Hurricanes Maria is forcing a variety of shipping companies to make emergency plans as the storm prepares to sweep the already battered Caribbean region.
Maria is a "potentially catastrophic" hurricane category that is expected to move through the Caribbean over the next two days, according to the US National Weather Service. The US Coast Guard closed all ports in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands due to Maria.
Jones Act shipping company Crowley Maritime also closed all its offices and terminals in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands as a result of the hurricane. It does not expect to reopen the facilities until 20 September.
It said its Dominican Republic offices and terminals will likely close tomorrow. Other offices and ports in Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica remain open.
The hurricane will again hit cruise lines, which have already faced delayed itineraries and cancellations due to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Royal Caribbean said it modified itineraries on two ships, the 3,114-berth Adventure of the Seas (built 2001) and 5,400-berth Allure of the Seas (built 2010) due to Maria.
Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival also said they are monitoring Maria, as well as the smaller Hurricane Jose, for any updates.
Maria is turning toward the Limetree Bay Terminals in US Virgin Islands, which is the site of 32 million barrels of oil storage and bunkers operators including Aegean Marine Petroleum.
NuStar Energy's oil storage facility in St Eustatius remains shut as it deals with damage from Irma. Buckeye Partners also shut oil storage operations in the Bahamas and Puerto Rico ahead of Maria's arrival.
