How vulnerable are oil tankers to hurricanes? That was the question Rigzone posed to Aaron Roth, principal and head of federal strategy at security risk management company the Chertoff Group, during an exclusive interview.
In response, Roth told Rigzone that hurricanes present risk to the entire maritime community.
“There is no ‘safe harbor’ during a hurricane,” Roth warned.
“The best place for any large vessel is out at sea far away from the hurricane. The energy sector, and especially oil tankers, can be acutely impacted by disruptions from the severe weather,” he added.
“Like other mariners, oil tankers must take evasive action at sea to avoid hurricanes for the safety of the crew, vessel, and cargo,” he continued.
When asked if there is anything oil tankers can do to mitigate the effects of hurricanes, Roth said the sheer size of tankers provides some relief when it comes to handling heavy seas but added that there is no easy answer when it comes to dealing with a hurricane.
“Ships must go out to sea far away from the hurricane winds and heavy sea state,” he said.
“The best approach is to get as far away as possible from the hurricane, but if you are forced to pick a side of the storm, choose the left or ‘clean side’ if the storm is on a northerly track,” he added.
Roth also warned in the interview that “we have seen the tragic impact of not avoiding hurricanes with the El Faro in 2015”.
This story was published in Rigzone on October 3, 2024. Read the full article here.
Aaron Roth leads the Federal Strategy & Security practice at The Chertoff Group. He is an expert in Federal Business Development, Security and Maritime issues. Roth retired from the US Coast Guard after 24 years of service as a captain.
