Adverse Weather - Considerations when in or near a Port Shipmasters must assess risks like vessel type, port conditions, and weather forecasts when facing adverse weather. Decisions to stay or sail should prioritise safety, with proper monitoring and adherence to regulations. Risk alerts Nahush Paranjpye Published: March 12, 2025 Contact author Download article pdf Introduction The decision to stay in port or to sail out to sea to ride out a storm is not always straightforward and requires careful consideration of factors such as location of the port/berth, its characteristics, its condition and operational status, intended or ongoing activities, local environmental conditions, and other influencing factors. Similarly, it is important to consider associated risks when vessels are near or approaching a port in adverse weather or where adverse weather conditions are forecast. This Risk Alert is intended to highlight some of these considerations from a loss prevention perspective. It should not be considered as displacing the Master’s obligations under the ISM Code, as the Master will always have the overall responsibility to make decisions with respect to safety and pollution prevention for the vessel.  Considerations As per the ISM code: “Master has the overriding authority and the responsibility to make decisions with respect to safety and pollution prevention and to request the Company's assistance as may be necessary”.  A shipmaster is expected to act reasonably in exercising their authority without placing the ship, its crew, cargo and the marine environment in a position of peril where the danger is known and can be avoided.  A ship might enter a port where conditions were safe at its entry but subsequently became unsafe due to an adverse weather forecast or warning. Similarly, situations may change close to a port arrival or departure.  Monitoring influencing factors is essential in deciding when to sail out from a port if adverse weather co