Commander Joseph Servidio, captain of ports in the Coast Guard's San Juan office, has officially closed all ports in the Virgin Islands to incoming vessels weighing more than 200 gross tons as of noon Tuesday.
All vessels 2,000 gross tons and over must depart Virgin Islands ports by 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to West Indian Company Ltd. spokesperson Calvin Wheatley.
Two ships in Charlotte Amalie Tuesday, the Carnival Triumph and Royal Caribbean's Nordic Empress will leave at 5:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, respectively.
The ports will remain closed until a survey is done to be sure no vessels or debris are blocking the navigable waters of Virgin Islands ports, Wheatley said.
