Date:         Thu, 26 Oct 2000 17:29:47 EDT
Reply-To:     CMathis227@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chuck Mathis <CMathis227@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: ships at sea
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I've weathered a couple of huricanes and too many tropical storms to count
aboard Coast Guard cutters.  Coast Guard insanity aside, prudent mariners
take great pains to stay well clear of any storm no matter how sturdy the
ship.  Container ships no matter how sturdy are quite top heavy and in storms
tend to reduce their top heaviness by flinging cargo containers over the
side.  This looks bad for the company no matter how well covered they are by
insurance so prudent bean counters enter into the equation as well.

Chuck (recently retired Coastie)

John Andersen wrote:
>>As someone who has worked in the Longshore industry for the last 30
years or so I can say with
some
certainty that the large container ships-Panamax- can weather very large
storms, I have seen ships
in port with containers hanging over the side. They were in large typoons and
the deck load took
some damage. However the ships continued on their course.
         If a ship is diverted to another port due to weather it is because
it is a small ship  or
the
storm is sooo huge that the entire coast line is washed away.

        John Andersen

Bill Davidson wrote:
>
>
>.. but the ocean is bigger... the most powerful
> force in the world.... and when it gets whipped up to a hurrican frenzy it
> can split the biggest ship in two pieces... or more!
>
> Bill