Weather is becoming more unpredictable and possibly violent
There is a tendency these days perhaps to be a bit blasé about bad weather. Whatever one’s view of climate change might be and the suggestion that weather is becoming more unpredictable and possibly violent, nobody can deny that shipping remains heavily weather-dependent. Indeed, it could be argued that we are likely to become more so if horsepower is to be penalised and slow steaming becomes “institutionalised”. Just as the old sailing ship men were adept at using the weather to their best advantage, it could well be that the weather component of seamanship becomes more – not less, important – as the century progresses.
All enclosed wheelhouses, externally generated weather forecasts and weather routeing services, along with reliable power plants, may well combine to almost isolate the mariner from the meteorological conditions, suggesting that weather is “somebody else’s” business. Nothing could be further from the truth, although it is a regrettable fact that charterers often attempt to “micromanage” the conduct of a voyage by trespassing into areas that are more appropriately left to the Master.
Charterers themselves, particularly those without seagoing experience, need to take a step back and learn something about the awesome power of the elements before they intervene in shipmasters’ business. There are too many examples of Masters who have been overtly or implicitly pressurised to leave shelter, whether at a safe anchorage or alongside, and see their ships lost or damaged as a result of heavy weather. Ease of communications are a double-edged sword when they permit people snug ashore to harass the Master into doing something which seamanship and prudence would caution him against.
This northern winter, there have already been grim reminders of the power of the elements, with serious casualties in several sea areas. Might a better understanding of the weather that was anticipated have prevented such tragedies? The information is mostly available, but it needs careful interpretation by the person on the spot, always provided that person has the appropriate training and experience.
It is also worth reminding ourselves of the discovery not long ago that satellite telemetry has confirmed that “extreme” waves are far more common than had been supposed, when reports of them would be dependent on visual observation. Marine meteorology remains a subject that needs careful study by everyone concerned with ship operation, whether they work afloat or ashore.
And weather still matters in so many other areas of ship operation. Talk to any cargo insurer and the subject of “wetted” cargo will instantly surface, whether the cause is inadequately sealed hatches or sudden showers of rain at a crucial moment during loading operations. There are so many different types of cargo which remain intolerant to moisture, with colossal costs attached to claims from this source, almost all of which are preventable, given an intelligent eye upon the weather. So many other modern marine operations, such as wind-farm installation or maintenance or most offshore oil and gas operations, are heavily weather-influenced. Weather really does matter, whether it is a matter of a weather-related clause in a BIMCO document, or the practical matter of plotting a course around a developing area of low pressure in a stormy Winter ocean.
Source: BIMCO
