The U.S. Coast Guard ordered barges and other vessels out of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal in New Orleans as Tropical Storm Bertha moved west along the Gulf Coast, prompting storm preparations and changes to vessel traffic operations.
To facilitate vessel movements out of the canal, the Coast Guard suspended curfews at the St. Claude Avenue and Florida Avenue bridges through the afternoon of July 22. The bridges were required to open for vessel traffic during the normal morning curfew from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and afternoon curfew from 3:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., potentially causing delays to vehicular traffic.
The Coast Guard activated Port Condition Whiskey and Modified Port Condition X-Ray for New Orleans on July 20 as Bertha approached the region.
Port Condition Whiskey is set when gale-force winds are expected within 72 hours. Under Whiskey, ports remain open to commercial traffic and transfer operations can continue, while vessels are directed to exercise due diligence.
Port Condition X-Ray is set when gale-force winds are expected within 48 hours. Ports remain open under X-Ray, but vessels and waterfront facilities are required to make additional storm preparations, including securing loose cargo and potential flying debris and preparing additional mooring equipment.
The Coast Guard also activated the Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) covering canals adjoining the Mississippi River. Vessels were not permitted to remain within the RNA beginning 24 hours before its predicted closure.
Mariners were instructed to monitor VHF-FM Channel 16 for emergency broadcasts, marine weather information and Coast Guard updates.
Bertha made landfall Wednesday afternoon in St. Bernard Parish, about 40 miles east of New Orleans. Early Thursday, the storm was about 110 miles southwest of New Orleans and 120 miles southeast of Lake Charles, La., moving west at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm was forecast to reach the upper Texas coast Thursday before moving inland and dissipating over Texas by Friday.
Farther west, the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association participated in a Port Coordination Team call with Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston on July 21. According to GICA, captains of the port for Houston-Galveston and Port Arthur did not anticipate increasing port conditions at that time.
