UPDATED WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25 AT 8:15 P.M.

Port Tampa Bay is working with the National Weather Service, U. S. Coast Guard and state and local partners to monitor the potential impact of Hurricane Helene in the Gulf. As always, the Port’s priorities are safety of life, protection of the environment, and maritime commerce resiliency. 

The Tampa Bay port community has initiated the Port Heavy Weather Advisory Group, which closely monitors impacts to the port and waterways, engages with the U.S. Coast Guard and various operators that make up the local maritime community, and makes recommendations to the Coast Guard on Hurricane Port Conditions. At 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, the U.S. Coast Guard set Port Condition ZULU, meaning the possibility of gale force winds could impact our maritime operations within 12 hours. Inbound and outbound vessel traffic to our port has ceased. The port's shipping channels have closed, but landside operations will continue as long as safely possible.  

The storm will have an impact to our cruise schedule. If you have any questions about a specific sailing, we recommend you contact your cruise line directly as all changes to itineraries will be communicated by your cruise line. The customer service lines for cruise lines sailing from Port Tampa Bay this week are: 

We will work with our fuel terminal operators and partners to ensure gas and other fuels move out of our port and to consumers as long as possible. Additionally, port staff will continue to work round-the-clock so we can re-open to full operations as soon as safely possible to support the community and region we serve.

Port Tampa Bay is doing all it can to prepare for Hurricane Helene, and to ensure safety of life, protection of the environment, and maritime commerce resiliency.

All storm-related updates will be posted at www.porttb.com.