An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port sets Guam and CNMI ports to Heavy Weather Condition Yankee amid tsunami advisory

30 July 2025

From Chief Warrant Officer Sara Muir, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia / Sector Guam

SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port set Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands ports to Heavy Weather Condition Yankee on Wednesday, July 30, as of 11:30 a.m., affecting commercial vessels at or over 200 gross tons, in response to a tsunami advisory triggered by a major earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.

The Captain of the Port is actively communicating with port partners to ensure the safety of the port and facilitate a smooth resumption of commerce following the event. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 8.0, later upgraded to 8.7. The quake struck 133 km southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, at a depth of 74.0 km, at 9:24 a.m. ChST.

Port Heavy Weather Condition Yankee, set by the Captain of the Port, signals that hazardous conditions, such as strong ocean currents and sea level fluctuations. This affects commercial vessels at or over 200 gross tons, which must cease cargo operations and leave the ports, with no new vessels permitted to enter.

The Captain of the Port anticipates setting Port Heavy Weather Condition Zulu at 2 p.m., the ports and marinas will be closed to all traffic. No maritime related terminal, facility, vessel or marina operations will be permitted.

Available data indicates a potential threat to Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan from sea level fluctuations and strong ocean currents, posing hazards along beaches, in harbors, and in coastal waters.

Hazardous sea level fluctuations and strong currents could begin as early as 2 p.m. ChST in Guam, Rota, Tinian, or Saipan.

Residents are advised to stay out of the water and move at least 100 feet inland and 50 feet up from beaches and harbors. Tsunami safety measures include avoiding low-lying coastal areas, following evacuation orders if issued, and monitoring updates from local authorities, as waves may arrive in sets and persist for hours.

U.S. Coast Guard cutters and small boats are getting underway as needed to ride out the event offshore, where it is safer than remaining in port and risking being set aground. They will return after any impacts and be ready to conduct assessments and surveys of the coasts and ports.

For the latest updates and advisories, visit:
• National Weather Service (NWS) Website https://www.weather.gov/gum/
• NWS Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NWSGuam/
• Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) Website https://ghs.guam.gov
• GHS/OCD Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/

-USCG-

About U.S. Coast Guard Team Guam
U.S. Coast Guard Team Guam, comprising nearly 400 members across Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, focused on maritime safety, security, and stewardship in Oceania. The team includes U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and U.S. Coast Guard Base Guam and their sub-units, staffed by dedicated active-duty, reserve, and civilian personnel. With a significant presence in Guam, Saipan, and the Micronesia sub-region, this integrated team focuses on operations and logistics to support maritime safety, security, and stewardship in Oceania and maintains close ties with local communities.

For more information about U.S. Coast Guard actions, please contact CWO Sara Muir, public affairs officer, at sara.g.muir@uscg.mil or uscgforcesmicronesia@gmail.com.

 

Google Translation Disclaimer

  • Google Translate, a third party service provided by Google, performs all translations directly and dynamically.
  • Commander, Joint Region Marianas, jrm.cnic.navy.mil has no control over the features, functions, or performance of the Google Translate service.
  • The automated translations should not be considered exact and should be used only as an approximation of the original English language content.
  • This service is meant solely for the assistance of limited English-speaking users of the website.
  • Commander, Joint Region Marianas, jrm.cnic.navy.mil does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information translated.
  • Some items cannot be translated, including but not limited to image buttons, drop down menus, graphics, photos, or portable document formats (pdfs).
  • Commander, Joint Region Marianas, jrm.cnic.navy.mil does not directly endorse Google Translate or imply that it is the only language translation solution available to users.
  • All site visitors may choose to use similar tools for their translation needs. Any individuals or parties that use Commander, Joint Region Marianas, jrm.cnic.navy.mil content in translated form, whether by Google Translate or by any other translation services, do so at their own risk.
  • IE users: Please note that Google Translate may not render correctly when using Internet Explorer. Users are advised to use MS Edge, Safari, Chrome, or Firefox browser to take full advantage of the Google Translate feature.
  • The official text of content on this site is the English version found on this website. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of the information contained in translated text, refer to the English version on this website, it is the official version.

Commander, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs Office   |   PSC 455 Box 211   |   FPO AP, Guam 96540
Official U.S. Navy Website