Lightning strike on the NA last week

[AACJ]

On our embarkation day two Sundays ago, we took off it was raining pretty hard. While I was sitting on our balcony enjoying the rain and lightning storms, a bolt of lightning clapped to what appeared to me to be within 100 feet of the ship (we were on the port side, closer to aft). The thunder was IMMEDIATE and the hair on my arms were standing straight up.

 

About two minutes later, the Captain came on the loudspeaker and said lightning was close but did not hit the ship. About 4 or 5 minutes later, he came back on and said we did in fact take a lightning strike. He also said it took out one of the strings of lights that goes from the antenna area to the smoke stacks AND one of the satellite receivers was demolished.

 

The next day, we went up to the top deck a bit later and saw that the center receiver (one of those golf ball looking things on a golf tee on the top of the ship) was gone.

 

Pretty scary stuff!

[sapper1]

On our embarkation day two Sundays ago, we took off it was raining pretty hard. While I was sitting on our balcony enjoying the rain and lightning storms, a bolt of lightning clapped to what appeared to me to be within 100 feet of the ship (we were on the port side, closer to aft). The thunder was IMMEDIATE and the hair on my arms were standing straight up.

 

About two minutes later, the Captain came on the loudspeaker and said lightning was close but did not hit the ship. About 4 or 5 minutes later, he came back on and said we did in fact take a lightning strike. He also said it took out one of the strings of lights that goes from the antenna area to the smoke stacks AND one of the satellite receivers was demolished.

 

The next day, we went up to the top deck a bit later and saw that the center receiver (one of those golf ball looking things on a golf tee on the top of the ship) was gone.

 

Pretty scary stuff!

 

Wow, that certainly is scary. Since I doubt they keep the golf ball thingies as spare parts it will probably still be missing when we board on Dec 7th.

Thanks to your post we won't have to wonder where it disappeared to.

I'll make a point of checking for it.

[AACJ]

Wow, that certainly is scary. Since I doubt they keep the golf ball thingies as spare parts it will probably still be missing when we board on Dec 7th.

Thanks to your post we won't have to wonder where it disappeared to.

I'll make a point of checking for it.

Actually I was going to edit my post and state that as we were disembarking on Sunday three days ago, they were hoisting a new one up via a huge crane. Those things, the antennas, are very large!

[Spendogirl]

Scary indeed... I have yet to see a storm at sea with lightening. We sailed in a huge storm on the Zaandam on the way to Hawaii, however I would love to watch lightening "from a distance" while leisurely enjoying the balcony!:D

[sapper1]

Actually I was going to edit my post and state that as we were disembarking on Sunday three days ago, they were hoisting a new one up via a huge crane. Those things, the antennas, are very large!

 

Thanks for the update.

[zackiedawg]

That's the bad luck if the lightning happens to strike something electronic on the ship - antenna masts to radio systems or satellite arrays - the lightning will usually do a pretty good job of scrambling that piece of equipment...even with surge protection systems and lightning boxes on board. But generally, there's not much reason to fear lightning strikes at sea on cruise ships, unless you're immensely unlucky and close to the strike or holding onto bare metal where the charge is passing through. Big metal ships always have lightning masts and antenna masts and other collection points high on the ship, and the large metal frame of the ship will route the electrical energy down to the sea fairly harmlessly to all aboard. I've been on a ship that was struck, and it caused no damage at all in our particular case.

 

Now my house - that's another story. Living in Florida - the lightning capital of the U.S., in 30 years down here my house has been struck 5 times...3 of which came with damage to myriad electronics (TVs, VCRs, DVDs, lightbulbs, etc), and one which lit a tree on fire in the backyard. My office is in an even more storm-prone region of S. Florida, and we get a close (enough for damage or loss of power) or direct strike dozens of times throughout the summer, every year.

Edited November 18, 2014 by zackiedawg

[sapper1]

Actually I was going to edit my post and state that as we were disembarking on Sunday three days ago, they were hoisting a new one up via a huge crane. Those things, the antennas, are very large!

 

That's the bad luck if the lightning happens to strike something electronic on the ship - antenna masts to radio systems or satellite arrays - the lightning will usually do a pretty good job of scrambling that piece of equipment...even with surge protection systems and lightning boxes on board. But generally, there's not much reason to fear lightning strikes at sea on cruise ships, unless you're immensely unlucky and close to the strike or holding onto bare metal where the charge is passing through. Big metal ships always have lightning masts and antenna masts and other collection points high on the ship, and the large metal frame of the ship will route the electrical energy down to the sea fairly harmlessly to all aboard. I've been on a ship that was struck, and it caused no damage at all in our particular case.

 

Now my house - that's another story. Living in Florida - the lightning capital of the U.S., in 30 years down here my house has been struck 5 times...3 of which came with damage to myriad electronics (TVs, VCRs, DVDs, lightbulbs, etc), and one which lit a tree on fire in the backyard. My office is in an even more storm-prone region of S. Florida, and we get a close (enough for damage or loss of power) or direct strike dozens of times throughout the summer, every year.

Back in the days when I used to sail, our mast was grounded to the keel so that lightening would pass harmlessly to the water if the mast were to take a strike.

I only knew the theory and as I spent many a stormy night sleeping beside the mast down below, I used to hope and pray that what I had been told was true. You take a lot on faith in this life. :)

[solocanadian]

Thanks for posting. Interesting to see they got the antenna replaced at the end of your cruise. My first cruise in 1989 we experienced a bad thunder storm just off Curacao.

[sail7seas]

Interesting post. Thanks for sharing....

 

plenty scary.

 

[PathfinderEss]

I love hearing thunder and watching lightning when on the ship but not when it actually hits the ship. That can be kind of scary. Thanks for your post.

[mamaofami]

My daughter was coming home from South Beach, Florida that Sunday. The plane that was coming to pick them up and take them home was hit by lightening too. When it landed, it spent 4 hours on the ground while they inspected it to see if any damage had been done. None could be found, and they were able to board and fly home to Newark.

[Topsham]

June 1970. The BP tanker BRITISH ARCHITECT on passage in the Pacific during tank cleaning... and not yet gas free. Struck by lightning opened up the main deck as a sardine can! The ship was abandoned. Within a day the crew were rescued, but a small crew managed get the ship into port. Later to be repaired and back into service.

 

A year later I was on a large tanker, the WARWICK FORT. In the Indian Ocean... full cargo of crude oil was hit by lightning but thankfully but minimal damage.

[Lizzie68]

June 1970. The BP tanker BRITISH ARCHITECT on passage in the Pacific during tank cleaning... and not yet gas free. Struck by lightning opened up the main deck as a sardine can! The ship was abandoned. Within a day the crew were rescued, but a small crew managed get the ship into port. Later to be repaired and back into service.

 

A year later I was on a large tanker, the WARWICK FORT. In the Indian Ocean... full cargo of crude oil was hit by lightning but thankfully but minimal damage.

 

You're not making me feel better.:o Was just thinking of the thunder and lightening storm we had through the Panama this year - I love a good storm and was out on the balcony watching. Not so sure I would be as confident next time.

[Topsham]

Here are photos of the tanker BRITISH ARCHITECT 1970

[maxie99]

Here are photos of the tanker BRITISH ARCHITECT 1970

wow- :eek:

[Susie51]

I've seen lightning and water spouts from a distance while on a cruise. Nothing as scary as the ship being struck by lightning.

[freestyling]

Here are photos of the tanker BRITISH ARCHITECT 1970

 

That is scary

[0bnxshs]

You're not making me feel better.:o Was just thinking of the thunder and lightening storm we had through the Panama this year - I love a good storm and was out on the balcony watching. Not so sure I would be as confident next time.

 

That too is where we've seen thunderstorms close by, cruising through the Panama Canal. Made us feel right at home, actually. :)

Edited November 19, 2014 by 0bnxshs

[Topsham]

Don't swim the pool and don't stand beneath any palm trees!

[LandlockedColorado]

That's the bad luck if the lightning happens to strike something electronic on the ship - antenna masts to radio systems or satellite arrays - the lightning will usually do a pretty good job of scrambling that piece of equipment...even with surge protection systems and lightning boxes on board. But generally, there's not much reason to fear lightning strikes at sea on cruise ships, unless you're immensely unlucky and close to the strike or holding onto bare metal where the charge is passing through. Big metal ships always have lightning masts and antenna masts and other collection points high on the ship, and the large metal frame of the ship will route the electrical energy down to the sea fairly harmlessly to all aboard. I've been on a ship that was struck, and it caused no damage at all in our particular case.

 

Now my house - that's another story. Living in Florida - the lightning capital of the U.S., in 30 years down here my house has been struck 5 times...3 of which came with damage to myriad electronics (TVs, VCRs, DVDs, lightbulbs, etc), and one which lit a tree on fire in the backyard. My office is in an even more storm-prone region of S. Florida, and we get a close (enough for damage or loss of power) or direct strike dozens of times throughout the summer, every year.

 

 

Zackiedawg, I just viewed your photo gallery--absolutely fantastic photos!! You certainly have a wonderful talent.

 

LC

[zackiedawg]

Zackiedawg, I just viewed your photo gallery--absolutely fantastic photos!! You certainly have a wonderful talent.

 

Thank you LC - you're very kind.

 

 

I've seen lightning and water spouts from a distance while on a cruise. Nothing as scary as the ship being struck by lightning.

 

You mention water spouts...there is one thing actually a little more scary as the ship being stuck by lightning! Try getting hit with a microburst or tornadic winds on a ship! 14 stories of flat metal wall acts quite well as a sail when strong winds hit it directly - I was on the Carnival Jubilee about 20 years ago coming out of Puerto Vallarta and during the sailaway deck party when a strong microburst from a nearby thunderstorm slammed into the ship - it threw the ship hard over to starboard, leaning 20 degrees for about a minute before the captain steered into the winds and corrected. As with any cruise ship having a severe tilt, lots of stuff was broken all over the ship - but the looks on many passengers' faces after that show it might be more scary than lightning - some folks slept in the lounges and halls with life jackets on despite the captain's assurance the incident was weather related and was over. The ship's anemometer measured a wind speed of 117MPH, before it left the ship!

 

I was sitting in a chair on lido, and held onto a nearby pole as the chair and table I was seated at went sliding down to the opposite side of the ship, along with the water from the pool and all the food trays and tables from the deck party. I figured it was a wave at first, except we stayed at that angle for quite some time, and then I noticed deck chairs from the sun deck above were flying off the boat...that's when I knew it was strong winds. The casino was ruined - some of the slots came unmoored. Bars were emptied of glasses and bottles, furniture was all over the place. The stairways at midship were soaked because much of the swimming pool water that came out of the pool ended up sloshing into the enclosed lido and down the stairway. Quite a mess!

[LandlockedColorado]

OhMyGosh, Zackiedawg, I can't imagine going through something like that:eek::eek::eek:... If that had happened to me on one of my first several cruises, I'm not sure I would have had the courage to get on another ship, esp if I had been on an open deck, balcony, etc. Am a little surprised that no one went overboard, esp if they had been leaning against a railing on the "down" side.

 

Wishing everyone at sea calm seas (and quiet winds),

LC

[POA1]

Thanks for the post. They were restringing the lights the other day. Everything seems to be in working order.

[Topsham]

This was posted in 2005 by someone named 'Ben'. I'm sure he won't mind. Thanks.

 

"s.s. ROTTERDAM in Tsunami.It happen almost to the s.s. Rotterdam 5 in 1977 (i believe) On here world cruise and sailing to Cassablanca (Marroc) It was calm sea. When she was struck by a tsunami.

The giant wave acording to captain van Herk was higher thene where they standing (on the bridge) whene the freak wave smached the Rotterdam the ship listed very badly buth was swong back to the right possition. Affraid off anothere wafe and losing power the swung the ship around and canselled the call at Cassablanca. happaly this happen at night and most passengers and crew where at sleep.

 

Buth upper bunks thorn frome the wall passengers and crew fall out off bed. There where miner causelty's some broken and brussed limps. The ship herself was a mess. The site where the wave struck all deck charis where broken in peaces as small as matches many landed in the lido pool. All light bulps have to repalced. Inside the ship the grand piano in the Ritz Carlton was totally opside down furniture was flying throughout the ship. Broken glass every where. whene this freak wave was struck at daylight it would have been very very badly with badly heart passengers and at worst deads.

 

The Rotterdam herself was as strong and safe as ever due to here strong design...... Later there was reports that there was a earthquike in the eara where the Rotterdam sailed."

 

 

 

 

More:-

 

One couple..the wife flew out of her bed and landed onto the husband's bed.

 

The husband said later, "First time Agnes had been in my bed for more than thirty years!":eek:

[AACJ]

Thanks for the post. They were restringing the lights the other day. Everything seems to be in working order.

 

My pleasure, I am happy to hear everything is as back to normal on your cruise as it can get. I have some souvenirs from the strike, when the antenna and lights were demolished, they cleaned up as best they could but there is always some debris left over.....I have a few pieces of a light socket and some of the antenna debris as well. Hope they don't mind me keeping it.