TAMPA, Fla. — Capt. Sheryl Dickinson, the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, re-opened the ports of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Manatee at 1 p.m. Monday, following Tropical Storm Isaac.
Established federal security zones set in conjunction with the Republican National Convention remain in place. They took effect Aug. 25 at 12:01 p.m. and will remain in place until Aug. 31 at 1 a.m.
The COTP is working closely with port industry partners and local marine law enforcement units to minimize risk as the port returns to normalcy.
“The Coast Guard is grateful for the local port community’s partnership and support that was critical to safely and quickly getting Tampa Bay back in full operation,” said Cmdr. Scott Calhoun, chief of prevention at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg.
Mariners should exercise caution when transiting waterways due to the swift currents and the possibility of debris and other hazards to navigation. The Coast Guard is assessing all aids to navigation and urges caution. Recreational boaters and operators of vessels made of non-steel material are strongly encouraged to avoid transiting the waterways until tides and debris volume return to normal levels.
