SUB-COMMITTEE ON STABILITY AND LOAD LINES AND ON ...

Ref.: 391/09 and 520/09
BSU
Bundesstelle für Seeunfalluntersuchung
Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation
3.2.2 Weather report
The BSU requested an official report on the wind and sea conditions in the South
China Sea between Hong Kong and the scene of the accident from the Maritime
Division of Germany's National Meteorological Service (DWD) for the period from
1200 on 14 September 2009 to 1000 on 15 September 2009. The report contains the
following summary.
The weather situation was marked by a tropical low pressure system, which on the
evening of 13 September 2009, at about position 20° N and 118° E, was referred to
as a tropical storm named KOPPU. The path of the intensifying storm system
showed west-north-west and typhoon status (mean wind speed >63 knots) was
reached during the course of 14 September 2009. At a distance of about 60 nm in a
SSW direction, the centre of KOPPU was at its closest to the position of CCNI
GUAYAS at about 2000. The typhoon reached its peak just off the coast at a position
of about 21.5° N and 113° E at approximately 0600 on 15 September 2009.
Hong Kong
Figure 5: Wave heights and periods
The wave heights and wave periods for the sea area around Hong Kong at 0100
local time on 14 September 2009 are shown on the above chart.
As a result of the path, the wind turned right in relation to the position 22° N 114.5° E.
Based on the reports of a vessel in close proximity and shore stations, the expected
significant wave height of the swell was estimated:
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