HEAVY WEATHER WORKSHOP
This meeting will provide attendees with an understanding of the guidance, plans, and coordination for heavy weather events. Attendance at this briefing is highly recommended to help Port Canaveral stakeholders be better prepared for this year’s heavy weather season and to know what to do in the event of a severe weather occurrence.
TO: ALL VESSEL USERS WITHIN THE PORT
DATE: Wednesday, April 12, 2023
PLACE: Canaveral Port Authority
Maritime Center Commission Room
TIME: 10:00 AM to 12PM
Introductions
Peter Bergeron
Senior Director, Public Safety and Security
Canaveral Port Authority
Opening Remarks
Captain John Murray
CEO and Port Director
Canaveral Port Authority
and
LCDR John Di Nino
USCG MSD Port Canaveral
Heavy Weather Plan
LT Kyle Wiford
USCG Sector Jacksonville
and
Cory Dibble
CPA
Will discuss plan overview and locations, vessel heavy weather plan suggestions, Annex H and the review process with USCG and CPA
Port Condition Changes and Expectations
Doug Campbell
USCG SEC Jacksonville
and
Cory Dibble
CPA
Planning Timeline
LCDR John Di Nino
USCG MSD Port Canaveral
Doug Campbell
USCG Sector Jacksonville
2023 Hurricane Season Preparedness
Download Tenant Heavy Weather Guide Here (PDF)
Hurricane season begins June 1st and lasts through November 30th. Now is the time for you and your family to review your plans and supplies to ensure you are prepared in the event of a storm.
The Brevard County Emergency Operations Center has provided the following resources to help everyone get ready for this hurricane season:
Step 1: Make a Plan (https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes) – Take a moment to think how these events may affect your community and your family. Important items in your plan should include: taking current pictures of your house, storing important documents together for quick access, building an evacuation kit, knowing your evacuation route and time of departure, having a list of important numbers, and sharing your plans with friends and family.
Step 2: Build a Kit (https://www.brevardfl.gov/EmergencyManagement/BePrepared/Step2BuildAKit) – An emergency supply kit is essential to being prepared and is an important item for hurricane season. Do not wait until the last minute to build your kit.
Step 3: Stay Informed (https://www.brevardfl.gov/EmergencyManagement/BePrepared/Step4StayInformed) – Gathering information and staying informed before, during, and after a heavy weather event is critical. Brevard County has many different methods available for staying informed; however, no one method is fail-safe. For the most up-to-date hurricane information, follow:
• https://twitter.com/BrevardEOC
Removal of Vessels from Port Canaveral Marinas and Waterways
Port Canaveral is not a suitable refuge for either hurricanes or tropical storms. All Port Canaveral tenants and waterway users must comply with storm preparation directives and evacuation orders given by the Canaveral Port Authority (“CPA”), the U.S. Coast Guard, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Canaveral Fire Rescue. CPA strongly encourages all Port users including vessel owners and marina slip tenants to prepare early for heavy weather events including having a plan to remove their vessels from the Port’s waterways and marinas when required by law or evacuation order to do so.
Vessels greater than 500 gross tons must request and receive permission from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville to remain in Port during a hurricane or tropical storm.
Vessels under 500 gross tons are prohibited from remaining in the waters of the Port including in the waterways of marinas upon the issuance of a hurricane watch. Vessel owners must promptly remove such vessels from waters of the Port upon the issuance of an evacuation order by CPA.
Vessel owners and operators are subject to fines and penalties for failure to comply in accordance with CPA’s Tariff No. 16, Rule 520 “Inclement Weather” and Section 327.59, Florida Statutes. The CPA assumes no responsibility or liability for any injury or damage to persons, property, cargo, materials or equipment resulting from hurricanes, tropical storms or other severe weather events.
***NOTICE REGARDING MARINA EVACUATION BILL EFFECTIVE AS OF JULY 1, 2021***
Section 327.59 (5), Florida Statutes (House Bill 223), the Marina Evacuation Bill was signed into law on June 16, 2021.
The Marina Evacuation Bill:
• Prohibits vessels under 500 gross tons from remaining in the waters of a marina upon the issuance of a hurricane watch
• Requires vessel owners to promptly remove their vessels from the waters of a marina upon issuance of an evacuation order by CPA
• Requires the marina owner, operator, employee or agent, if reasonable, to remove or cause to be removed such vessel, once Port Condition Yankee is set, if the vessel owner has failed to do so In the event a vessel is not removed as required by law, the vessel owner or operator may then be charged a reasonable removal fee by the marina, in addition to being subject to a fine from the CPA in an amount not exceeding three times the cost associated with removing the vessel from the Port’s waterways.