A current shift near the Port of Tacoma almost got me

I was working a hull clean on a container ship and the pull from the outflow was way stronger than the charts showed. My umbilical got pinned against a sea chest grate for a good 30 seconds before I could work it free. Anyone else have close calls with unexpected currents in that area?

3 comments

3 Comments

ryan6531mo ago

Charts calling that outflow "moderate" is like calling a hurricane a stiff breeze. They must base it on the water moving on a calm Tuesday in 1998. Getting your umbilical pinned is the stuff of bad dreams, man.

the_joel1mo ago

Man, the charts for that spot are basically just a SUGGESTION. That outflow will grab you like it's trying to get a hug. Heard a guy last year say his light got sucked right off his helmet. Glad you got your umbilical free, that's a bad place to get stuck.

roseb471mo ago

Wait his light got pulled off? That's not just a strong current, that's like a full on vacuum. I've had my mask ripped off before but losing a helmet light means the force is way beyond what anyone expects. Those charts are worse than useless if they don't warn you about that. It sets people up to get wrecked.