Date: Thursday, September 18, 2003

Re:	HURRICANE ISABEL

Dear NASA Member:

Due to the arrival of Hurricane Isabel, port operations at Norfolk have been modified in order to ensure the safety of cargo, vessels and personnel. The port has effectively closed as of 12:00 noon, September 17th 2003 and should re-open for business Friday afternoon. The time frame for re-opening will be contingent upon the track and severity of the storm. We will keep you well informed as to the actual date and time the port will re-open for business.

The following is a Public Advisory from the National Hurricane Center

Quote:

ISABEL IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MPH ... AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF ISABEL IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA TODAY. HOWEVER ... CONDITIONS ARE DETERIORATING OVER A LARGE AREA WELL BEFORE THE CENTER REACHES THE COAST. HURRICANE CONDITIONS SHOULD BEGIN SPREADING ONTO THE COAST IN THE HURRICANE WARNING AREA LATER THIS MORNING. SUSTAINED HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS COULD ALSO EXTEND INLAND UP TO 150 MILES ALONG THE PATH OF ISABEL.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 105 MPH ... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THIS MAKES ISABEL A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS LIKELY PRIOR TO LANDFALL ... AND WEAKENING IS EXPECTED AFTER LANDFALL.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES FROM THE CENTER ... AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 345 MILES.

STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 7 TO 11 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS ... ALONG WITH EXTREMELY LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES ... IS EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE NORTH OF WHERE THE CENTER CROSSES THE COAST. STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 4 TO 8 FT ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS IS EXPECTED IN CHESAPEAKE BAY AND THE TIDAL PORTIONS OF ADJACENT RIVERS.

STORM TOTAL RAINFALLS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES ... WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ... ARE LIKELY IN ASSOCIATION WITH ISABEL.

THERE IS A THREAT OF ISOLATED TORNADOES OVER EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA TODAY.

Best regards,
The North American Shippers Association

Gregory N. Taylor
Manager