Navy cancels Sortie Condition Alpha

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The Navy has canceled Sortie Condition Alpha Saturday morning, now all ships currently in port will remain and ships that have already left will remain at sea.

 "We kept a very close watch on the storm all night," said Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. "As a result of these projected changes, we determined that the safest place for the ships not already underway is in port. While we have made these prudent decisions for our ships, I don't want to understate the significance of the situation. Sandy remains a powerful storm."

The Navy says Ships in port will take extra precautions to avoid potential damage and ships at sea will continue to maneuver to clear the path of the storm.

Commander Navy installations Command has ordered all installations to remain at Tropical Cyclone Condition Three as a precautionary measure. This means destructive winds of greater than 50 knots associated with a tropical system, are expected within 48 hours, according to a press release from the Navy.

Standard measures for ships riding out heavy weather in port include extra mooring lines; placing the anchor on the bottom while alongside the pier; and removal of shore power cables, heavy or elevated brows, and any lighter objects that could create hazards during high winds, according to the release.