Capt.Joseph Vojvodich, Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound Captain of the Port, eased restrictions, imposed as safety precautions in advance of Hurricane Irene. The port is open to all commercial traffic and ocean-going vessels.
"After a thorough post storm assessment of the waterways around the Sound, we feel that it is safe to resume our normal operations," said Vojvodich.
Coast Guard stations and facilities suffered no significant damage from the storm and are fully ready for operations. Coast Guard vessels that sought shelter from the storm in various safe harbors around Connecticut and Long Island, N.Y., have returned to their home stations, reconstituting the search and rescue capability of Sector Long Island Sound.
The remnants of Hurricane Irene continue to pose a danger and waterborne leisure activities should be delayed for the next few days. Though commercial traffic has resumed and conditions are deemed safe for large vessels, waters are still rough and wind gusts are common.
The Coast Guard in the northeast moved quickly to restore port conditions and assist partners in emergency response. All ports are now open. "With 90% of America's commerce delivered by sea, 10,000 fishing boats in the northeast, and a great need to keep our nation's economy moving, that was a priority for us," said Lt. Joe Klinker, 1st Coat Guard District public affairs officer. "We're proud of how quickly our crews responded."