VI Port Authority Updates Public on Ports After Tropical Storm Ana

Virgin Islands Port Authority Executive Director Kenn Hobson reported this morning that the public air and seaports in the U.S. Virgin Islands remain opened and without much disruption to normal operations, as VI emergency officials continue to monitor the potential threat to the territory by Tropical Storm Ana and Hurricane Bill.

Hobson said that Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas and the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix are both fully operational and that VIPA has no plans to close either airport at this time. As of 11 a.m. this morning, there have been no reported cancellations of flights to the territory.

 

The seaports on St. Croix were closed by the U.S. Coast Guard at 1 a.m. but were re-opened shortly after, said Hobson.  

The closure of the ports did not affect any marine traffic; the cargo vessels that were scheduled to arrive in St. Croix are in port today.  He added that the Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas that is scheduled to call at the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility in Frederiksted, St. Croix on Aug. 22nd is still scheduled to arrive.

St. Thomas, however, will loose one cruise ship visit as a result of Tropical Storm Ana. The Caribbean Princess has canceled its scheduled call to San Juan, Puerto Rico today, and to the Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Facility in Crown Bay, St Thomas on Tuesday, August 18, explained Hobson.  

The ship, which was expected to bring about 3,000 visitors to the island, has been re-routed to Grand Turks today and will spend a day at sea before it continues to Nassau, Bahamas on August 19.

So far this has been the only cancellation of ships to St. Thomas or St. John. The inter-island ferries are operating on their normal schedule, and the cargo ships that were scheduled to arrive today are also in port.

For updates or more information, visit the web site at www.viport.com or call VIPA’s Public Information Officer, Monifa Marrero at 774-1629 ext. 640.