Posted:
October 19, 2017
The following update was issued October 17 by the American Maritime Partnership, a coalition of which American Maritime Officers Service is a member and which American Maritime Officers supports.
Situational Overview
Puerto Rico relief and recovery update
The following update was issued October 17 by the American Maritime Partnership, a coalition of which American Maritime Officers Service is a member and which American Maritime Officers supports.
Situational Overview
- A Coast Guard bulletin - Seventh Coast Guard District, Marine Safety Information Bulletin 027-17, dated October 17 - encourages compliance with notice of arrival requirements well in advance of arriving in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands because "the sheer number and size of vessels [from around the nation] entering the [Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands] have led to congestion and logistical issues which may result in the delay of recovery activities."
- A Jones Act carrier that generally does not participate in the Puerto Rico trade announced today that it was bringing a containership out of layup to transport 800 containers filled with over 15 million bottles of water from California to Puerto Rico. The vessel will also remain available for service in the Puerto Rico trade after this voyage.
- Throughput at the ports continues to improve, although inland distribution from the port to the rest of the island remains an issue. At least one domestic carrier has been operating its terminal every weekend since Hurricane Maria hit, although the terminal is typically not open on the weekend. Two domestic carriers reported that, as of October 16, a combined 4,910 containers are awaiting distribution from the terminals.
- Over the weekend, one domestic carrier delivered 1,027 containers of goods to the island. Critical cargoes delivered on Jones Act vessels continue to include Red Cross supplies, fuel distribution trucks, electric poles and bucket trucks, and large generators. FEMA cargoes continue to be prioritized and are dispatched promptly from the terminal to their next destination. One domestic carrier alone has completed delivery of over 3,200 FEMA loads and has approximately 2,100 FEMA loads either out for delivery or scheduled for delivery.
- American maritime companies are actively helping deliver aid inland to Puerto Rican residents, while continuing to propose ways to improve final mile delivery. Thus far, one carrier has helped transport food, water, tarps, and generators through its truck distribution network on the island.