Boating Safety Tips for Severe Weather While You are Out at Sea

Severe weather is a frequent hazard in the fishing, maritime and shipping industries. Even an experienced captain and crew can be caught up in inclement weather, despite advanced tools to track and chart weather patterns and potential danger zones.

Below are eight safety tips for when inclement weather – including everything from a lightning storm to fog – strikes while you or your vessel are out to sea.

Safety Tip 1 – Ensure All Aboard Are Wearing a Personal Flotation Device

Everyone, including crew and passengers, should don a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD) at the first sign of inclement weather. Do not wait until the seas become rough to enforce this mandate.

Safety Tip 2 – Limit the Water Taken Aboard

Smaller vessels – such as towing or tour boats – should take steps to minimize the amount of water taken aboard in rough seas.

Reduce the odds of swamping by closing:

• hatches;
• windows;
• doors; and
• any other opening prone to water intrusion.

Safety Tip 3 – Cease Non-Essential Work Functions

All non-essential crew should be taken off duty until the weather threat has passed. Asking maritime workers to labor during dangerous conditions constitutes a safety threat and a serious liability issue.

Safety Tip 4 – Alert Others to Your Presence

Heavy fog can make it difficult to see other vessels, particularly smaller boats. Sound a foghorn at frequent intervals as an audio cue to approaching vessels. Ensure all vessel lights are in use according to prescribed industry standards and U.S. Coast Guard regulations for your specific size and type of vessel.

Safety Tip 5 – Know When to Head Ashore

A vessel may head ashore in inclement weather provided it is not already “caught in the storm.” When doing so, approach shore or the nearest port by traveling at a 45-degree angle to the wind. Reduce speed to match wave speed so as to reduce stress on the hull and other crucial structural components.

Safety Tip 6 – Secure All Loose Objects

Well in advance of rough seas secure loose:

• ties;
• lines;
• fishing equipment; and
• all other items.

Stow smaller objects away and lash down larger items. Failure to do so may result in serious injury to a crewmember or passenger.

Safety Tip 7 – Protect Passengers and Crew

Send passengers and non-essential crew below deck or inside the cabin. If on an open vessel, all aboard should be seated low and to the center of the boat. This also serves to protect passengers in the event of an electrical storm.

Safety Tip 8 – Prepare all Safety Equipment

Ensure all emergency equipment – including flares and other signaling devices – are within easy reach. Continue to monitor for weather updates from the U.S. Coast Guard using channel 16 (marine VHF).

Find other safety information by visiting our blog. Order crucial vessel logs – such as crew and passenger manifests and more – online or by calling My Vessel Logs at (888) 468-3757.