Along the coastal regions of the United States, just as it is the case along the coastal regions of any country, one of the major industries relies heavily on maritime access.  Whether it is the fishing industry, maritime tourism, or simply recreational water use, much of a city’s economy – and thereby a state’s overall fiscal health – may depend on the aspect of the accessibility of its beaches for the sake of maritime business; of course, when hurricane season begins, it is not just the land areas that are in danger of damage, disaster, and losses of life, but also the maritime areas. As a matter of fact, maritime disasters are often part of the recorded history when dealing with hurricanes.

Sadly, while there is a number of suggestions and lists to follow for the land-bound to prepare for and hopefully survive a hurricane, there is no such list for those who find themselves at sea at the time of the disaster. There are, however, some universally recognized top tips on how to avoid maritime disaster during hurricane season.

If you know that there is a possibility of a hurricane in your area, be sure to be in close contact with the Marine Prediction Center to receive updates as to the location of the hurricane, the direction in which it is likely moving, as well as the speed with which the storm is moving.  This will give you some information about which area may be saved for your travel in, and which areas you may need to avoid.  Yet keep in mind that storms are known to speed up or slow down, and also can change directions quickly and unpredictably!  Up to date information is of the essence to stay safe.

If you have the equipment on board, keep an eye on satellite images of the storm to compare it to the information you are receiving.

Keep in mind that seafarers are strongly urged to stay out of the 34 KT wind zone of the hurricane.  As you see wind speeds increasing, chart a course out of the danger zone and leave immediately.

A rule that has been termed the 1-2-3 rule has been devised to help anyone who is on sea at the time of the hurricane to remain safe. It stipulates the save distance to keep from a potential encounter with a hurricane.  A 100-mile radius should be kept as a potential error zone for a forecast of 24 hours; the radius buffer is increased to 200 miles at a 48 hour forecast; last but not least the 300-mile radius is for the 72 hour forecast.

Do not plan to outrun a hurricane or chart a route that crosses its path, no matter how short.

If you are still docked in the port, you will have to make the decision if you want to abandon your ship or take the vessel out to sea in an effort to save it.  Generally speaking, the earlier you make this decision, the more successful you attempt to stay out of the path of the hurricane will be.

As you can see, those who will be on board of a ship during an active hurricane somewhere near them will almost always be affected by the winds and rough seas that go hand in hand with this storm.  While such encounters do not always have to end in disaster, it is up to the savvy mariner to ensure that all safety precautions are taken to avoid a direct hit of the storm. Similarly, these precautions are especially important if you are transporting passengers.

 

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