Ballast provides a little stabilizing weight when ships sail empty, but not always enough. That's because the weight of cargo helps stabilize the ship against the waves. The most dangerous ship in a hurricane is an empty one. "Anything you can get on a computer at home, you can probably get at sea through a satellite connection," Pickhardt says. Some vessels have more high-tech tools aboard, like onboard computer systems that help plan routes based on weather forecasts. Today, captains can also receive weather maps, satellite images, and other information by email. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to play Another system called Weatherfax uses higher frequency radio waves to send black-and-white images to shipboard fax machines. cargo ships are required to carry a Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) machine, a radio receiver that picks up medium-frequency radio signals and converts them into a text printout. A century ago, weather updates at sea were limited to Morse code messages, but since the 1980s, weather updates have come to printers or fax machines right on the ship's bridge. To steer clear of hurricanes, mariners need good weather information. Most modern cargo ships are designed to tough out all but the heaviest weather and stay on schedule, but hurricanes are the largest and among the most dangerous storms on the ocean, and no crew wants to find itself in the midst of one. Just the fuel alone on ships can be tens of thousands of dollars a day, so a two or three day delay or deviation can cost big bucks, so they always want to minimize it." Captains can't dodge every storm, because, as Pickhardt explained, "ships are typically on a very tight schedule. "If a ship is in the ocean, you're going to have heavy weather," says Fred Pickhardt, chief meteorologist at Ocean Weather Services. And they're an unavoidable part of life on the water. A major storm can batter even the largest, sturdiest vessels. Towering walls of water, driven by powerful winds, slam into the ship. Local residents who ventured to the beach had to run to avoid being swept up in fast-moving water.Storms at sea are harrowing experiences. Tidal surges flooded Stinson Beach in Marin County. Firefighters said they were inundated with “non-stop” 911 calls from residents reporting damages and emergencies. Up in San Mateo County, firefighters fanned out across beachside neighborhoods where wind gusts blew trees on top of homes, cars, and roadways. Witnesses heard a man screaming for help after he was apparently swept away in the flood-swollen river. Coast Guard helicopter was seen circling over the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz Wednesday night. If your safety is in imminent danger due to wave intrusion or structural damage call 911.”Ī U.S. If you are unable to evacuate, please shelter in place, move away from ocean facing windows. If you can evacuate safely, please do so immediately. Due to large waves and high tides along the coastline, there is a threat to the safety of those residents. The Sheriff’s Office wrote, “There is currently a tidal surge threatening low-lying coastal areas. #AtmosphericRiver /RY0bfNbDOw- Amy Larson January 5, 2023 Waves are HUGE, between 25-35 feet, according to Surfline. BREAKING – The iconic cement ship in Santa Cruz County broke away this morning from the pier at Seacliff State Beach.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |