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Topic: Rogue Waves

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 02-18-2009 10:08 PM

Were there any North Americans who caught the "Rogue Waves" sequence on ( I believe) "History Channel" last night?

As the narrator glibly stated. "It is only a matter of time before a cruise ship is sunk by one." It gave one pause, considering the known record, photos and such.

New stuff.

Posts: 2149 | From: St. Michaels MD USA , the town that fooled the British! | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 02-19-2009 07:17 AM

Yes, I saw it. Interesting. Several ships have been struck by rogue waves. SS Rotterdam on a WC just off Alexandria in the late '70's. I think QE2 also was struck in '95 on a crossing. Michelangelo suffered damage in the spring of '65 on a crossing to NYC. I am sure others can think of rogue wave encounters that I have not mentioned.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 02-19-2009 10:27 AM

Actually when I now think about it, I don't think Michelangelo was struck by a rogue wave. I recall it was an enormous wave among many others during a fierce North Atlantic storm.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 02-19-2009 10:38 AM

quote:
Originally posted by NAL:
Actually when I now think about it, I don't think Michelangelo was struck by a rogue wave. I recall it was an enormous wave among many others during a fierce North Atlantic storm.

...which would be a rogue wave.

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

timb
First Class Passenger
Member # 5901

posted 02-19-2009 10:47 AM

I seem to recall perhaps incorectly that QM 1 was hit while acting as a troop transport and rolled all the way to 50 degrees.

Posts: 437 | From: S FL | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 02-19-2009 01:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by timb:
I seem to recall perhaps incorectly that QM 1 was hit while acting as a troop transport and rolled all the way to 50 degrees.

I believe she was very prone to 'rolling'. I recall reading about a 45 degree roll, which must be very scary. That must feel like you are about to capsize.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Maasdam
First Class Passenger
Member # 3858

posted 02-19-2009 03:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by NAL:
Yes, I saw it. Interesting. Several ships have been struck by rogue waves. SS Rotterdam on a WC just off Alexandria in the late '70's. I think QE2 also was struck in '95 on a crossing. Michelangelo suffered damage in the spring of '65 on a crossing to NYC. I am sure others can think of rogue wave encounters that I have not mentioned.

NAL the Rotterdam was struck by a rogue wave approaching Casablanca.
Don't forget the SS Poseidon on here way to Israel, she going turtle only a view passengers survived. They made a movie about this tragic disaster

Greetings Ben.

Posts: 4695 | From: Rotterdam home of the tss. Rotterdam. | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 02-19-2009 03:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Maasdam:
[...]
Don't forget the SS Poseidon on here way to Israel, she going turtle only a view passengers survived. They made a movie about this tragic disaster
Greetings Ben.

You are kidding aren't you?

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Cunard Fan
First Class Passenger
Member # 7530

posted 02-19-2009 04:39 PM

quote:
Originally posted by timb:
I seem to recall perhaps incorectly that QM 1 was hit while acting as a troop transport and rolled all the way to 50 degrees.

Yes this is true.

I have read that she rolled over to about 53 degrees (dont quote me on that) and that had she rolled over just a few more degrees she would not have righted herself and would have capsized.

Luckly no one on board was killed (pretty amazing when you consider how many troops she was carrying at the time) but I believe some people did get injured.

Posts: 2327 | From: Pasadena just north of Queen Mary | Registered: Sep 2006 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 02-19-2009 07:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by timb:
I seem to recall perhaps incorectly that QM 1 was hit while acting as a troop transport and rolled all the way to 50 degrees.

The story I read about that WWII incident was that she was hit head on by a giant wave and while her bow was down another huge wave rolled up and over the forecastle. The forecastle was pushed completely under causing the 4-screws to come out of the water. Her captain thought she could have been lost but she of course she came back up and continued the crossing. I think the story was printed in 'Victory to Valhalla' which is an excellent book on the Cunarder.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

Cunard Fan
First Class Passenger
Member # 7530

posted 02-19-2009 09:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
The story I read about that WWII incident was that she was hit head on by a giant wave and while her bow was down another huge wave rolled up and over the forecastle. The forecastle was pushed completely under causing the 4-screws to come out of the water. Her captain thought she could have been lost but she of course she came back up and continued the crossing. I think the story was printed in 'Victory to Valhalla' which is an excellent book on the Cunarder.

Thats interesting. Everything I have read said it was a side on hit. Even a documentary about rouge waves that mentioned the Queen Mary incident, said it was side on.

Posts: 2327 | From: Pasadena just north of Queen Mary | Registered: Sep 2006 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 02-19-2009 09:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Cunard Fan:
Thats interesting. Everything I have read said it was a side on hit. Even a documentary about rouge waves that mentioned the Queen Mary incident, said it was side on.

The freak wave on top of the forecastle happened to QE during the war.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

Maasdam
First Class Passenger
Member # 3858

posted 02-19-2009 10:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ernst:
You are kidding aren't you?

YES

Greetings Ben.

Posts: 4695 | From: Rotterdam home of the tss. Rotterdam. | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

Johan
First Class Passenger
Member # 4458

posted 02-20-2009 03:28 AM

alll in all, freak waves do happen, are scary, but didn't really cause major damage to passenger liners - nothing to be afraid of then ?

Posts: 1895 | From: Antwerpen, Belgium | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

Maasdam
First Class Passenger
Member # 3858

posted 02-20-2009 04:22 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Johan:
alll in all, freak waves do happen, are scary, but didn't really cause major damage to passenger liners - nothing to be afraid of then ?
J

Johan I'm not so certain that there is no danger fore cruise ships. It's a fact that many ship losses are due to Rogue waves. Till today cruise ships have a near escape from disaster. Sooner or later it will happen that a cruise ship will be founded by a Rogue wave, with all the consequences that will bring.

Greetings Ben.

Posts: 4695 | From: Rotterdam home of the tss. Rotterdam. | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 02-24-2009 10:54 AM

I heard on the radio today that huge 60' waves were in the Bay of Biscay? Anyone else hear that??
F4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

greybeard
First Class Passenger
Member # 5284

posted 02-24-2009 12:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Frosty 4:
I heard on the radio today that huge 60' waves were in the Bay of Biscay? Anyone else hear that??
F4

Nothing approaching six feet today, let alone 60 feet.

See this wave forecast.

Posts: 587 | From: London | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

hilifta
First Class Passenger
Member # 14861

posted 03-03-2009 05:37 AM

Regarding "rogue waves". they are not rogue at all, and in fact are far more common than the press would have us beleive.
A liner has indeed been sunk by one.
Not a cruise liner, granted, but a passenger cargo liner. The vessel Waratah on her 2nd voyage and was lost off East London, Sth Africa in 1909 on her way from Australia to Europe.
There were no survivors.
Now this is a area that is notorious for Rogue waves due to the Aghulas current running down the African coast meeting the opposing winds coming up from the Antarctic.
This results in one wave super-imposing on another creating a deeper trough and a greater wave height. The ship drops into this trough and the wave dumps down on the ship.
There have been several notable victims of this, other than the Waratah, the Ben Line vessel Bencruachan (Google it for photos) had her back broken in the early 70's and managed to limp into Durban at a very odd angle.
The container ship Neptune Garnet ( Ithink thats the name) broke in half when almost brand new and lost her bow.
This is a very dangerous area, but these waves are certainly not confined to this area.

rgds/Mike

Posts: 15 | From: Auckland, New Zealand | Registered: Apr 2008 | IP: Logged

geno-er
First Class Passenger
Member # 4202

posted 03-03-2009 09:46 PM

Everytime I see one of those 3,000 pax. balcony ships I shudder to think what might happen.

Posts: 159 | From: Pocono's, Pa. | Registered: Oct 2003 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 03-09-2009 07:33 PM

I don't know if anyone has been following the voyage of Spirit of Mystery to Australia, but it's worth reading their blog of the "Knock-Down" on 8th March. Must have been terrifying.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 03-14-2009 10:38 AM

The bay of Biscay can be ferocious indeed.
Now and again, the press publishes stories from passengers onboard PRIDE OF BILBAO and PONT-AVEN cruiseferries.
They have to cross the Bay of Biscay and I have been on one such sailing!
It was operated by the short-lived Spanish Acciona and I soon understood why the swimming-pool never opened!
It happened whilst returning from Spain with the waves coming from behind.
The motion was worse next morning as we tried to reach the French Continental shelf.
It was a beautiful, clear morning, but the 200m long ferry was surfing in the huge swell.
Sometimes we rolled 20-30 degrees and it felt like 40 as it took a long time to roll back.
The pitch however increased as we reach the shallower waters near France.
Suddenly, in the afternnon, when we though we were over the worst, the ship took a very unsual attitude : nose up, up, up then dropped very hard, puching me out of my bed as I was enjoying a siesta!
I really thought that was the end as everything in the cabin went wayward, the a disturbing, dusty wind started to blow in the corridor.
The we hit a second time and the propellers must have been out of the water as they stopped after seemingly racing.
We were never told what happened, but it was very scary.
The following year, POBilbao couldn't get into Bilbao and had to hove about for days.
Much damage was done to cars when some actually fell from teh upper decks inside the garage!
Other reported a lorry that fell on its side crshing many cars...ouch!
The weather was clear, but the sea completely white and the wind lashing.

I tried to take some pictures, but the porthole, 60 ft high was constantly awash!so scared that no photos where taken as the shipshook violently who sails

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

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