Coast Guard Reopens Port Of Key West At Hurricane Recovery Efforts Continue

KEY WEST, FL — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Saturday that the Port of Key West was open once again. It had been closed since Sept. 8 because of Hurricane Irma's imminent arrival.

However, the reopening of the port comes with some restrictions, officials said:

• Deep draft vessels may transit from the sea buoy to the Navy Outer Mole Pier, at normal charted depth during daylight hours if they have followed Notice of Arrival requirements
• All other areas of the port remain closed to vessel traffic. A safety zone established September 8, is being enforced. No person or vessel will be permitted to enter, transit through , anchor in or conduct cargo operations without obtaining permission from the Captain of the Port

“Coast Guard personnel have been working alongside the U.S Navy, NOAA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA personnel and using specialized equipment to assess and scan the Port of Key West in order to mark and identify all potential hazards to navigation,” said Captain of the port Jeffrey Janszen. “Our goal is to fully open the Port of Key West for all navigational needs as soon as possible, but we first have an obligation to ensure safety of the port and vessels in order to protect all marine and maritime interests.”

The entirety of the Florida Keys archipelago was put under an evacuation order ahead of the Hurricane Irma, and the islands were extensively damaged in the storm. Residents are slowly returning to the islands, but many are discovering that their homes were completely destroyed. Recovery efforts are progressing across the Keys. (For more information about the recovery from Hurricane Irma, subscribe for free to the Miami Patch and receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you're outside of Miami, find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The Coast Guard warns that the waters may still be dangerous and boats should approach with caution. Any hazards discovered in the area should be reported to the number 304-433-3352.

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images