Tropical Shipping cargo.
The arrival of cargo into the U.S. Virgin Islands has been delayed — a knock-on effect following the passage of Hurricane Ian over Florida last Wednesday.
Daryl Jaschen, director of the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency said Monday that a three-day delay can be expected as the state grapples with massive damage and loss of life when the system made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane.
“The indirect impact for the U.S Virgin Islands from [Hurricane Ian] will be in our cargo supply chain shipping schedule. A call earlier today to our territorial Business Emergency Operation Center indicates there’s been an impact to the cargo leaving Florida. It’s reported that cargo that usually leaves on Wednesdays for St. Thomas, Thursdays for St. Croix, and Fridays for St. Thomas all suffered delays due to port closures in Florida. So, they are now three days behind normal schedule,” he explained during the Bryan administration's Monday press briefing.
Mr. Jaschen said it will take another two weeks for Tropical Shipping’s operations and all its vessels to be back on schedule. Tropical Shipping is the largest cargo operator by share in the territory.
The death toll from Hurricane Ian reportedly rose to 90 on Monday in Florida as rescue personnel continued to search for survivors. The figure does not include a number of Cubans who were traveling near the coast of Florida.
How the delay will impact the U.S. Virgin Islands depends on current stock, however a crisis is not expected because of the delay.
