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Heavy Weather Preparation Checklist

This document provides guidance on preparations for heavy weather while at sea. It outlines steps to improve stability, secure the deck and cargo, update navigation, and reduce speed. Potential dangers in heavy seas like synchronous rolling, pooping, or broaching are also described. The optimal strategy depends on vessel type and conditions, but options include bringing wind and seas on the bow at reduced speed, running with the quartering sea, heaving to, anchoring, or running away. Turning should be done gradually.

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12 views2 pages

Heavy Weather Preparation Checklist

This document provides guidance on preparations for heavy weather while at sea. It outlines steps to improve stability, secure the deck and cargo, update navigation, and reduce speed. Potential dangers in heavy seas like synchronous rolling, pooping, or broaching are also described. The optimal strategy depends on vessel type and conditions, but options include bringing wind and seas on the bow at reduced speed, running with the quartering sea, heaving to, anchoring, or running away. Turning should be done gradually.

Uploaded by

Dee Cee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Preparations for Heavy Weather

Stability

1. Improve GM if possible (GM too small consider jettison cargo)


2. Remove free surface (fill all slack tanks as appropriate)
3. Ballast vessel down
4. Pump out swimming pool
5. Extra precautions – depending on cargo e.g. grain swells 50%
when wet

Deck
6. Check all cargo & deck lashings – double up where necessary
7. Tighten lifeboat gripes
8. Ensure hatch covers well battened down
9. Secure derricks / cranes
[Link] all doors are wt tight – test if time
[Link] pipes covered & anchors secure
[Link] loose gear stowed
[Link] exposed decks cleared
[Link] screens over portholes
[Link] weather routine
[Link] company procedures
[Link] liferafts
[Link] all departments
[Link] to report when all complete
Navigation
[Link] re-routing
[Link] weather reports
[Link] storm
[Link] Steering
[Link] speed

Large GM – roll quickly


Small GM – Easier to incline / not easily returned
Ideal is in between

Dangers
 Synchronous rolling / pitching
 If seas overtaking the vessel – danger of pooping / loss of
GM
 Ship & waves of equal velocity – violent slew, heel & swap
i.e broaching too
Preparations for Heavy Weather

Periods of Roll & Encounter


Period of roll = time taken to roll from port to starboard (or s-p) & back
again
Encounter = time between the passage of two successive wave crests
under the ship

EG: Short period of roll compared to the period of encounter – tends to


lie with her decks parallel to the water surface or wave slope – violent &
heavy rolling – damage but little or no water on deck

Long period roll compared to period of encounter – rolls somewhat


slowly & independently of the waves. Mod roll, waves break near ship’s
side.

Synchronism
V dangerous; period or roll = or nearly = to ½ period of waves
Successive waves tend to increase the angle of roll of the v/l
Immediate action required – alter course – breaks period of encounter

Synchronised pitching
Period of encounter is similar to v/l’s period of pitch
Alter speed – preferably reduce

Options
1. Bring wind & sea fine on the bow & reduce speed
a. Best for large v/l’s – possible heavy pounding / damage –
watch for syn pitch, props out engine racing, need control
2. Run with the sea on the ¼ - all depends on vessel type / size /
stability.
a. Possibility of pooping
b. Trial & error to find best spd
c. Steering may be difficult (flow of water low) watch for
broaching
d. Possible loss of GM as swell lifts under etc
3. Heave to
a. If land mass to hide under fine
b. Possibility of heavy rolling – waves breaking over –
consider oil
4. Anchor – depth / shelter
5. Run away

Turning in rough weather – bring around gradually using short bursts of


ahead against full weather – watch for broaching

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