U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia

⚠️ ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE | Smiling Cove Marina, Saipan

Beginning Monday, June 1, a federal and local team will begin removing vessels damaged by Super Typhoon Sinlaku from Smiling Cove Marina. Operations are expected to last 30 days.

Road access at the connection points of Basin Place and Marina Lane will be CLOSED beginning June 1.
Water and boat ramp access remain UNAFFECTED by these operations.

Residents are asked to stay away from the work area and follow all safety signs and instructions. Heavy machinery, cutting equipment, and diving operations will be active throughout the operation.

This mission is funded through FEMA under the Presidential Disaster Declaration for the CNMI. Partners include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, FEMA, CNMI DLNR, T&T Marine Salvage, and OSROCO.

Thank you for your patience as we work together to restore safe access to Saipan's waterway.

🔗 Full release + photos: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/566387/federal-local-partners-begin-30-day-vessel-removal-operation-smiling-cove-marina-restore-safe-waterway-access

Happy Mother’s Day weekend, Guam and CNMI! Before you head to the beach or out on the water, please take a moment to read this — conditions this weekend require extra caution on two fronts.

The National Weather Service has a High Rip Current Risk in effect through Sunday afternoon for east-facing reefs across the Marianas. A strong trade swell, amplified by Tropical Storm Hagupit to our south-southwest, is driving dangerous swimming and surfing conditions along those beaches.

Rip currents don’t care how strong a swimmer you are — they can pull anyone away from shore fast. Please stay out of the water along east-facing reefs this weekend and keep a close eye on anyone around the beaches.

For anyone heading out on the water, we also want to remind you that VHF radio coverage across Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan remains limited in some areas following Typhoon Sinlaku. We are working hard to restore full coverage, but gaps remain. That means before you leave the dock, please make sure you’re carrying more than one way to call for help — a PLB, EPIRB, satellite communicator, or cell phone can make all the difference. And always, always tell someone ashore where you’re going and when to expect you back.

We also want to give a big thank you to our first responders and maritime partners who have been standing watch and relaying calls. Because VHF is line-of-sight, those ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore relays are critical right now, and we are grateful for every one of them.

Check https://www.weather.gov/gum/ or US National Weather Service Guam for the latest conditions.

Stay safe out there. Enjoy your families this weekend — and we’ll see you back home.

📸 CDR Epperson