By: Tue Lippert
Freak waves can be predicted.
The Risk of Freak Waves can be predicted and circumnavigated.
Onboard system SeaPlanner from March 3rd 2010 showing the risk of Freak Waves in the Mediterranean Sea.
The risk of Freak Waves that occasionally meet ships and cruise liners at sea can be predicted and circumnavigated. The actual wave or set of waves cannot be predicted but an area with high probability of meeting a Freak Wave can be defined and thus avoided.
The tools for circumnavigating areas with a high risk of Freak Waves are available to the industry and using classic Weatherrouting or the onboard Weatherrouting system SeaPlanner it is possible to increase overall safety at sea and save lives.
A Freak Wave is an extreme wave defined as being more than two times the height of the average (significant) waves in the area. The waves are very steep with a deep trough before the crest and are by Seamen often described as meeting “a wall of water”.
For more information please see http://weatherrouting.dk/fileadmin/PDF_Filer/SeaPlanner.pdf
or contact DMI Maritime Service.
