The United States Coast Guard has announced the reopening of major ports across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, as these critical infrastructure points resume operations following Hurricane Milton’s passage.
Key ports back in service include Florida’s Key West, Port Everglades, Port Miami, and Miami River; Georgia’s Savannah and Brunswick; and South Carolina’s Charleston and Georgetown.
Hurricane Milton, which initially struck the Gulf Coast of Florida as a formidable Category 3 storm, regained strength in the Atlantic after crossing the state.
Federal, state, and local emergency responders are currently assessing the full extent of the damage in affected areas, according to the Coast Guard. Recovery efforts are underway, with partnerships in place to support the state of Florida and facilitate the swift reconstitution of vital seaport operations.
In the Tampa Bay region, the Captain of the Port for Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg has reopened Port Tampa and Seaport Manatee, albeit with specific restrictions based on facility readiness. Restrictions include prohibiting vessel movements requiring federal pilotage, such as U.S. vessels over 1,600 gross tons and U.S. petroleum barges over 10,000 gross tons.
Additionally, vessel movement is limited to daylight hours and requires minimum visibility of three nautical miles.
However, several Florida ports—including St. Petersburg, Fort Myers, Palm Beach, Fort Pierce, Canaveral, Jacksonville, and Fernandina—remain closed as further evaluations and inspections continue. The Coast Guard has indicated that the reopening of these ports will depend on the outcome of ongoing surveys to ensure safe navigation and operations.
As recovery progresses, the US Coast Guard has emphasised the importance of reestablishing these ports, which play a crucial role in post-hurricane relief efforts, regional commerce, and long-term economic stability for the affected states.
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