Storm forces halt ship piloting operations in Rauma as wind and wave heights peak

The port pilot station in Rauma was closely monitored by senior pilot Klaus Kauko as a severe storm swept through on Saturday. Ship piloting operations in Rauma were halted on Friday afternoon due to exceptionally harsh weather conditions. Kauko indicated that such situations occur about three to five times a year.

“Closing maritime traffic was an easy decision. The conditions were so severe that there was no room for doubt,” he explained. Pilots generally refrain from heading to the sea when the average wind speed is around 20 meters per second, and wave heights exceed 2.5 meters.

While it was theoretically possible for ships to be guided into port with the assistance of tugboats, Kauko noted that gaining access to ships at sea and safely disembarking in those wave conditions is challenging and even dangerous. On Saturday evening, the average wave height was estimated at approximately 6.5 meters, with maximum waves reaching 9 to 10 meters.

Kauko, with 15 years of experience as a pilot, highlighted that such wind intensity is quite unusual for the Gulf of Bothnia. He was also taken aback by the rapid onset of the storm, recalling that the weather was calm and pleasant around noon. “We were experiencing a lovely autumn day here, and by 8 to 10 PM, we were already facing a historical wind event.”

One ship failed to reach the dock in time and is now anchored off Rauma, waiting for the storm to subside. In rough seas, anchoring becomes ineffective, forcing the ship to navigate against the waves to ensure safety. Currently, there are three to four vessels in port awaiting sea passage. Conditions may improve enough after midnight to resume pilotage, although a new low-pressure system and winds are expected Sunday evening, necessitating the clearing of the backlog before the next storm arrives.