JAXPORT Shuts Down Ahead of Hurricane Dorian
The Port of Jacksonville has closed down for all commercial traffic ahead of the category three Hurricane Dorian making landfall, according to a statement released by the port authority.
JAXPORT has said all its terminals will remain closed for the duration of Hurricane Dorian and until given clearance to reopen by the US Coast Guard (USCG).
Furthermore, the Captain of the Port will set Port Hurricane Condition ZULU for the Port of Jacksonville from 8am, September 3, 2019.
This means that all commercial vessels over 500 gross tons are prohibited from entering or remaining in port.
In addition, all ship-to-shore cargo operations must cease six hours prior to the setting of ZULU. As well as that, the port’s administrative offices must remain closed Tuesday and Wednesday, in alignment with the City of Jacksonville’s city office closures.
Hurricane Dorian is currently stationary over the Bahamas and has been blamed for five deaths on the Abaco Islands when it hit with winds approximately 185 miles per hour.
The entire US east coast is on alert as Hurricane Dorian approaches and the USCG is issuing advisories for ports on the east coast.
The Port of Charleston, South Carolina has been issued Port Condition Whiskey – when a hurricane’s arrival is expected within 72 hours – and is due to be hit by Hurricane Dorian on September 4, 2019. After that, it is expected to gradually move up the coast.