The container incident has concluded with all containers secured, no injuries and no damage.

The Acting Port Director confirms that this afternoon when one of the RTG Operators was in the process of loading a container onto a truck, the container clipped a stack of empty containers that was standing 6 high, the maximum height that we can store containers at, causing them to nearly fall over. PACI is working to secure them and return them to the stack.

Because of the high volume of containers entering the island, PACI is currently expanding its container storage capacity at CDC. We only store containers 6 high when the volume is high. However, because this is the third incident like this, I have taken the decision to limit our storage to only five high. That will reduce our capacity from 720 containers to 600 containers. We presently have 503 stored in the RTG stack. That doesn’t leave much space for additional containers.

We will provide another update when the incident has been remedied.

This is to advise that the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands is proactively monitoring the COVID-19 situation. As the situation continues to evolve, the Port Authority is focused on the health and well-being of our staff and customers. The following hygiene recommendations, which have been circulated by the Public Health Authorities, are reproduced below:

1. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.
2. Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.
3. Maintain a social distance of 6 feet between persons.
4. Stay at home if you feel ill; call the Flu Hotline (1-800-534-8600 or (345) 947-3077) if you are uncertain of your condition.

To assist with maintaining the 6 feet distance between customers in line there will be indicators on the floor at our Billing Office on Portland Road and our Customer Service Office at the Berkley Bush Cargo Distribution Centre.

In addition, we encourage that customers who have established accounts with us to use the online facility to make payments and clear cargo, instead of visiting the Billing Office. If you do not have an account and would like one, please visit our website at www.caymanport.com  to sign up. For questions, please email support@caymanport.com.

We strongly encourage our customers to remain calm and sensitive and avoid unnecessary panic and misinformation.  We will keep everyone informed of changes via postings to our website and social media platforms.  We have developed our contingency plan to ensure the continuous flow of cargo into the Cayman Islands and the continuous operation of our offices.

The Port Authority wishes to advise that the Cayman Islands Government’s Covid-19 related travel restrictions also apply to non-commercial private vessels.  Non-commercial private vessels will be allowed to stop for fuel and water, but the crew will not be allowed to disembark in the Cayman Islands.  Payment for fuel and water will have to be made by credit card or wire transfer.

There are no restrictions on local commercial fishing vessels going to fish, but should they call at any other country between the time of departing for fishing and returning the Cayman Islands, they must declare that to CBC.

Dear Valued Customers:

The Management of the Port Authority would like to advise our customers that the Billing office will be closing from 1 pm to 3 pm on Tuesday, March 17 to facilitate a meeting.

The warehouse (CDC) will be closing at 3 pm today, and will not open till Wednesday, March 18 2020 at 8:00 am.

Sorry for the inconvenience that this may cause.

Thank You.

Port Authority Management

PACI Joint Press Release – Government Entities Working Together to Prepare for COVID-19. Read all the details at – PACI Joint Press Release – Government Entities Working Together to Prepare for COVID-19_6 March 2020 – ISSUED

SYNOPSIS:                                                             

Light north to northeasterly winds and slight seas today will increase to fresh northeasterly winds with rough seas by Saturday afternoon in association with a cold front moving over the northwest Caribbean.

Radar images show isolated showers around the Cayman area moving west.

FORECAST:

Today: Partly cloudy skies with a 20% chance of afternoon showers. Temperatures will rise to the mid 80’s °F. Winds will be north to northeast at 5 to 10 knots. Seas will be slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet.  

Tonight: Partly cloudy skies with a 30% chance of showers. Temperatures will fall to the low 70’s °F. Winds will be northerly at 5 to 10 knots. Seas will be slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet.  

Tomorrow: Cloudy skies with a 30% chance of morning showers. Temperatures will rise to the low 80’s °F. Winds will be northeast at 10 to 15 knots during the morning increasing to 20 to 25 knots into the evening. Seas will be moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet during the morning becoming rough with wave heights of 5 to 7 feet from the afternoon. Small craft warning will be in effect from the afternoon.

SYNOPSIS:                                          

Fresh north northeasterly winds and rough seas are expected across the Cayman area for the next 24 hours as a cold front moves southeast of the Cayman area and a high pressure system builds over the southern United States.

Radar images show isolated showers in and around the Cayman area moving towards the southwest.

FORECAST: 

Today:  Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with a 20% chance of morning showers. Temperatures will rise to the low 80’s °F. Winds will be north to northeast 15 to 20 knots with higher gusts. Seas will be rough with wave heights of 5 to 7 feet especially along the west and north coasts. Small craft should exercise caution over open waters. Some swells are likely along the west and north coasts.

Tonight: Partly cloudy skies with a 20% chance of showers. Temperatures will fall to the low 70’s °F. Winds will be north to northeast 15 to 20 knots. Seas will be rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet especially along the west and north coasts. Small craft should continue to exercise caution over open waters. Some swells are likely along the west and north coasts.

The Ministry of Health and Public Health Department are aware that a cruise ship scheduled to arrive in Grand Cayman on Wednesday, 26 February, has been denied entry in Jamaica.

Minister for Health Hon. Dwayne Seymour states “In an abundance of caution, in order to provide protection to the health and safety of the residents of the Cayman Islands, the Government has denied permission for the cruise ship to call on Grand Cayman as previously scheduled.”