What Seafarers Should Do After The Vessel Receives Storm Warning?

The prime reason for which every seafarer is wished Smooth sailing and Calm seas
before boarding a vessel is to keep them safe from storms. Some of the most common forms of
heavy weather are tropical storms, typhoons, hurricanes etc, generated due to varying
atmospheric pressures over different parts of the earth.
It is therefore very important for a mariner to predict the location, magnitude and path of
the storm, which are required to avoid these regions.
Following are a few precautions which seafarers must follow while encountering tropical
storms:
Use Available Information: like Maritime Safety information via EGC, Admiralty Sailing
Directions, Ocean passages of the world and several other means.
Study Weather Report: Frequent observations from various meteorological instruments and
prevailing weather onboard can be used to confirm weather reports.
Keep Away From Centre of Storm: It is advisable to keep at least 250 miles away from the
centre of a storm however some companies prescribe specific distances in their Safety
Management Manuals.
Check Stability Of The Vessel: A prudent check is required on the stability condition of the
vessel and its compliance with intact stability criteria.
Be Careful While Changing Speed, Angle, and Direction: Often waves associated with a
storm or depression causes reduction in intact stability of vessel with a threat of capsizing or
rolling of vessel to very large angles
Secure Loose Equipment/Cargo on Deck: Securing of various loose equipment on deck,
additional lashings to be taken to strengthen and prevent their loss being washed away into the
sea.
Secure Weather and Water Tight Openings: Various weather tight and water tight openings
like side scuttles, hatch covers. etc. have to be securely closed to prevent any ingress of water to
avoid leaking that can damaged compartments that they are protecting.
Secure Doors Forward Of Collision Bulkhead: Any openings in subdivisions of watertight
compartments which can cause progressive flooding must be secured.
Drains and Scuppers Must Be Free: All drains on deck and scuppers for drainage of water
must be free to prevent any accumulation of water on deck.
Secure Aerials and Antennas: Storms are associated with lightning and thundering thus all
aerials and antennas to be earthed and any low insulation alarms to be investigated carefully.
Inform All Departments: Deck department, engine and galley should be informed well in
advance of any storm warnings.
Reference:
Sahoo, R., Bhanawat, C. O. A., & Frank. (2015, March 9). Navigation. Retrieved June
20, 2016, from Marine Navigation, http://www.marineinsight.com/marine-navigation/whatseafarers-should-do-when-encountering-storm-warning/.

1. Why did you choose the topic?

- I chose this topic for the reason that it gives knowledge and guide to us seafarers on
what to do if incase that we have storm in our navigating path or area.
2. What is the relevance of the article to marine transportation/engineering professionals?
- The relevance of the article that I chose to my course (Marine Transportation) is that
the storm affects the stability of the vessel that would give danger to our life and that
we as the marine transportation is responsible to know it in order keep away from the
storm.
3. What is the impact of the article/journal to you as a marine transportation/engineering
student?
- The impact of the article for me as a marine transportation student is that I was able to
learn something about what to do if there is a storm on our course someday when Im
onboard so that I will not be ignorant when that situation comes.