SAIPAN — The U.S. Coast Guard shifted its focus Monday from storm response to environmental recovery and marine safety following Super Typhoon Sinlaku, deploying pollution response teams to Saipan and resuming aids to navigation restoration across the region as ports progressively reopen.
Capt. Worst, Captain of the Port, said crews have additional personnel in Saipan this week conducting pollution assessment and response operations after reviewing 28 vessels affected by the storm. Five of those vessels require additional follow-up. Responsible parties have initiated fuel removal operations on several vessels, and one vessel that broke in half is being salvaged by a contracted firm.
“With commerce moving again, our attention turns to the waterways themselves,” Worst said. “The majority of vessel owners and operators are doing the right thing, taking responsibility for their affected vessels.”
On port status, the Captain of the Port set Port Heavy Weather Condition Whiskey for Saipan at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, removing all federal restrictions on commercial vessel traffic. The ports of Tinian and Rota remain in modified Whiskey with daylight-only operations as pier repairs and aids to navigation restoration continue. In Saipan, portable lighting equipment is being tested to support limited nighttime port operations while permanent solutions are sourced. All port operations must still be coordinated with the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
Crew aboard USCGC Hickory used the weekend to rest and will resume aids to navigation restoration Tuesday across Guam, Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Twelve AtoN discrepancies have been prioritized across the region, ranging from fixing lights and partial day boards to replacing buoys.
Radio communications across the CNMI remain degraded, with VHF coverage improved but intermittent. Mariners should carry alternate means of signaling and exercise extra caution. Full communications restoration will take time.
Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam is transitioning from full incident response back to normal operations, with maritime security and response capabilities remaining ready across the 2.6-million-square-nautical-mile area of responsibility.
The search for five missing crew members of the cargo vessel Mariana continues, with more than 85 hours of operations covering more than 127,900 square nautical miles as of Monday. Anyone with information should contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM Channel 16 or call JRCC Honolulu at 1-800-331-6176.
The Coast Guard separately urged mariners and residents to monitor National Weather Service guidance regarding a potential tropical circulation in eastern Micronesia that could affect the region May 3 to 6, noting that no watches, warnings or advisories are currently in effect.
