Tag: hazardous weather at sea

A disastrous oil spill could occur in Solomon Islands area, after the Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier 'Solomon Trader' ran aground on a reef on the remote island of Rennell, south of the capital Honiara. The 225 meter-long ship grounded last week after she attempted to collect bauxite from a nearby mine site.

Chilean Navy troops vessel 'Aquiles' ran aground while it was leaving Puerto Williams, Beagle Channel, Cape Horn area, southernmost Chile. The vessel allegedly strayed off fairway after it fell onto a buoy on February 12, 14.00 local time. 

Transport Malta's MSIU issued an investigation report into the grounding of the Togo-registered oil tanker 'Hephaestus' in February 2018, after being exposed at anchor for several days in deteriorating weather conditions. The report highlighted lack of visible leadership and commitment towards safety from the company. 

Polar Vortex, a pattern of high-altitude winds in the Arctic, weakened resulting to frigid air over North America and Europe in the second half of January 2019. Although the Arctic ice sea extent remained below average, temperatures in the far north were closer to average than in past years. Specifically, Arctic sea ice extent for January averaged 13.56 million square kilometers (5.24 million square miles). This was 860.000 square kilometres less in comparison to 1981 to 2010 long-term average sea ice extent, and 500.000 square kilometres above the record low for the month set in January 2018.

In its Australian ports update in view of the monsoon, ship agency GAC informed that berthing is currently suspended at Abbot Point Coal Terminal until further notice and there are no vessels alongside. There are currently 21 vessels at anchor. 

Most of Algeria's ports have been closed to traffic as a result of heavy weather, according to data provided by the Standard P&I Club. The closed ports as of 1st February include Arzew, Oran, Mostaganem, Skikda and Tenes.

Port of Dampier located in Pilbara of Western Australia continues operations after cyclone 'Riley'. Pilbara ports Authority published an update on January 28 that the shipping operations at the port of Dampier have resumed in a stage manner, with all inner anchorages opened. Because of the cyclone, Australian's Pilbara Ports Authority cleared major ports under preparations for the cyclones.

Australian's Pilbara Ports Authority has cleared major Port of Rio Tinto as part of cyclone operations. The Authority addressed that ports of Ashburton, Dampier and Port Hedland were under preparations for tropical cyclone 'Riley', which was offshore of northern Western Australia.

Egypt, after shutting down seven of its ports due to bad weather conditions, it reopened five out of seven ports on January 17. As stated by Reuters, the bad weather conditions improved and the wind stabilized as announced by the Red Sea Ports Authority.

On its monthly safety scenario for January, the Swedish Club presents a case where a ro-ro vessel with high speed approached the berth in a port but was not able to carefully enter because of the wind, causing the vessel's bulbous bow to hit the quay. The vessel was obliged to dry dock and repair the bulbous bow.