Watch: How Do Massive Ships Survive Powerful Hurricanes?
As the old saying goes, “A ship is safest in harbour, but that’s not what she was built for.”
Ships are designed to be seaworthy, to navigate the vastness of the open ocean. Yet, the ocean can turn treacherous, presenting challenges that test even the most advanced vessels.
Hurricanes are nature’s most powerful storms at sea. They bring ferocious winds, towering waves, and torrential rain. For any mariner, encountering a hurricane is a nightmare scenario. The key question is: How do ships prepare for and survive these threats?
Mariners have a suite of tools to track weather patterns. Older technologies like NAVTEX and Weatherfax, along with modern email and satellite-based systems, deliver crucial forecasts. Some ships even have onboard computers that help chart the safest routes based on real-time weather data.
There are specially designated ports where ships can take refuge if a hurricane approaches. Once anchored, the crew strategically releases the anchor chain to allow for the ship’s movement, preventing the chain from snapping under pressure.
Sometimes, avoiding a hurricane is impossible. In those cases, survival boils down to two critical factors:
- Sea Room: This means having enough distance from land or other obstacles to manoeuvre safely.
- Steering-way: Maintaining forward momentum is essential. It allows the ship to steer into the waves, minimizing the risk of capsizing. Imagine a surfer paddling to catch a wave; a ship does something similar to ride over massive hurricane swells.
Modern ships are engineering marvels built to withstand extreme conditions. Their hulls are reinforced, and their compartments are designed to prevent flooding in case of damage. But even the best-built ship needs a skilled crew to navigate through a storm.
A well-trained and experienced crew is a ship’s most valuable asset during a storm. They understand the ship’s systems, can make quick decisions, and know how to work together as a team.
Interestingly, a ship carrying cargo is often safer in a storm than an empty one. The weight of the cargo acts as a ballast, helping to stabilise the ship in rough seas. However, there are many cases where the cargo, especially containers has been lost into the sea. Hence securing cargo is very crucial when going out at sea.
Have you ever experienced a hurricane at sea? Let us know the location in the comments.
Watch this video to know more-
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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The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
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