Hurricane Irma: Ports In Tampa, St. Petersburg, Manatee Closed

TAMPA, FL – The U.S. Coast Guard has closed ports in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Manatee as Hurricane Irma bears down on the state.

Irma slammed into Cuba as a Category 5 storm and remained a strong Category 4 hurricane that was on track to have a dire impact on Florida’s west coast and the Tampa Bay area.

All ports were closed to inbound and outbound traffic as of 8 a.m. Saturday, the coast guard said. It set the Hurricane Condition to ZULU and said sustained gale-force winds are expected within 12 hours. (For more information on Hurricane Irma and other Tampa stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

"No vessel may enter, depart or transit within this safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port," the Coast Guard said.

#HappeningNow #USCG closed Tampa, St. Petersburg, Manatee ports for Hurricane #Irma. Read more >> https://t.co/HF9XRzwD0N
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 9, 2017

All cargo and bunker handling operations must also cease operations.

A safety zone has been created preventing unauthorized boat movement and activities. Commercial ships and barges authorized to stay in port have to remain moored and ships heading to any of the ports should head elsewhere, the coast guard said.

Analysis: There's No Way Around Irma's Wrath For Florida

Drawbridges will be closed once winds reach 34 knots and mariners should travel through them far ahead of the arrival of gale force winds. Drawbridges will locked in the down position within eight hours before the strong winds.

Coast Guard Stations Yankeetown, Sand Key, St. Petersburg, Cortez and Fort Myers Beach, have secured operations in anticipation of the storm.

"All marine interests must take early and substantial action to ensure safety of the port and vessels. Future port conditions cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty, but provided the storm remains on the projected course and track, port stakeholders can expect sustained gale force winds from a hurricane force storm within 12 hours," the coast guard said.

Photo credit: Roger W via Flickr/Creative Commons