nick austin Archives - Maritime Shipping News

Above-average hurricane season nearing peak months

29 July 2021

2021 hurricane season outlook

The Atlantic waters are heating up, and peak hurricane season is almost upon us. Carriers and shippers should be on alert this hurricane season, as tropical storm activity is expected to be above average.

Between 1991 and 2020, the average number of named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) per year was 14.4, but this year is expected to have 20, according to Colorado State Tropical Weather and Climate Research. As of July 7, researchers there were calling for...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/above-average-hurricane-season-nearing-peak-months

Scores of container ships waiting to transit Suez Canal

24 March 2021

Speculation is swirling that wind blew one of the world’s largest container ships off course and caused it to be lodged between the banks of the Suez Canal.

Social media also was flooded Wednesday with varying reports on the status of the Ever Given, which ran aground Tuesday morning.

What is certain is that dozens of ships are waiting to transit the roughly 119-mile-long canal. Fifty ships on average use the canal between the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/scores-of-container-ships-waiting-to-transit-suez-canal

High winds pose invisible threat

4 March 2021

Semi-trucks and sailboats have a few things in common. The gleaming aluminum and steel trailers that dot the highways parallel ships at sea with large, white sails; both chart their courses, head for open routes and find themselves at the mercy of the winds.

Although large and monumentally heavy, tractor-trailers, too, struggle with buoyancy in high winds. It can be both a friend and foe on open waters, but wind is virtually always a threat to those navigating overland routes, especially when...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/high-winds-pose-invisible-threat

Storm cleanup to cause Louisiana rail shippers some delay

28 August 2020

The nation’s Class I railroads expect to have service restored this weekend on tracks serving the ports and industrial facilities on the Gulf Coast between Houston and New Orleans.

Hurricane Laura, packing 120 mph winds when it made landfall early Thursday morning, caused significant damage in the Lake Charles, Louisiana, area.

Union Pacific (UP) (NYSE: UNP) said Friday it is still clearing away storm-related debris from several of its track lines through southern Louisiana.

“We continue to work...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/storm-cleanup-to-cause-louisiana-rail-shippers-some-delay

Tropical Storms Marco, Laura on dual path toward Louisiana

23 August 2020

Tropical Storms Laura, Marco barrel toward Louisiana

Tropical Storms Marco and Laura continue to gain strength Sunday as they barrel toward the Gulf of Mexico, with Marco nearing hurricane strength, with both storms expected to make landfall in Louisiana.

Marco will make landfall in the U.S. first, according to Nick Austin, director of weather analytics and senior meteorologist for FreightWaves.

Tropical Storm Marco is the 13th named storm of the hurricane season, matching the record for the most number of tropical storms before September,...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/tropical-storms-marco-laura-on-dual-path-toward-louisiana

Hawaii shipping braces for Hurricane Douglas

25 July 2020

Hurricane Douglas, the first eastern Pacific hurricane of the year, is expected to sweep across the Hawaiian Islands between Saturday evening and Sunday, bringing potentially damaging wind, according to FreightWaves meteorologist Nick Austin.

In addition to the high winds, FreightWaves and other weather forecasters warn that the storm brings the potential of flash floods and heavy surf to the islands.

The state’s population has been urged to shelter in place during the storm.

The storm has also...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/hawaii-shipping-braces-for-hurricane-douglas

Hurricane season heats up – responding to a big one

2 July 2020

Believe it or not, hurricane season is well underway, which means it’s time to keep a close eye on the weather. The Atlantic hurricane season started in June and continues through the end of November; this roughly six-month timeframe presents many opportunities for a storm to wreak havoc on economies and entire infrastructures of coastal communities large and small.

Motor carriers and independent drivers operating within Hurricane Alley need to plan prior to the landfall of a costly storm and...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/hurricane-season-heats-up-responding-to-a-big-one