gCaptain - Maritime & Offshore » waterspout

Waterspout Causes Liftboat to Capsize Off Louisiana Coast

Mike Schuler — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:33:45 +0000

Image via WeatherVortex.com

A Hercules Offshore (NASDAQ:HERO) liftboat capsized last week after it was struck by multiple waterspouts off the coast of Louisiana. Hercules Offshore says its liftboat, the Starfish, a 140-class liftboat, was struck and capsized late in the evening on September 30 at Ship Shoal Block 116, approximately 30 miles southwest of Port Fourchon, LA.

According to Hercules’ statement, five crewmembers on board evacuated the vessel and were rescued shortly after the incident. The crewmembers were treated for minor injuries and released from a Houma, Louisiana hospital.

Shortly after the incident, the Company mobilized a nearby liftboat to the location to monitor the condition of the vessel and to coordinate the salvage efforts, which have already commenced.

Check out this video of a waterspout captured on film off Singapore.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Waterspouts in Novorossiysk

Monkey Fist — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:06:08 +0000

There was an awful waterspout the other day in Novorossiysk.

more pics on English Russia »

Waterspouts – Tornadoes At Sea

tim — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:11:42 +0000

When tornado’s strike over sea they are known as Waterspouts. The Florida Keys see the largest number of waterspouts per year with as many as 400 to 500 in a given season. In this video, captured last May, a rather large waterspout collides with a number of ships off the cost of Singapore.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Are waterspouts dangerous to ships?

A waterspout has a cloudy tube descending to the sea-surface. The sharp decrease in air-pressure inside the tube of a waterspout also explains why suction occurs when one is present. For this reason, as soon as the tube of a waterspout breaks contact with the sea-surface, all of the water being carried is dumped, falling to earth. A waterspout is capable of lifting and carrying particles of sand, water, stones, live sea creatures, and sometimes, people, roofs of houses, etc. All of these can be carried long distances. Waterspouts often cause some destruction at coastal beaches, frequently killing people. If a vessel at sea encounters a waterspout, it is a dangerous situation. oceansatlas.com

Cool Links

Twin Waterspouts – Video

gCaptain Staff — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 15:20:16 +0000

Perfectly Dangerous – A Waterspout At Sea

John Konrad — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:32:07 +0000

Robin Storm points us to this photo of this spectacular waterspout off New Zealand’s Kapiti Coast. Be sure to check out the photo slideshow and article and stay tuned for Robin’s upcoming Severe Weather segment on our podcast.

Here is video via Stuff.nz: