14.20.490 General preparedness.
(a) Individual company and agency heavy weather plans should be prepared and filed with the Port Control Office. These plans should include, at the very least, clearing missile hazards from wharves and piers. Drums and similar items should be loaded on pallets not more than two tiers high or laid horizontally and securely dunnaged. Tug companies should have storm recovery plans which provide earliest possible resumption of services after storm passage.
(b) A general meeting may be called by the Harbormaster to review plans with local authorities and marine interests.
(c) Masters, owners, operators, and agents of commercial vessels desiring to remain in port during a storm must request permission in writing from the Harbormaster at least eight hours prior to possible storm ETA as provided elsewhere in this plan. Owners/operators should be aware of their liability for impairment of port operations due to negligent storm preparation. This also applies to vessels that have received prior approval to lay up in the port.
(d) Port and marine interests should maintain plots of developing storms based on National Weather Service and SPPCHMO Weather Central Advisories, and take the following actions as they may apply:
(1) Conduct preliminary checks to identify any unsafe conditions in the port area, such as excessive unsheltered storage, and other items or situations which could not be mitigated within 12 hours. If found, the SPPCHMO should be advised of the details.
(2) Pleasure craft should be taken to safe storage on shore. Ocean-going vessels should make plans for departure or submit a request to remain in port within 12 hours of storm ETA, in the manner prescribed herein.
(3) Marine and port interests should review expected arrivals and sailings to identify potential need for assistance, or impairment of port operations. Vessels entering or leaving port should ensure that sufficient tug assistance has been arranged. Coordinate these activities with local marine interests.
(4) When present, the U.S. Marshal and U.S. Customs should review the status and condition of seized vessels to insure their readiness for the impending storm.
(5) Companies having vessels (including towboats) with an estimated time of arrival less than 12 hours prior to the predicted storm ETA should make arrangements for the vessel to seek shelter in the lee of the Island.
(6) Vessel and facility operators should make storm preparations by taking such actions, for example, as ballasting ships and barges, securing exposed material, and storing potential missiles.
(7) Wharf operators shall notify SPPCHMO of any dangerous cargo which must remain in open areas by reason of insufficient sheltered storage.
(e) All cargo handling operations should be planned for completion at least four hours before the arrival of the storm. The Assistant Harbormaster will coordinate plans for termination of cargo handling operations. [Ord. 89-02 § 2 (Att.), 1988. Code 1979 Ch. 18.14.]