American Club Member Alert (September 21, 2020) Re Vessels transiting, and calling at Ports in areas affected by Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones: Safety considerations
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020
VESSELS TRANSITING, AND CALLING AT PORTS IN, AREAS AFFECTED BY HURRICANES, TYPHOONS AND CYCLONES: SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
Members may recall that, almost exactly two years ago (on September 14, 2018 in fact), the Club issued an Alert on considerations for the safety of vessels in the vicinity of hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones. In light of heightened cyclonic activity in recent weeks across the world, reference to such considerations may be regarded as timely.
As previously noted, the peak season for hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones in the northern hemisphere occurs between July and October. Vessels trading in regions affected by these extreme weather events are clearly exposed to additional physical risks. They include:
5. increased silting of berths creating reduced under-keel clearance.Given these risks, vessels’ masters should be advised to exercise elevated alertness, and be prepared to deploy preventive measures, including:
6. monitoring by vessel personnel of pier sides to obviate the possibility of the vessel causing damage to piers, and to check whether pier bollards are capable of handling the higher stresses on mooring lines;7. where possible, the taking of photographic evidence of the condition of a berth before and after storm periods;
