The US Coast Guard (USCG) has closed several southeast US ports ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Michael, which is expected to make landfall early Wednesday afternoon.
Port Condition Zulu has been set for the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway east of Perdido Pass as well as the ports of Panama City and Pensacola, according to the agency’s website.
It has also set port condition X-ray for ports in Georgia, South Carolina, and all other terminals and facilities Tuesday, due to the expectation of sustained gale force winds.
These ports and facilities are currently open to all commercial traffic and all transfer operations may continue while X-ray remains in effect, the USCG said.
“Mariners are reminded there are no safe havens in these facilities, and ports are safest when the inventory of vessels is at a minimum,” it said.
“All ocean-going commercial vessels and oceangoing barges greater than 500 gross tons should make plans for departing the port.”
The USCG said vessels bound for ports in Georgia or South Carolina unable to depart 24 hours prior to threatening winds making landfall are advised to “seek an alternate destination”.
Oil prices increased on Tuesday with more evidence of decreasing crude exports from Iran and as nearly one-fifth of daily oil production was lost from offshore Gulf of Mexico wells due to Hurricane Michael.
