by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

Following Hurricane Milton's impact, Port Tampa Bay has successfully resumed vessel operations and reopened its shipping channels, albeit with restrictions to daylight hours. 

According to the latest update from the port, the US Coast Guard has set the port's condition to normal after thorough assessments.

Port staff have ensured the safety of docks, piers, and terminals, allowing commercial vessel traffic to queue for a return to full operations.

Initial vessels to return include fuel tankers, cruise ships, and those carrying perishable cargo.

Similarly, the ports of Miami and Jacksonville resumed operations late last week.

Charleston Port announced that the Wando Welch Terminal and the North Charleston Terminal opened on 13 October. Gate hours at the Hugh Leatherman Terminal in Charleston are open on 14 October from 0800 to 1200 and 1300 to 1700 local time.

A report by the New York Times reveals that the hurricane left severe damage in the areas it hit. However, the impact was not to the degree that officials had feared.

"The Tampa Bay region did not experience the disastrous storm surge that many forecasters had feared. Still, there was serious flooding along the Gulf Coast, which received as much as 18 inches of rain," writes the newspaper.

Many areas suffered power outages during the hurricane's peak, but state officials said that Florida's electrical system had mostly not been damaged enough for a complete reconstruction.