Under what condition should bunkering activity cease according to the Harbor Safety Plan?

Bunkering activity should cease when sustained winds reach 40 knots due to the significant safety risks that such high wind conditions pose. Sustained winds at this level can lead to instability and unpredictable handling of fuel transfer operations, increasing the likelihood of accidents, spills, or other hazardous situations during the bunkering process. The Harbor Safety Plan prioritizes the safety of personnel, vessels, and the environment, and therefore mandates the cessation of activities that can become dangerous under extreme weather conditions, particularly high winds that can affect the mooring and stability of vessels involved in bunkering operations.

Other conditions mentioned, such as heavy rains or reduced visibility, while potentially hazardous in their own right, do not present the same immediate and severe risk to the continuation of bunkering as high winds do. Additionally, temperature drops below freezing may influence certain operational practices but are not directly tied to the safety changes required in the context of bunkering activities as high winds are.