How windy does it have to be to dock a ferry?

HedgeHunter

Tuesday night from Portsmouth isn't looking great is it?

littlereddevil

Very very windy I should think.
I have sailed sometimes in horrendous gales in the North sea,up and down in my bunk and side to side against the wall!

Tarry

I've seen a ferry having to be toured in by tugs in a force 9, never realised how much power a little tug does have! It was the ferry we where due to go on last December, and we watched it get toured in and helped dock by the tugs. It took 3 attempts to get the ferry into dock at Dover. Very rough crossing unsurprisingly, and GOOD LUCK, I hate stormy crossings, with the crazy rock and rolling and the up and down!

Did you hear about the ferry in Hull that couldn't dock? But that was because they didn't have any tugs apparently which is not good.

vax2002

a lot of docking problems are not the wind, it is the storm surge that is created by the wind, it pushes on the water and raises the level, the ferry can not dock if the water in the dock is 6 feet higher than normal.

Alan_Bowen

Well North Sea Ferries, sorry showing my age, P & O were unable to dock in Hull last Thursday and sailed around in circles from 0900 to 1700 before it was deemed safe to get into the locks in Hull. Portsmouth is better because the terminal is sheltered in the harbour, I suspect boarding won't be the problem, it will be sailing past the entrance and into the Solent, it looks as though the wind may be westerly which will hit you as you sail past Gosport and Gunwharf Quays. December isn't the best time for ferries anywhere, nor, as I speak from recent experience, flying in small jets!

Tarry

yes, it was a December I had my worse crossing ever and my crossing earlier this month was a bit choppy, but nothing that bad.

HedgeHunter

Im not having much luck, Seafrance went bust so I re-booked Portsmouth to Le Havre. A delay here would be a bit of a nightmare.

Tarry

You will probably get a delay if it's rough unfortunately. Good luck x

Bob_the_Saver

Depends, swell, wind direction, etc etc.

s_b

only rough crossing ive ever had was calais to dover in december so probably not a good month then
glad i wasnt marooned on the hull ferry either with its flag of inconveniance:D

EycplUK

Alan_Bowen wrote: »

Well North Sea Ferries, sorry showing my age, P & O were unable to dock in Hull last Thursday and sailed around in circles from 0900 to 1700 before it was deemed safe to get into the locks in Hull. Portsmouth is better because the terminal is sheltered in the harbour, I suspect boarding won't be the problem, it will be sailing past the entrance and into the Solent, it looks as though the wind may be westerly which will hit you as you sail past Gosport and Gunwharf Quays. December isn't the best time for ferries anywhere, nor, as I speak from recent experience, flying in small jets!

Sorry m8 but your a little out of kilt with the Docking bit !
It was the Rotterdam/Hull ship that could not dock because the swell was making the approach very dodgy ! and the tide was dropping making it double trouble as the berth they use is actually on the Humber itself !
The ship going through the Lock was the Zeebrugge/Hull service Pride of Bruge , 2 tugs were used to control the ferrys approach when through the lock as the wind was pushing the ship faster towards the docking berth .
Tied up at 9-15 am only 30 mins later than scheduled time , which given the conditions was very good :T
I know , I was on that ship