Rough seas & high winds

[Doc Vernon]

Storm.jpg

Fierce storm ahead: On Wed Sep 6^th,Eastern Caribbean routed cruise ships were scrambling in fear of ferociousHurricane Irma – the worst recorded hurricane in history with the likes ofwinds of near 200 mph. The Port of Miami was closed as of Friday,the 8^th and so cruise line operations busily changed and cancelledall sorts of voyages. MSC's Divina returned to Miami twodays early, offloaded her 3,000 passengers and then fled (empty) toCozumel. Disney axed three cruises, Carnival at least two and RoyalCaribbean three. The three biggest liners afloat – Oasis of theSeas, Allure of the Seas & Harmony of the Seas – with a over 15,000combined passengers onboard were kept at sea and away from the huge storm's path. Some other cruise lines allowed passengers to remain aboard, at Miami and PortEverglades, since many homeward flights were canceled. Passengers wereoffered partial refunds, full refunds on canceled cruises and up to $300 perperson toward flight change fees. Northward flights were all butoverwhelmed by mid-week, some extra flights were added, but one-way tickets toNew York City surged to a staggering $1,400.

[Captain Kong]

I wonder why people want to go to the West Indies in the Hurricane season?
Brian.

[dave moore]

What are the cruise companies doing there knowing that it is the hurricane season. Beats me

[Doc Vernon]

Money Money Money! That's all!

[j.sabourn]

In theory today no cruise ship should be feared of hurricanes as gets ample warning of their centres and their tracks so should be avoidable. In fact I should imagine they will be restricted to the amount of fuel they carry, as Doc says money, money, money. That capt. Philips on the Maersk vessel who was boarded by pirates the reason why he was where he was advised not to go was because of the extra fuel costs. It was put on the media he was getting sued by some of the crew for doing so, whatever happened to that tit bit put out by someone in the media.? We have a Cyclone season in WA and a lot of my work was involved in moving ships out of Harbour which were laid up in Dampier. At least it was in warm weather not like the North Sea in winter where had to ride out storm conditions in freezing conditions, someone has to be there was the answer and could not take avoiding action. Pity it wasn't better paid. Out here used to deman the rigs and platforms to a skeleton staff and reman with seamen till the all clear was given. Seamen are apparently dispensable. Cheers JWS.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Brian.
A bit like me going through the North Atlantic in a hurricane when I could have been sunbathing up the gulf.
After seeing all those yachts smashed up in the Islands and around Florida I wondered why the owners; having had plenty of warning about Irma approaching didn't sail North and take shelter away from the storm,they would have had a good following wind.
cheers Des

[happy daze john in oz]

We have been on a number where a port of call has been cancelled due to bad weather.

Modern ships with all the equipment they have is more than enough to ensure thye can avoid bad weather of any kind.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi All.
I had expected that after those hurricanes the news would have been full of ships in distress but i haven't read of one ship going down in those storms, the only thing i can conclude is that the storms were mainly over land.
Cheers Des

[Ivan Cloherty]

Hi All.
I had expected that after those hurricanes the news would have been full of ships in distress but i haven't read of one ship going down in those storms, the only thing i can conclude is that the storms were mainly over land.
Cheers Des

After the loss of 'El Faro' some 2-3 years ago in such an hurricane and the subsequent numerous law suits that followed and advice from the USCG American owners/operators have been much more circumspect in ordering their Masters to keep to the timetable regardless of weather. Hurricanes have to traverse over the sea to reach land and are formed over the sea. I know the hurricanes I was involved in were at sea.

Over 100 ships per year never complete their voyage mainly because of weather, but you will never hear about them because they 'are only merchant seamen' now if they were some foolhardy yachty who had been advised not to sail and caused thousands of pounds in rescue attempts then he/she/they would be some poor sailor(s) who would make front page news and thus it will ever be.

[robpage]

In theory today no cruise ship should be feared of hurricanes as gets ample warning of their centres and their tracks so should be avoidable. In fact I should imagine they will be restricted to the amount of fuel they carry, as Doc says money, money, money. That capt. Philips on the Maersk vessel who was boarded by pirates the reason why he was where he was advised not to go was because of the extra fuel costs. It was put on the media he was getting sued by some of the crew for doing so, whatever happened to that tit bit put out by someone in the media.? ......................Cheers JWS.

Maersk made a confidential out of court settlement , it was a $50,000,000 claim by nine men under the US " Jones " act which is to do with suitability of ship to intended use as far as I
can tell