HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) has set port condition Whiskey for the seaports of Hilo and Kailua-Kona in Hawaii County due to the expectation of sustained gale force winds generated by Tropical Storm Hone that may arrive within 72 hours.
At noon Thursday, the center of Tropical Storm Hone was located approximately 885 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.
The Coast Guard strongly cautions the maritime community to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions as Tropical Storm Hone approaches the Hawaiian Islands.
During port condition Whiskey, port facilities are currently open to all commercial traffic and all transfer operations may continue while Whiskey remains in effect. At port condition Whiskey:
- All pleasure craft shall seek sheltered waters.
- All ocean-going commercial vessels and ocean-going barges MUST make plans for departing the port area if they do not have COTP and State of Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT)- Harbors Division permission to remain.
- Commercial vessels will be required to complete cargo operations and depart the port within 60 hours after Port Heavy Weather Condition Whiskey is set.
- Vessels that desire to remain in port must submit a safe mooring plan in writing to the COTP and DOT-Harbors Division and receive permission to remain in port.
Requests to remain in port can be found here. All requests should be emailed to SecHonoMTSRU@uscg.mil and the respective DOT-Harbors district. Additional information can be found in Annex D of the Sector Honolulu Heavy Weather, Hurricane, & Tsunami Plan.
Vessels transiting within the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands should seek sheltered waters until storm conditions subside and anticipate harbor closures at the discretion of the COTP as storm conditions progress.
If and when port condition Yankee is set because sustained tropical storm force winds (34 knots or 39 mph) are expected within 24 hours, the port is closed to incoming traffic without specific approval from the COTP.
The Coast Guard is advising the public of these important safety messages:
- Stay off the water. The Coast Guard’s search and rescue capabilities degrade as storm conditions strengthen. This means help could be delayed. Boaters should heed weather watches, warnings, and small craft advisories.
- Secure belongings. Owners of large boats are urged to move their vessels to inland marinas where they will be less vulnerable to breaking free of their moorings or sustaining damage. Trailerable boats should be pulled from the water and stored in a place not prone to flooding. Those who are leaving their boats in the water are reminded to update their beacon’s registration and secure all devices safely to their vessel prior to a major storm. These devices often float free from vessels in marinas or at docks during storms and signal a distress when there is none. Ensure life rings, life jackets, and small boats are secured. If not properly secured, these items can break free and require valuable search and rescue resources be diverted to ensure people are not in distress.
- Stay clear of beaches. Wave heights and currents typically increase before a storm makes landfall. Even the best swimmers can fall victim to the strong waves and rip currents caused by tropical storms and hurricanes. Swimmers should stay clear of beaches until local lifeguards and law enforcement officials say the water is safe.
- Stay informed. The public should monitor the progress and strength of the storm through local television, radio, and internet. Boaters can monitor its progress via small craft advisories and warnings on VHF-FM channel 16.
For additional information on current and upcoming weather conditions, visit the NWS Forecast Office Honolulu and the National Hurricane Center and Pacific Hurricane Center.
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-USCG-