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Freak Waves May Be Sinking Ships Off The Coast Of Japan

Date:
January 31, 2009
Source:
American Geophysical Union
Summary:
On 23 June 2008, the Suwa Maru No. 58, a fishing boat with 20 crew members, sank in seemingly moderate sea conditions of Cape Inubosaki, Japan. Reports from the investigators indicated that although reported wave heights were between 2 and 3 meters (6.5 and 9.8 feet), the ship may have encountered abnormal waves twice, sinking the ship about 10 minutes after being hit by the initial wave.
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On 23 June 2008, the Suwa Maru No. 58, a fishing boat with 20 crew members, sank in seemingly moderate sea conditions of Cape Inubosaki, Japan.

Reports from the investigators indicated that although reported wave heights were between 2 and 3 meters (6.5 and 9.8 feet), the ship may have encountered abnormal waves twice, sinking the ship about 10 minutes after being hit by the initial wave.

Other possibilities, such as improper use of an anchor or an encounter with an unidentified submerged object, were suggested, but no definitive conclusion has been reached as to why the Suwa Maru sank. Noting that a number of ships have been wrecked in this region, which is notorious for abnormal waves, Tamura et al. seek to determine the state of the sea at the time of the shipwreck.

Using a hindcast wave simulation using a model driven by wind and ocean current, the authors find that at the time of the accident wave steepness increased and waves became long crested, creating a sea state favorable for freak wave occurrence.

Under the influence of rising wind speed, the swell system grew exponentially, dangerously churning the waters and creating a freakish sea state.


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Materials provided by American Geophysical Union. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Tamura et al. Freakish sea state and swell-windsea coupling: Numerical study of the Suwa-Maru incident. Geophysical Research Letters, 2009; 36 (1): L01607 DOI: 10.1029/2008GL036280

Cite This Page:

American Geophysical Union. "Freak Waves May Be Sinking Ships Off The Coast Of Japan." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 31 January 2009. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128183927.htm>.
American Geophysical Union. (2009, January 31). Freak Waves May Be Sinking Ships Off The Coast Of Japan. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128183927.htm
American Geophysical Union. "Freak Waves May Be Sinking Ships Off The Coast Of Japan." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128183927.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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