CBP Seaport, Cruise Ship Operations Resume in New York and N.J.

(Friday, November 02, 2012)

New York—Three days after Hurricane Sandy hit the New York/New Jersey shore the men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection are processing passengers and cargo.
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“Despite the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy, CBP officers are showing their core values by serving their country and doing their part in facilitating the flow of travel and trade into the area,” said Robert E. Perez, CBP’s Lead Field Coordinator for CBP in FEMA Region II. “Today marked another significant step in returning the New York/New Jersey area to a sense of normalcy as CBP began processing cruise ships and tanker vessels.”

CBP personnel are on site today processing 158 expected international flights with approximately 33,000 passengers at JFK and 92 expected international flights with approximately 14,000 passengers at Newark International Airport.

For the first time since Hurricane Sandy, CBP officers processed the three cruise ship liners this morning, facilitating the entry of more than 10,000 passengers at various ports in the New York/New Jersey areas.

CBP is working closely with the Coast Guard and the Port Authority as officials begin to lift waterway restrictions and open marine terminals to cargo vessels. Officers are on site and ready to process shipments as soon as cargo is offloaded.

CBP deployed officers to JFK and Newark Liberty International Airport from other parts of the country to assist with the processing of international passengers. Officers arrived today from Miami, the Mid-Atlantic and Atlanta.

CBP ports of entry throughout the Buffalo Field Office are processing relief workers assisting in the recovery efforts as well. CBP officers at the Champlain, NY port of entry today processed relief workers headed to Long Island to assist in restoring electrical power to the many communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy. A dedicated lane was set aside at the port of entry to facilitate their entry.

To further assist in recovery efforts, CBP officials in Maine and Vermont have been working with local, state, federal and international partners in facilitating the processing of emergency utility personnel and their trucks as they head to the Mid-Atlantic states and other impacted areas.
As always, CBP urges residents in the impacted area to continue to follow FEMA and their state Emergency Management Agencies for continuing safety and recovery messages, and disaster assistance. (

FEMA )

Members of the trade community should continue to monitor CBP.gov for updates on port operations and on CBP’s efforts to minimize disruptions. ( CBP.gov )

Airline and cruise ship passengers are encouraged to check their carrier’s website or travel agents for more information.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

CBP Seaport, Cruise Ship Operations Resume in New York and N.J. - CBP.gov