Freak waves: just bad luck, or avoidable?

Coast Guard sends help to stalled 'Semester at Sea' ship A 50-foot wave smashed through the bridge windows of the 591foot MV Explorer around 2:30 p.m., pouring saltwater over electrical components on board and disabling all four of its engines, officials said. FEBRUARY 14,2005 Giant wave hits cruise ship A rescue operation has been carried out in the Mediterranean after a cruise liner issued distress signals off the coast of Minorca. The ship was hit by ferocious waves that smashed windows on the bridge as the ship was sailing from Tunis to Barcelona. The spokesman said water poured in, knocking out electric power, stopping the engine and leaving the ship adrift with no communications, (www.itv.com) APRIL 16,2005 'Freak' wave rocks cruise 'Norwegian Dawn, an opulent ocean liner almost 1,000 feet long, limped into Charleston, S.C., yesterday afternoon after it hit vicious seas in an overnight storm off Florida -then was creamed by the rogue wave after dawn." (NY Daily News)