If the storm cannot be avoided, large cargo ships need to avoid getting too close to the shore so as not to be hit by the waves on land and scattered.
According to Popular Mechanics, storms are the biggest threat to ships operating at sea . A great storm can knock over the biggest and surest ships, including those already anchored in the harbor.
According to maritime safety experts, to survive storms at sea, the first thing captains need to know is accurate and timely weather information.
Cargo ship moving in stormy sea. (Video: Sea Lad).
Today, captains can receive weather maps, satellite images and related information via email. Some ships have computer systems that plan their navigation based on weather forecasts.
Good weather information keeps ships out of storms. With a speed of 14 knots, or 25km/h, a modern ship can outrun a storm. The slower the train moves, the fewer options it has to respond.
When a storm is approaching, the captain needs to choose a place surrounded by cliffs or high mountains for shelter instead of choosing the nearest seaport. At the storm shelter, the anchor is lowered with the chain to slacken so as not to be ripped off by the waves. The ship’s engines can be reversed so that pressure is applied to the anchor.
In fact, choosing the wrong port to anchor the ship can be dangerous because the waves cause the ship to hit the wharf. In some cases, the port authority may order the ship to leave before the storm arrives. “Some ports are so dangerous that there are ships that choose to go out to sea, thinking that it is safer at sea than in port,” said former captain Max Hardberger.
However, even the most modern tools cannot completely eliminate the risk of storms. Tight voyages with daily fuel costs that can run into the tens of thousands of dollars do not allow the captain to steer the vessel to avoid every storm. Most modern cargo ships are designed to be able to weather most of the bad weather at sea to follow the course.
Empty cargo ships are the ships most at risk during storms due to the lack of cargo weight to stabilize the hull. Ballast water in the bottom of a ship for stability in transit is not a perfect solution for all situations. Ballast water can cause a ship that is leaning 30 degrees on one side to suddenly turn 30 degrees on the other side after just 3.5 seconds , said Hardberger.
When forced to face a storm, sailors will try to steer the ship to the area with the lowest waves and weakest winds.
The constant pounding of waves against the hull is the biggest threat to sailors . If the waves are big enough and beat continuously for a long time, a modern ship made from hardened steel can also break.
According to Hardberger, when forced to face a storm, sailors will try to steer the ship to the area with the lowest waves and weakest winds. In the northern hemisphere, the left side of the storm is a safer place, while in the southern hemisphere, the right side of the storm is where ships can turn for safety.
When storms cannot be avoided, ships need to keep moving forward rather than being pushed away by waves and winds. The helmsman keeps the bow of the ship facing the waves so that the ship is not overturned from either side by the waves.
In order to survive the storm, the ship needs to stay away from all objects that can cause the ship to crash, such as the shore or the reef. Cargo ships choose to stay off the coast if forced to face a big storm, because the waves and strong winds can knock large ships anchored near the shore onto the sand.
A good ship that combines a well-trained, experienced crew with an element of luck can weather a storm, Hardberger notes.