Coast Guard reopens the Port of Saipan and opens the Port of Guam for daylight operations as post-Champi recovery operations continue

SANTA RITA, Guam — U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam crews are working to assess aids to navigation and channel conditions across the Marianas Monday following Super Typhoon Champi which passed south of Guam Sunday.

The Captain of the Port issued Port Heavy Weather Condition (PWHC) Modified WHISKEY in Saipan at 6 p.m. Sunday and fully opened Saipan at 8 a.m. Monday. Under PHWC WHISKEY status, the Port of Saipan is open to commercial traffic and cargo operations. The Captain of the Port set PHWC Modified Whiskey in Guam at 2 p.m. Monday. The ports of Tinian and Rota remain closed while U.S. Coast Guard teams and port stakeholders conduct post-storm assessments of waterways and navigational aids.

“We are working to reopen the ports as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Capt. Jessica Worst, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and Captain of the Port Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. “My teams are actively engaged in on-water and aerial assessments to thoroughly and systematically identify all storm impacts and hazards to navigation. We appreciate the coordinated efforts of our public and private partners to conduct expeditious assessments that allow the safe reopening of maritime commerce.”

The U.S. Coast Guard asks the public and maritime community to take three actions:

Report any maritime distress immediately via VHF Channel 16 or by calling 911. Social media is not monitored for emergencies and must not be used to report distress. Widespread VHF outages persist, which means some calls may be relayed by partner agencies or other mariners. Utilize multiple forms of communication.
Rely on official sources for reopening and safety information: NWS Guam (weather.gov/gum) and Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense (ghs.guam.gov) and CNMI EOC State Warning Point (facebook.com/cnmieocswp).
Observe water safety. Even as Champi moves away, the ocean remains dangerous and response ability remains limited. The marine conditions remain life threatening. Breaking waves can sweep people off jetties, piers and docks and into dangerous seas.

The U.S. Coast Guard echoes the National Weather Service's guidance:

Everyone should stay out of the water and off jetties, piers and other waterside infrastructure. Mariners should recognize that dangerous marine conditions persist and defer any non-essential operations until seas subside. Mariners with emergencies should contact the U.S. Coast Guard Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam on VHF-FM Channel 16 or at (671) 355-4824.

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