September 3, 2010  Update

9:30 a.m.

The Port of Wilmington is fully operational for truck traffic.

The Port of Morehead City will resume operations as previously scheduled at 10:00 a.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard will announce when the waterways are open to vessel traffic.

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Update (September 2, 6:00 am):

The Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector North Carolina and COTP Cape Fear River have set Port Condition Zulu for all commercial waterways in North Carolina effective 0600 local time, September 02, 2010, in preparation for the anticipated heavy weather impact of Hurricane EARL. Gale Force winds (34 knots or 39 mph) are expected to reach Frying Pan Shoals Lighted Buoy 16 (LLNR 835) within 12 hours. A safety zone for all the U.S. Inland Waters, Coastal Inlets and Territorial Seas within the Captain of the Port Zone, from Little River Inlet to the North Carolina - Virginia border has been established. The Ports of Wilmington and Morehead City are CLOSED to ALL INBOUND & OUTBOUND traffic. No vessel may enter, depart, or transit within this safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port.

September 1, 2010

Wilmington, NC – Inbound vessel traffic at the Ports of Wilmington and Morehead City ceased at 1600 hours Wednesday as a result of the U.S Coast Guard hurricane alert level Condition Yankee for all of Sector North Carolina. This closing will have limited affect on business operations at NC’s ports as vessels are simply diverted to arrive following the storm. 

Condition Yankee is a heightened condition of readiness to indicate 24 hours prior to arrival of gale force winds and anticipated landfall associated with a hurricane. Under Condition Yankee, vessels may not enter, transit or remain within this safety zone without the permission of the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port.

The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning from Bogue Inlet in Carteret County north to Virginia, and a tropical storm warning for coastal areas south of Bogue Inlet to Cape Fear, including Wilmington.

Port operations at the Port of Wilmington will continue as scheduled. No changes in operational hours or employee schedules at this time.

Operating hours at the Port of Morehead City are affected. 

• The main gate at the Port of Morehead City will CLOSE to inbound traffic at 12:00 noon Thursday, September 2.
• The Port of Morehead City operations will CLOSE at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, September 2.
• The Port of Morehead City will reopen to traffic at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 3.
• Ports Authority employees at Morehead City will be excused by 2:00 p.m., Thursday, September 2 and report to work on Friday, September 3 at 10 a.m., weather permitting. 

Ports customers may get the latest information about operating conditions at www.ncports.com.