NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard has begun securing its area of responsibility and adjusting port conditions along the GulfCoast as the threat of Tropical Storm Gordon continues to move north.

The Coast Guard urges all mariners to continuously monitor local and national weather sources and avoid coastal areas that may be impacted by the storm.

Owners of large boats are urged to move their vessels to inland marinas where they will be less vulnerable to breaking free of their moorings or sustaining damage.

Trailer-able boats should be pulled from the water, tied securely to trailers and stored in places not prone to flooding.

Those who are leaving their boats in the water are reminded to update their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon registration, and secure EPIRBs safely to vessels prior to a major storm. These devices often float free from vessels in marinas or at docks during hurricanes and signal a distress when there is none.

The Coast Guard has set Port Condition X-Ray for the New Orleans Captain of the Port Zone, the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and the Port of Gulfport, Mississippi.

All commercial vessels and barges greater than 500 gross tons and all oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs shall report to the Coast Guard captain of the port their intention to depart or remain in port.

Those wishing to remain in port must complete an application and submit it in writing within 24 hours to the Sector New Orleans captain of the port.

Additional information on Port Condition X-Ray and the latest port conditions can be found on Marine Safety Information Bulletin Vol. XVIII Issue 60 found the Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Homeport website at https://homeport.uscg.mil/port-directory/new-orleans.

All marine interests must take early and substantial action to ensure safety of the port and vessels.

For updates on port statuses, follow the Coast Guard Heartland Twitter account at @USCGHeartland.