NEW YORK — As Hurricane Sandy moves ashore and weather subsides, Coast Guard Station New York upholds maritime rescue efforts, despite sustaining damage caused by Hurricane Sandy Tuesday.
Coast Guard crews are working closely with partner agencies to assess damage in our ports and waterways. Coast Guard personnel will begin reopening ports and waterways that are vital to the maritime commerce of the United States.
Currently ports in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts are closed to marine traffic. The closures ensure vessel safety as damages are assessed. Aids to navigations such as markers and buoys may be blown off station during strong storms as well as water depth changes due to storm surge and rough water conditions.
Along with debris and obstructions in the water, several boats and recreational watercrafts are adrift.
These numerous vessels have broken free from mooring lines and have been reported and seen on television broadcasts adrift. The Coast Guard is requesting any boat owner that knows if their boat is adrift, or sees their boat adrift to contact the Coast Guard.
These reports can save valuable search and rescue resources from unnecessarily looking for a missing person.
"In preparation for Hurricane Sandy, crews from Coast Guard Station New York, relocated our search and rescue boats to a safe haven," said Lt. Cmdr. Bill Walsh, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station New York. “Despite damage to our station buildings and grounds, our crews are ready to respond to urgent maritime distress calls.”