Entering Areas with Bad

Weather/Heavy Weather
Damages
According to ships contingency plan
Obtain information

Surface analysis by the weather fax frequency

Navtex
Radiotelephony (securite)
Other form of communication equipment
Inmarsat-C
MF/HF
First Things First

The necessity and

considering to REDUCE
SPEED.
To avoid such things as:

Bottom slamming
Bow flare slamming
Breaking wave impact
Damages might affect to the hull, cargoes and any
structure of the ship.
To avoid too much stress exert in the vessel.
Drifting ashore in coastal waters or
estuaries
Immediate actions:
Make sure that all ventilation covers on main deck. Forecastle and
poop deck are closed. (in general all which can be torn off in
heavy seas)
Secure anchors
Secure chain lockers
Check the container lashings/consider extra lashings
Check tightness of the hatch covers
Check all stores, secure equipment and stores
Close all port holes
Check lashings of life saving equipment
Check life jackets and survival suits
Further actions:
Report immediately to the official parties/flag state(in consultation
with the office)
Consider to lower both anchors to slow down drifting
Use engine to slow down drifting
Report drifting conditions and forecast
Check type of shore you are drifting on
Report the risk of pollution.
Assistance checklist:
Report immediately to the official parties/flag state(in consultation
with the office).
Consider towage or salvage.

Proceeding checklist:
Consider risk of sinking, breaking apart and explosion.
Consider the opportunity of abandoning the ship/rescue.
Heavy sea-entering ports, estuaries
and channels

Immediate actions:
Check the storage space/paint locker in the forecastle.
Close all port holes
Check in advance location of pilot pick up
Check the procedure with port or estuary (traffic control)
Check draft, water depth and swell conditions
Check list and trim conditions
Immediate actions:
Check the draft increase due to rolling.
Consider steering conditions due to reduced speed
Consider the use of (bow) thruster
Consider the channel (entrance) width in comparison to ships
length and compensation and for wind and currents.
Consider displacement of buoys due to wind and current
Check the traffic in the channel and entrance

Further Actions:
Check for shoals, banks and reefs.

Assistance Checklist:
Please check the possibility of tug assistance.
Safety Reminder to all the crew:

During bad weather NO ONE

is allowed to go out outside
the accommodation without
approval.