Another Storm Season Begins

Heavy weather significantly disrupts maritime operations, increasing risks, costs, and delays for both ships and ports. Vessels face:

• Higher fuel consumption,
• Mechanical strain,
• Potential hull or cargo damage.

Ports often suspend pilotage and cargo handling due to unsafe conditions, leading to congestion and demurrage. These disruptions raise insurance claims, reduce schedule reliability, and inflate operational expenses. For shipowners and port operators alike, severe weather amplifies financial exposure, environmental impact, and safety hazards, underscoring the importance of accurate forecasting, weather routing, and resilient port infrastructure.

Barry discusses some of the hidden effects of heavy weather on ships and how operations can be affected by this adverse weather.