| The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Lake Charles held a Port Coordination Team (PCT) conference call at 1300 hours today to update industry partners on the passing of Hurricane FRANCINE upon vessel traffic along the Lake Charles Ship Channel/Calcasieu River. Your WGMA Maritime Affairs team participated on the call and has the following report for our membership:
From the National Weather Service briefing, and other sources:
· Tropical storm conditions now reaching the Louisiana coast life threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds expected to begin in Louisiana during the next several hours.
· At 1:00 PM the center of Hurricane Francine was located near latitude 28.6 North, longitude 92.1 West.
· Francine is moving toward the northeast near 16 mph.
· Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph.
· Francine is anticipated to make landfall in Louisiana within the warning area later this afternoon or this evening.
· After landfall, the center is expected to cross southeastern Louisiana tonight, then move northward across Mississippi on Thursday.
· Little change in strength is expected before landfall.
· Francine is expected to rapidly weaken after landfall.
· Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.
Watches & Warnings:
· A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Cameron Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama Border, Vermilion Bay, Lake Maurepas & Lake Pontchartrain.
· A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Louisiana coast from Vermilion/Cameron Line eastward to Grand Isle.
· A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, including metropolitan New Orleans.
· A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Louisiana coast from Cameron to the Vermilion/Cameron Line, East of Grand Isle Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border, Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, including metropolitan New Orleans.
Local Weather Considerations:
· Flood Threat to Lake Charles is low to moderate.
· Rainfall Max of 1”
· Storm Surge 3-5’
· Winds 39-57mpg
Key Messages for Hurricane Francine
Coastal Watches/Warnings and Forecast Cone for Storm Center
Earliest Reasonable Arrival Time of Tropical-Storm-Force Winds
Tropical-Storm-Force Wind Speed Probabilities
Satellite Loop: Tropical Storm Francine
Remarks from Coast Guard MSU Lake Charles:
MSIB 31-24: Port Condition Zulu set 8PM yesterday, September 10th
MSIB 30-24: Port Condition Yankee set 8AM today, September 10th
MSIB 29-24: Port Condition X-Ray set 12PM yesterday, September 9th
MSIB 28-24: Port Condition Whiskey set 12PM Sunday, September 8th
· Went to Port Condition ZULU yesterday evening and remains in ZULU.
· No Inbound movement until ZULU is lifted.
· Port Assessments to start tomorrow at 8AM, USCG crew moving back to Lake Charles.
· Anticipates most assessments to be complete by tomorrow afternoon.
· Will need one good path down channel before starting to open vessel movement.
· Will get the Port open ASAP.
USACE
· Plan to start surveys by Friday AM, specifically the bar channel needed.
Pilots
· Tomorrow at 0600 Pilots boats plan to do channel assessment with USCG approval.
· 8 arrivals pending for Friday AM (if possible).
· Would consider light drafts without survey but no deep draft until surveys are complete.
· No Inbound movement until ZULU lifted.
Agents are reminded to keep CBP and Lake Charles Pilots updated with your vessel’s status for movement, and to make sure that the ship’s eNOA/D are kept updated to avoid any problems.
WGMA members are reminded that our partners DTN WeatherOps can provide customized weather reports for your specific area, and their seasonal Fog Forecast gives you a 7-day outlook of fog for every port on the US Gulf Coast. Contact WGMA Maritime Affairs to sign up to receive these reports.
MSU Lake Charles has scheduled another PCT conference call for tomorrow afternoon at 1300. Your WGMA Maritime Affairs team will participate on all PCT calls and report updates to our membership. |
