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Home » Consumer Information » Hurricanes

Facing a Hurricane at Sea

Any ship captain or crew member will tell you that the last place you want to be during a hurricane is in a boat on the water. It is, however, sometimes inevitable that a vessel will be at sea when a tropical cyclone forms. The best way to deal with being caught in that situation is to take every step available to avoid the hurricane and keep as far away from it as possible.

Utilizing onboard equipment

Ideally, any ship will carry forecasting charts that are produced by the Marine Prediction Center & Tropical Prediction Center. These charts will help sailors to understand how a hurricane might move, and therefore predict the direction a storm will move in so they can be sure to avoid it. Ships that have the right equipment can also receive digital images of the hurricane and use them to analyze the route it will most likely take as it moves across the sea. It is advisable for ship captains to have two potential courses planned at all times when at sea during a hurricane, so you have a back up route in case the storm changes course unexpectedly.

The rule of 1-2-3

This is a simple guideline that is designed to help sailors remember how much distance they need to keep from a hurricane in order to be safe. The rule states the following:

  1. A 24-hour hurricane forecast calls for a distance of 100 miles away from the storm.
  2. A 48-hour hurricane forecast calls for a distance of 200 miles away from the storm.
  3. A 72-hour hurricane forecast calls for a distance of 300 miles away from the storm.

Utilizing this simple policy will help keep any ship at sea safe during hurricane season.

Leaving or returning to port

A ship's captain must decide whether or not it is wise to leave or return to port when a hurricane is active. With enough advance warning, it is a good idea to remove a ship from its port when a storm is brewing nearby so it can be stored in a safer location. However, if a storm is close, it is best not to set out from port.

Any hurricane that is up to 100 nautical miles away from a dock site can potentially be very dangerous, so sailors that are considering returning to port must take that into consideration before making a final decision about whether to return home or go elsewhere. A storm front that is too close could destroy the vessel, and the best option may be to sail away from the storm, and dock at another port until the hurricane dissipates.

The most important thing to remember if you are at sea when a hurricane forms is to take every possible step to keep as much distance between your boat and the storm as possible. Avoid the path of the hurricane at all costs. It is better to delay a trip and get home safely another day then to take the risk of sailing into a hazardous environment.

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