Ships in Hurricanes

[tink2007]

When cruises are cancelled, where do the ships go?
Will they stay in port or go out to sea?

 

[erionm]

I believe they will head back out to sea after the passengers and any non-essential crew disembark.

 

[SteveMP]

I believe they will head back out to sea after the passengers and any non-essential crew disembark.

Yes. I saw a video of a cruise ship that was in port during a really bad storm and it did not end well.

 

[Dug720]

They will go out to sea with crew aboard. AFAIK all crew as there is nowhere inland to put all of them.

 

[Barbydoll8]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/disney-cruise-line-cancels-three-cruises-due-to-hurricane-irma/

 

[sweetpee_1993]

My dad is a 24 yr veteran of the USNavy. I hated when hurricanes came because that meant he had to go out to sea. I worried about him (I was a bit of a nervous child - LOL). Dad used to tell me the safest place for a ship when a hurricane is coming is out at sea. They can sail away from the storm. If they stay in port the ship will beat against the pier which will tear up the ship & the pier. They're much safer to put out to sea. Even if they ride some high seas (which even cruise ships CAN do & are designed to withstand) they are better off doing what the ship is designed to do then sit and be torn to bits.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It's safer at sea. But they don't want to take on passengers and the responsibility for service to them, let alone their safety.

Even crew may get seasick during a storm like this. Not how you want to be dealing with people already mad about pool closures...

 

[sweetpee_1993]

It's safer at sea. But they don't want to take on passengers and the responsibility for service to them, let alone their safety.

Even crew may get seasick during a storm like this. Not how you want to be dealing with people already mad about pool closures...

Truth. Paying guests don't typically enjoy a rough ride. Now, there ARE people like me & my hubby who would pay extra for a big ride but we are definitely the exception.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We were docked in Hawaii several years ago (before DCL) and the water got so choppy the captain took the ship out to sea for the day because it was safer. The ship had been tied to the dock with thick heavy rope cables but two of the cables had broken loose, and when those things break they let go with enough force they could kill someone, so it's just easier to ride the waves instead of fighting them. Meanwhile, we were on shore and didn't think the winds were a big deal. Can't imagine what damage hurricane-force winds could do to a ship banging against a dock.

 

[kboo]

My dad is a 24 yr veteran of the USNavy. I hated when hurricanes came because that meant he had to go out to sea. I worried about him (I was a bit of a nervous child - LOL). Dad used to tell me the safest place for a ship when a hurricane is coming is out at sea. They can sail away from the storm. If they stay in port the ship will beat against the pier which will tear up the ship & the pier. They're much safer to put out to sea. Even if they ride some high seas (which even cruise ships CAN do & are designed to withstand) they are better off doing what the ship is designed to do then sit and be torn to bits.

We were on the Fantasy W. Caribbean cruise that altered its itinerary to avoid Harvey. It was pretty amazing - we made all the stops we meant to make, and the days were sunny (we had 1 short rain shower on Cozumel that literally that was it). In the evenings we felt the ship move a bit, and saw lots of lightning and thunder, and rain. But kudos to the captain for giving us gorgeous days for the whole week. It was shocking to find out upon disembarking that Harvey was making landfall in Houston, and then to see how much damage it caused.

 

[Vicki106]

We were on that same cruise. It was amazing how we had gorgeous days and storms at night. Pixie dust!!!!! (and hard work by Captain Fabian and his crew)

 

[Capt_BJ]

"From USCG COTP Sector Miami: At 0800, Sept 6, 2017, Set Port Condition WHISKEY for PortMiami/Miami River, Port Everglades, Port of Palm Beach, and Fort Pierce"

in the US the Coast Guard is the 'Captain of the Port' for all commercial ports and there is a 'template' for the hurricane plan. Without going into detail there are set milestones. When Gale Force winds (39 mph or more) are expected in 72 hours the port goes to condition W and preparations begin

Sustained Gale Force expected in 48 hours, condition X (X-ray), all ships of 500 tons or more must make preps to get out of port or convince the COTP that they have good reason and a good plan for staying.

Sustained Gale Force expected in 24 hours, Yankee, the port is closed to all arrivals and everything 500 tons and up without an approved plan leaves. typically local anchorages are also closed and 'cleared out'

12 hours = ZULU and the port is CLOSED, no ship movements unless approved by COTP.

Once closed ports remain closed until the storm is past and clear and damage and navigation assessments are conducted. Even with NO damage, ports typically remain closed for a day while this happens. If there is damage, closures remain until COTP determines it is safe for navigation.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It looks like Tortola got trashed.

 

[NancyDVC]

Out to sea is much safer for the ships. The US Navy sends their ships out to sea when a naval base is in the forecast area for a hurricane.
In 2004 Port Canaveral was closed for several weeks due to silting from hurricanes. DCL used Miami as the port during that time. With this storm it looks like there won't be any 'alternate ports' for any of the cruise lines to use.
In 2004 the week before Labor Day there were no accessible ports in Florida due to hurricanes-Port Tampa, Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Port Canaveral were all closed leaving 20+ cruise ships from all the cruise lines with no place to go. Cruises were extended until the Coast Guard deemed the ports safe to open. Miami and Port Everglades are the largest. Tampa can not handle any very large/mega ships because of the size of the channel leading to the port area. (I believe it was Liberty of the Seas that could not port due to Harvey because of its size. It is ported in Galveston but could not access Galveston due to the storm and can not access New Orleans because the route to the port is up the Mississippi and again can not handle larger/mega ships.)
With the current cruise line cancellations it looks like there will be a number of cruise ships cruising with crew only as they try to avoid the storm. Prayers for the crews as they try to avoid the storm.

 

[Capt_BJ]

Tampa can not handle any very large/mega ships because of the size of the channel leading to the port area.

actually it is the Sunshine Skyway bridge vs the height of the mast that is the limiter for Tampa

'larger' cargo ships come in, but typically they are not as tall as a similar length cruise ship

(stationed in St Pete with CG for both BLACKTHORN sinking and the bridge hit)

N.O. has a similar bridge height constraint . . .