Port Canaveral cargo operations, but not cruises, impacted by Hurricane Idalia

Hurricane Idalia is causing some shifts in cargo operations at Port Canaveral, but thus far is not impacting the cruise ship schedule there.

Port officials said a tanker that was unloading petroleum at Port Canaveral on Tuesday planned to leave the port Tuesday evening, then return after the expected winds die down to complete its work.

Two cargo ships carrying lumber are remining offshore until the impact of the storm passes.

At noon Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard captain of the port set "Port Condition Yankee" for Port Canaveral, indicating that sustained gale-force winds of at least 39 mph were predicted within 24 hours.

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The notice said: "Vessel owners and operators should take immediate decisive action to comply with port orders to ensure the safety of their vessels, crews and/or facilities."

Port Canaveral was open Tuesday, and conducting limited port operations.

Four large cruise ships were at Port Canaveral on Monday ― the Carnival Freedom, Carnival Liberty, Disney Wish and Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas.

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Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas came into port early Tuesday afternoon for a port-of-call stop, and was scheduled to leave Tuesday evening. No major cruise ships are scheduled for Wednesday.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Idalia impacts Port Canaveral cargo operations, but not cruises,