Dangerous Ocean Waters Ships Should be Afraid of

The world’s oceans face many threats, which makes sailing quite dangerous. Additionally, commercial ships face security challenges and also grapple with the effects of global warming.

Frequent storms, tropical cyclones, strong winds and bad weather coupled with piracy, ship hijackings and thefts have made shipping quite risky.

In this article, we will discuss some of the world’s most dangerous Ocean Waters for ships.

1. Indian Ocean

The third-largest ocean in the world is one of the most risky for ships to navigate. The Indian Ocean has around 150 recorded shipwrecks.

Global warming has impacted the oceans and seas; however, the Indian Ocean warmed faster than others, with the Arabian Sea and the Southeastern Part of the Indian Ocean being the hotspots.

The Northern Indian Ocean is experiencing more powerful cyclones with winds over 168 km/h and high rainfall, which leads to high waves and rough seas that affect cargo-laden vessels.

According to the International Maritime Bureau, the Gulf of Aden, the Strait of Malacca, and the Bay of Bengal are prone to piracy and armed robbery against vessels.

The U.S. Department of Transportation suggests that the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Hormuz, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, the Bab el Mandeb Strait, and the Somali Basin face geopolitical conflicts as nations or even entities try to control these strategic channels, waterways, and straits of the Indian Ocean for their own benefit.

Recently, Yemen’s Houthis have targetted Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea to pressurise Israel to stop its war in Gaza, which has killed thousands of innocent civilians.

2. Drake Passage

This waterway lies between Cape Horn, South America, Argentina, Chile, and Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands. It connects the Scotia Sea of the Atlantic Ocean with the Southeastern Pacific Ocean and extends into the Southern Ocean.

It is said to be one of the most dangerous waters, having claimed around 800 ships and 20,000 lives. Named after English Explorer Francis Drake, this passage is known for its massive rogue waves, which can be as high as 12 m. Some have even seen waves over 65 feet high in the Drake Passage.

One of the most powerful ocean currents passes through this passage as the currents do not meet any resistance from land.

These ocean currents circulate carbon deep into the depths, where it is stored for millennia. The strong ocean currents also transport nutrients and other materials from the Pacific to the North Atlantic.

Since it is the narrowest passageway near Antarctica, it influences water circulation around Antarctica and affects the world’s ocean circulations, impacting global climate.

3. North Atlantic Ocean

The North Atlantic Ocean is delimited to the south by Newfoundland and Iberia and the Arctic Eurasian Basin to the north.

This part of the Atlantic Ocean is dangerous for ships, especially the route around the North Sea and Bermuda Triangle, which are characterised by unpredictable weather, including storms, cyclones, massive waves, and ice.

According to new research findings, the North Atlantic is becoming even more risky for navigation due to more icebergs entering it than before.

Rising global temperatures and the warming of oceans make locked ice mobile, which can easily float and clog narrow passageways or pose a hazard in open oceans.

This phenomenon will increase in future and impact not only navigation but also the marine environment and its inhabitants as Arctic temperatures continue to rise.

In 2017, sea ice hampered navigation in open oceans near Newfoundland. A few ships were trapped in the ice, and some boats sank as the ice damaged their hulls.

Apart from these developments, the weather in this part of the Atlantic is determined by wind currents and air masses rising from North America, ultimately creating a low-pressure area near Iceland and a high-pressure area near the Azores.

Hence, cyclones are formed accompanied by strong winds moving towards Iceland and Newfoundland. How powerful they become depends on the temperature difference, so winter storms are stronger than summer storms.

4. Bering Sea

A marginal sea in the Northern Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea is treacherous for ships. Especially dangerous is the Bering Strait, which lies between Russia and Alaska. It is known for icebergs, strong currents, and unpredictable weather.

The Alaska Peninsula separates the Bering Sea from the Gulf of Alaska. The Sea covers 770,000 square miles and lies near Alaska, the Russian Far East, the Kamchatka Peninsula, and the Aleutian Islands.

The complex interaction between ocean currents and sea ice creates a highly productive ecosystem in the Bering Sea. Many whale species live here, including humpbacks, gray whales, blue whales, belugas, and the rarest North Pacific Right Whale.

5. South China Sea

A marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean, it is one of the most contested waterbodies on earth. It is surrounded by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Borneo, Sumatra, etc.

Due to its strategic location, China claims most of the sea as part of its territorial waters, which is against international law and the rights of its neighbours like the Philippines.

The dangers of navigation in this water body include several issues, such as maritime and economic security, territorial conflicts, environmental protection, etc.

According to records, around 250 ship accidents occurred in the Sea between 2007 and 2017, the highest number in the world when classified by region. Most of them involved cargo ships and fishing vessels. The leading causes are flooding, onboard fire, human error, and rough weather.

Apart from the territorial disputes, the South China Sea also has an area in its southeastern part called the Dangerous Ground, and rightly so. It has low islands, underwater reefs, atolls, and other rocky reefs that rise from the ocean’s depths.

Dangerous Ground lies around the Spratly Islands and is very dangerous for ships. Additionally, the region needs to be better charted as it is a disputed water body, and some shoals and reefs appear in one chart and not in another. Avoiding this region is a sailor’s only assurance of safety.

6. Black Sea

This strategic water body lies at Europe’s southeastern end, surrounded by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Romania and Bulgaria.

It is oval-shaped and covers a large basin. Black Sea is linked to the Atlantic Ocean via the Bosphorus, the Dardanelles, Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas.

The Northern Black Sea, close to Ukraine, is a vital maritime route and a region rich in fisheries and biodiversity. It also has several ports and harbours, enabling socio-economic exchanges. However, recent developments have made this sea dangerous for ships.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has made this once bustling trade route an area of conflict and danger for cargo ships. Naval standoffs between Russia and Ukraine have increased shipping risks from this area. This has impacted shipping as maritime safety is compromised.

7. Gulf of Guinea

The Gulf of Guinea is located at the northeasternmost part of the Atlantic Ocean, off Africa’s west coast.

It is known for being one of the most dangerous regions for vessels due to piracy incidents and armed robberies at sea, posing a threat to the safety and security of seafarers and ships.

Per the International Maritime Bureau, there were atleast nine piracy incidents in the Gulf last year.

Other issues in the Gulf of Guinea which make it dangerous for ships include kidnappings for ransom, illegal fishing and oil bunkering, drug trafficking, etc.

Presently, kidnapping for ransom is the most widespread problem in the region since between 2018 and 2019, crew member kidnappings in the Gulf of Guinea rose by 50%.

8. North Sea

Positioned between the UK, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France, the North Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the English Channel and the Norwegian Sea.

The North Sea and the waters surrounding the British Isles are difficult for ships to navigate due to unpredictable weather conditions, fog, strong winds, and storms.

The chances of accidents increase since the North Sea is one of the busiest maritime routes and sees dense ship traffic, which increases the risk of accidents and collisions.

Oil and gas operations in the North Sea pose an environmental threat, as an oil spill or gas leakage could gravely affect the sea.

9. Tasman Sea

A marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean, the Tasman Sea is known for its unpredictable weather patterns, strong currents, cyclones, and storms. These affect a ship’s stability, so seafarers must be careful while crossing this water body.

Some parts of the Tasman Sea are quite remote and, in case of accidents, cannot be accessed easily.

It is a vital shipping route dotted with ports such as Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, etc. When crossing the Tasman Sea, seafarers and boaters are advised to monitor real-time weather conditions and equip their ships with proper navigation equipment and safety gear.

10. Bay of Biscay

Part of the northeast Atlantic Ocean, the Bay of Biscay is situated along the western shores of France and Spain’s northern coast. It is known for the roughest weather in the Atlantic Ocean and massive waves, which hinder navigation.

The southwestern part of the bay remains covered with thick fog in spring and beginning of summer. With the advent of winter, the weather can sometimes worsen with powerful thunderstorms.

These storms bring massive waves and rain to the shores. Strong windstorms can form when the pressure decreases rapidly, flowing along the Gulf Stream at tremendous speeds, like hurricanes, ultimately crashing in the Bay of Biscay with their maximum force.

Conclusion

Industry stakeholders, shipping companies, and operators should train seafarers for onboard emergencies discussed in the article, whether rough seas or pirate attacks. Proper training and protocol implementation are the keys to ensuring the safety of mariners and ships treading dangerous ocean waters.

The ships should also be maintained and repaired regularly, and inspections should be carried out to check and ascertain their seaworthiness. Lastly, all ships should have enough safety equipment, such as lifeboats and liferafts.

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About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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