Cruise passengers are often warned about the risk of crime at some ports of call. Yet, a recent Royal Caribbean cruise delay that left Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and fans stranded at sea draws attention to another hazard cruise passengers face at port: acts of nature.
The Journal of Meteorological Applications studied factors that could create hazards for the U.S. Navy fleet. The study was performed because hazardous weather is a concern to all ship captains. Strong winds, high waves, fog, and thunderstorms were cited as particularly hazardous to ships. These hazards are especially dangerous when ships near ports because ships are required to navigate around or under bridges and other structures. Additionally, because of the increased number of vessels near a port, there is a greater risk of collision with other vessels.
Let’s face it, it is inevitable that a cruise ship will encounter hazardous weather conditions either at sea or at port. The question is not if, but when, a ship will encounter severe weather. Yet, are cruise ships equipped to handle the worst of Mother Nature? This is a loaded question. We’ll let the facts speak for themselves.
In 2010, two passengers died and 14 people were injured when 26-foot-high waves crashed through the windows of the Louis Majesty cruise ship while the vessel was off the coast of Spain. Last year, an elderly passenger was killed after a huge wave hit the MS Marco Polo cruise ship, causing several windows to shatter. Sure, waves of this height are rare, and cruise ships avoid regions where these kinds of waves are present, but rare doesn’t mean impossible. Any meteorologist will tell you that the ocean is part of a dynamic system, and rare events can occur at sea. Large waves that appear to come out of nowhere are often referred to as ‘rouge waves’, and can reach heights around 100 feet.