By Chief Petty Officer Corinne Zilnicki, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia / Sector Guam

SANTA RITA, Guam —The Coast Guard Captain of the Port Guam set Port Heavy Weather Condition Whiskey for the Port of Guam effective 8 a.m. Saturday, reopening the port to modified, daytime operations following Typhoon Sinlaku.

The Captain of the Port will reopen the ports of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) after crews conduct post-storm assessments and confirm the waterways are safe. Coast Guard teams are starting these assessments and are planning for additional assets to surge to the area as soon as conditions allow.

Additionally, Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules airplane crews conducted overflights of the Marianas and transported personnel with FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Public Health and Social Services, and the Department of War, along with equipment and supplies, to Saipan Friday.

“While conditions remain challenging, we are moving forward as quickly as possible with recovery efforts and evaluating our waterways and ports,” said Capt. Jessica Worst, commander, Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam. “Through continuous collaboration with our partners in Guam and CNMI, we are working toward safely restoring maritime commerce and supporting the communities impacted by this storm.”

Mariners are urged to exercise caution when transiting the port and entering or departing the waterway, as aids to navigation may have shifted or otherwise become inoperable due to the presence of heavy weather. Mariners should monitor marine radio traffic for any updates via broadcast.

Vessels and facilities should report any dangerous situations or navigation discrepancies to the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam at (671) 355-4824 or via VHF-FM channel 16.