SAIPAN — The U.S. Coast Guard has set Port Heavy Weather Condition X-RAY for the ports of Saipan and Tinian in preparation for Tropical Storm Saudel, ordering large vessels and shoreside facilities to begin storm preparations.
The Coast Guard captain of the port for Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam set the condition effective 12 p.m. Thursday. The ports of Guam and Rota remain in Port Heavy Weather Condition Whiskey, a lower readiness level.
Under Condition X-RAY, sustained gale-force winds of 39 to 54 mph are predicted within 48 hours, or by about midday Saturday.
Under federal port regulations, shoreside facilities, terminals and commercial vessels of 200 gross tons or more must begin preparations to complete cargo operations, and vessels without approval to remain in port must prepare to depart the ports of Guam and the CNMI. Vessels or barges unable to put to sea must submit a prompt written application to the captain of the port.
Operators seeking a waiver from the restrictions must submit a written request to preventionguam@uscg.mil. Questions can be directed to the Sector Guam Command Center at (671) 355-4824.
The port condition is a precautionary readiness posture. No tropical storm or typhoon watches or warnings are in effect for Saipan, Tinian, Rota or Guam. A typhoon watch remains in effect for Alamagan, Pagan and Agrihan in the Northern Islands, where Saudel is forecast to pass as a typhoon this weekend. The National Weather Service has placed the chance of tropical storm-force winds at 10 to 20 percent for Saipan and less than 5 percent for Rota.
