a case-by-case basis to be reviewed by the COTP with input from the Virginia or Maryland Pilots Association.
For a complete listing of all recommended storm preparations, facilities and vessel operators are strongly encouraged to review the Port of Hampton Roads Maritime Contingency Plan, Annex A, Tab C. This plan may be found on line under “Local Contingency Plans” at: http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/portDirectory.do?tabId=1&cotpId=26
The Coast Guard requests that the public listen to weather information available from other sources and not call the Coast Guard for weather information.
For information on how to prepare your boat or trailer for a storm, please visit http://www.uscg.mil/news/stormcenter/.
For information on the storm’s progress and storm preparedness, please visit the National Hurricane Center's Web page at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/.
Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's site to stay informed and for tips to prepare and plan for the storm at http://www.ready.gov/.
For additional information on the storm, visit the National Hurricane Center website http://www.nhc.noaa.gov.
For breaking news, follow the 5th District on Twitter @USCGMidAtlantic.