Following prolonged assessments to make sure channel security and navigability, in addition to the complete operation of shoreside amenities, Port Tampa Bay formally reopened for marine site visitors late Saturday afternoon, September 28, 2024 – three days after Hurricane Helene handed offshore of Florida’s west coast.
The port shared the reopening replace at 4:15 p.m., noting a slight depth restriction for incoming vessels.
“Port Tampa Bay has resumed vessel operations and our port’s transport channels are formally re-opened, with a 28′ depth restriction,” the notification learn.
This depth would check with a vessel’s draft, the portion of a ship that’s underwater and should be rigorously accounted for to make sure there aren’t any below-the-surface obstacles or collisions.
The restrictions are anticipated to be solely short-term, although no timeline has been given for precisely when the port might return to operation with none limitation.
“Our hope is that the port’s transport channels will likely be purposeful at their full depths shortly. Port employees absolutely assessed the docks, wharfs, and terminals for security,” the assertion continued.
Port Tampa Bay is now allowing vessels to return, prioritizing vessels in numerous methods for essentially the most environment friendly return to service and respecting completely different business issues and wishes.
“A few of the first vessels to return will likely be gasoline tankers, cruise ships and vessels carrying perishable cargo,” the port defined.
The primary cruise ship to enter the channel to Tampa Bay is Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Paradise, which is because of debark passengers however won’t be embarking new vacationers instantly, as her subsequent crusing has been cancelled.
Not solely is that this ship the one most importantly delayed – she was initially scheduled to finish her present cruise on Thursday, September 26, however the port was closed – however Carnival Paradise additionally has a most draft of simply 25.5 toes. This ensures she is nicely inside the short-term depth restriction for safely transiting the channel.
Further cruise ships which have itinerary adjustments because of the port’s prolonged closure are three Royal Caribbean vessels: Serenade of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, and Enchantments of the Seas.
Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander can be impacted and won’t be returning to her homeport till Monday, September 30.
Presently, no different cruise ships have but entered the channel to move for the cruise terminal. It takes roughly three hours for a vessel to transit the channel from the mouth of Tampa Bay, underneath the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and to the cruise terminals on Channelside Drive.
Due to the restrictions because the port reopens, it’s attainable that just one ship is being permitted within the channel at a time, or else there could also be higher velocity limitations in the intervening time.
It is usually attainable that prioritizing gasoline tankers and perishable card is taking priority over further cruise ships that aren’t as considerably delayed as Carnival Paradise has been.
Serenade of the Seas, for instance, was to have returned to Tampa on Friday, September 27, and it’s possible she would be the subsequent cruise ship permitted to return to the cruise terminal. The Radiance-class ship has a trickier draft, nonetheless, at nearly precisely 28 toes – the short-term restrict set by the port.
Grandeur of the Seas has a smaller draft at 26 toes, however was solely scheduled to return to Port Tampa Bay on Saturday, September 28, so whereas she is delayed, it’s not but as important of a diversion.
Learn Additionally: How Ship Draft Impacts a Ship’s Efficiency
Likewise, Enchantment of the Seas is a smaller vessel with a 25-foot draft and was additionally initially scheduled for Saturday, September 28.
Margaritaville at Sea Islander has a 25.5-foot draft and isn’t scheduled to return to Tampa till Sunday, September 29. Presently, the ship has already been delayed till Monday as different marine site visitors is prioritized within the channel first.
Cruise friends are urged to contact their cruise strains instantly because the port doesn’t have particulars of itinerary updates, delays, or changes. These adjustments will likely be communicated from particular person cruise strains.
Why the Prolonged Closure?
Port Tampa Bay first closed at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25 as Hurricane Helene moved north via the japanese Gulf of Mexico offshore of the Florida peninsula.
Whereas the storm didn’t make landfall till reaching the Florida panhandle, the intensive wind discipline drove heavy storm surge and flash flooding alongside Florida’s west coast, together with all through the Tampa area.
This made it tough for port officers to completely examine the port amenities and guarantee full operation, channel security, and shoreside performance.
Due to this fact, although different Florida homeports – Port Canaveral and Jacksonville – reopened extra shortly, Port Tampa Bay needed to be extra cautious.
“We wish to categorical our honest appreciation to those that helped our port put together and recuperate from the impression of the storm,” the port mentioned on its web site.
“The port’s Operations, Safety, Amenities and Engineering employees, maritime group, the U.S. Coast Guard, and our native legislation enforcement and emergency response companies had been essential to our skill to attenuate the results of the storm and assist our port to return to operations as quickly as safely attainable. Our ideas and prayers are with everybody who was impacted by Hurricane Helene.”
A wide range of companies assisted with maintaining the port protected and guaranteeing its reopening as shortly as attainable.
