MS Stolt Surf - Wave Encounter

Wave Encounter

Built in 1970 at the yards of Eriksbergs, of Gothenburg, Sweden, the Stolt Surf joined the merchant fleet of Stolt-Nielsen Inc., one of the largest operators of parcel tankers in the world. She served for seven years without major incident.

The Stolt Surf departed Singapore on 4 October 1977, on a routine voyage across the Pacific Ocean to Portland, in the United States. A storm was brewing out in the Pacific. The advice from the weather routing agency was to keep far to the north, to avoid a developing storm to the south. Despite being contrary to his experience and instinct, the Stolt Surf’s Captain Oddenes decided to follow their advice. This proved to be a mistake, when by 20 October the Stolt Surf encountered an enormous cyclone. Whilst battling through waves in excess of the usual 10 metre height, she encountered at least one 'freak wave', which towered above the tanker, reaching a height of at least 22 metres and rising above the height of the bridge deck. Several times waves crashed over the bridge itself. Chief engineer Karsten Petersen took a number of pictures of the storm, which recorded several features distinct to freak waves, namely deep troughs and waves so tall that they break.

The breaking wave crashing onto the deck and superstructure of the Stolt Surf caused considerable damage. Three of the tank hatches and the door to the pump room were torn off, despite their strong construction. The pipelines running across the decks were bent and the gangways were tossed over the deck and wrecked. Steam pipes and electric cables were torn and ruptured, whilst the wave smashed a number of windows and port holes. Flooding entered the ship, smashing the furniture and tearing off bulkhead panelling. Despite the severe damage, there were no serious injuries, and only one sailor was subsequently hospitalised. The Stolt Surf was fortunate in that her engines remained operational, and the ship was able to remain with her stern into the waves. Had she lost headway, the storm would have forced her to turn sideways into the oncoming waves, where she risked being hulled or capsized, particularly if she encountered another rogue wave. The Stolt Surf limped into port a week later on 26 October. The Stolt Surf’s name was perpetuated in a new tanker built for Stolt-Nielsen and launched in 2000.