Expected to reach hurricane strength Monday, coast by
Tuesday
Ports along the U.S. Gulf where shuttering as Tropical Storm Isaac began
crossing the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Monday morning, with maximum sustained
winds near 65 mph, the National Weather Service said.
The Louisiana Maritime Association in Metairie, La., reported from a Monday
morning teleconference with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others that landfall is
expected to occur about 1 p.m. Tuesday at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
A National Hurricane Center 10 a.m. advisory placed Issac at about 310 miles
from the mouth of Mississippi River, moving northwest with sustained winds of 65
mph. Isaac is expected to strengthen in the warmer Gulf waters and could reach
hurricane strength by late Monday or early Tuesday. NOAA stressed the conditions
could change and that close attention should be made until landfall, and the
weather service issued a hurricane warning from east of Morgan City, La., to
Destin, Fla.
NHC projects hurricane strength winds of 90 mph at landfall, reduced from
previous forecasts of a Category 2 storm. The center warned of significant storm
surge throughout the northern Gulf, rainfall of up to 18 inches are possible in
southeastern Louisiana, southern Alabama, Mississippi and the western Florida
panhandle.
Port officials in the Gulf have released the following updates:
New Orleans: Cargo terminals within the Port of New Orleans
will cease operations by 5 p.m. today as port personnel and terminal operators
finish storm preparations, including locking down cranes, ensuring key
operations and security personnel are in place, removing potential hazards from
wharves and securing all floating equipment.
The Associated Branch Pilots, which pilot ships through Southwest Pass at the
mouth of the Mississippi River, ceased operations Sunday night and the Crescent
River Port Pilots and the New Orleans Baton Rouge Pilot Association ceased
moving vessels Monday morning, and closed the river to deep-draft traffic until
the storm threat passes.
The Port of New Orleans Administration Building and cargo operations will be
closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Six cargo vessels will remain in port until the Mississippi River reopens.
Immediately following the storm the Coast Guard will evaluate all waterways
and determine when the River will be reopened for safe transit. The port will
issue regular updates
here.
Port of Mobile: Alabama State Port Authority officials
ordered all vessels to sail by Sunday afternoon unless otherwise approved by the
U.S. Coast Guard, port officials said. Beginning Monday, no cargo will be
received at the port terminals until the port can be reopened. All barges
positioned in the port authority’s fleet areas also will be required to sail,
and rail operations will be suspended by 5 p.m. Monday.
Facilities will be closed and non-essential personnel will be released by 3
p.m. Port updated can be found
here.
Gulfport: The Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport
has similarly ordered the port cleared of all cargo vessels.
Port Fourchon: The Captain of the Port for Morgan City set
condition Yankee, with gale force winds expected to arrive within 24 hours.
Hurricane force winds and 8 to 12-foot storm surge are expected.
All vessels 500 gross tons and all barges and supporting tugs intending to
depart the port must arrange for immediate departure, and inbound vessels are
advised to see an alternate destination. Port condition Zulu is expected when
gale-force winds are predicted to arrive within 12 hours.
Following the storm the port captain will work with the port to determine
when the facility can reopen.
