Why do ships go out to sea in a hurricane?

“The safest place for a ship is out to sea and as far away from the storm as possible.” Ships are built with hardened steel, but if left tied up to the dock, they can be easily damaged as waves push them against concrete pilings. If a ship were to break loose from the dock, it would turn into a floating wrecking ball.



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The ship must keep its bow (the front end) pointing into the waves to plow through them safely, since a massive wave striking the ship's side could roll the vessel over and sink it. Wind and waves will try to turn the vessel, and pushing against them requires forward momentum.

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In a dire scenario, a cruise ship could sink in a hurricane. But before you cancel all your future cruise plans, know this: it's highly unlikely. Cruise ships are built like fortresses. They boast stability, seaworthiness, and a bucket-load of safety features to help them ride out even the angriest storms.

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You'll be ok. The ship will change itinerary to avoid the hurricane. So you might go to different ports but you will be safe. If the return port is closed they will extend your cruise for free.

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The reality of the situation is that there is no scientific or meteorological correlation that determines whether a storm makes landfall at night or during the day. In fact, over the past four season, most of the hurricanes have made landfall during the day.

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