Tag: weather data

In the latest Safety Digest, UK MAIB focuses on the importance of the weather forecasts for the avoidance of relevant accidents; UK MAIB advises that if severe weather is forecast, all options available should be considered and all relevant precautions should be taken to establish the safety of the crew.

October was one of the driest months in history for the Panama Canal Hydrographic Basin, resulting to the latter redoubling the measures to conserve and make more efficient use of water. In line with its records, October will conclude with an estimated 215 millimeters of precipitation, which represents 35% below the historical average of 331 millimeters, and places it as the third-lowest in the last 70 years. 

IMO and the World Meteorological Organization conducted their first joint Symposium on Extreme Maritime Weather, focusing on the challenging weather conditions and how they affect the shipping industry, where WMO discussed the best practices and enhanced services for safety and risk reduction, emergency response, sustainable shipping practices and greater collection and sharing of ship observations. 

Weather charts, also known as surface pressure or synoptic charts, provide useful information on weather and sea conditions. Safe Skipper's Simon Jollands recommends to mariners to always study weather charts and estimate how the weather is likely to evolve in the area they plan to sail in.

In efforts of keeping track of the weather forecasts and predict how the weather will evolve, a team of researchers devised a computer model that, allegedly, will help forecasters spot developing storms faster and more accurately.

The European Commission's decision on publicising data relating to the carbon emission performance of individual vessels resulted to mixed reactions as shipowners’ concern stems from the perceived simplicity of the data; that the data fails to acknowledge additional factors affecting efficiency such as cargo and weather.

NOAA's High Seas Forecasts are weather forecasts and data transmitted around the world in real- and near-real-time. These forecasts are aiming to make navigation safer, especially considering the fact that for centuries not much could be done to make shipping safe, because of weather unpredictability.

Japan P&I published a loss prevention bulletin on marine weather and the ship handling in rough seas. Navigating in rough weather conditions deserves extra attention from ship operators; Waves caused by winds and swell from several directions results to vessels experiencing a number of oscillations.

IMarEST, in light of its partnership with the 'Navigating a Changing Climate (NaCC)' initiative, announced the launch of a survey aiming to explore the effects of the extreme weather events on seaports and inland ports. The survey aims to get a better insight into the consequences and the costs that arise after accidents from extreme weather.

TAFB, the National Hurricane Centre's Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch, published a detailed five-day marine weather forecasts concerning the offshore waters of Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Ecuador. The new areas reflect an unprecedented increase in predicted lead-time and detail. Such improvements should promote better decision making by ship captains and crew in hurricane-prone waters.