NAVIGATING THE INDIAN MONSOON SEASON: UAE’S ADVANTAGE FOR VESSELS & PORTS

The Indian monsoon season is a particularly concerning part of the year for vessel owners in India, particularly on the west coast of the county. In total, regions in west and south India get something close to 90% of their annual rainfall from June to September, which is the period the Indian monsoon season typically hits.

What’s more, the Indian monsoon season is becoming more damaging than ever for vessel owners. Since 1996, above-normal rains have come to the west of the country during the monsoon season, plus vessels have been battered for longer, with the monsoon season finishing later than ever before – it’s not unusual for the rains to continue until mid-October.

Vessel owners in south and west India will look at their north-eastern compatriots with some jealousy. In the NE of the country, the monsoon season brings steady winds that are conducive to sailing, but this isn’t the case in the SW. Instead, south-westerners will need to contend with a ferocity of wind and rain rarely seen elsewhere on earth, making taking to the sea dangerous at best, and impossible at worst.

Many choose to shelter their vessels off the Indian coast, where they’re incapacitated for months and still under considerable threat. Instead, savvier owners relocate their vessels elsewhere, with Umm Al Quwain – just over 1,000 miles from Mumbai – offering perfect refuge during the Indian monsoon season.

But why is Umm Al Quwain such a good choice for Indian vessel owners looking for sheltered anchorage during the monsoon season? And why do many choose Umm Al Quwain over other countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council? Find out the answers, plus much more, on this page.

The Indian Monsoon Season and its Impact on Vessels

As you might expect, the Indian monsoon season has a huge impact on vessels in the south and west of the country. In Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mangaluru, and more, vessels are moored up and owners simply hope the wind and rain won’t cause too much damage to their vessels. Often, it’s not even possible to conduct work aboard vessels during the season, preventing important maintenance, which must instead be done outside the monsoon – the time when the vessels could be working.

Of course, the impact on vessels has a direct impact on the owners of the vessels. Without being able to sail, all forms of income dry up. In fact, many of the crew members will go without work, instead heading back to their towns and villages further inland until the monsoon season breaks. This has a huge economic impact on owners and crew.

These challenges can be overcome in Umm Al Quwain, and many vessel owners choose to anchor or dry dock their vessels here. By shifting the base of operations for the season, vessels can often continue working, plus maintenance and refurbishment is possible.