Guidelines for Health and Safety on Board Small Fishing Boats

Dangers in extreme seas

Severe seas of any kind are dangerous if you are not prepared. You should take special care in the following situations.

In beam seas, excessive roll can cause cargo to shift, creating a dangerous list. This could cause the vessel to capsize. Strong breaking waves could also capsize the vessel.

In following seas, a vessel may lose stability on a wave crest. If the vessel is overtaken by a wave crest, broaching may occur.

In quartering seas, the problems of beam and following seas are combined. Quartering seas represent the most dangerous situation in severe weather.