October 27, 2012 — As Hurricane Sandy heads up the coast, churning seas to dangerous heights, the Coast Guard is urging mariners to return to port by tonight.
In a marine safety information bulletin issued Friday, officials warned that "the potential exists for hurricane-force wind gusts along with seas in excess of 25 feet over the open waters."
While the exact track and timing remain uncertain, forecasters expect Sandy will make landfall near Delaware late Monday or early Tuesday but said the storm could still veer as far north as Connecticut.
However, the Coast Guard's bulletin warns that "no matter where this storm tracks, a dangerous, potentially life-threatening storm is expected for mariners."
"Winds and seas of this nature can damage even large vessels," the bulletin reads.
At the New Bedford waterfront Friday afternoon, fishermen were preparing for the storm by securing their boats with extra lines and placing bumpers at places where their boats could crash against the docks during the storm.
Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard Times