Some insurance companies are excluding yachts mooring in Curaçao from the possibility of insuring them against damage caused by Tropical Cylones. This exclusion being applied to any location north of latitude 12º North.
There seems to be no scientific or meteorological explanation for taking this latitude as a fixed and stringent criterium, at least not with respect to te Caribbean. On the contrary, conditions for the development of Tropical Cyclones or the maintenance of Tropical Cyclone intensity in the region between the Venezuelan coast and 13º North, are known to be generally unfavourable. This is due to certain features that influence the climate in this so called "Southern Caribbean Dry Zone", which have been well documented.
Although Tropical Cyclones have been known to pass close to the island of Curaçao, two important features regarding these systems stand out quite clearly:
1. their low frequency of occurrence
2. their low intensity: only one major hurricane (Hazel 1954; Category 3) passed with its center within 75 nautical miles of Curaçao, but even then hurricane force winds did not reach the island.
Mean return periods for hurricane passing within 75 nautical miles of Curaçao are thus respectively:
- 46 years for category 1 hurricanes (64-82 knots)
- 100 years for category 2 hurricanes (83-96 knots)
- 170 years for category 3 hurricanes ( 97-112 knots)
- 360 years for category 4 hurricanes (113-134 knots)
- >500 years for category 5 hurricanes (> 134 knots)
Note: Passing within ... nautical miles always refer to the distance from the cyclone center to the island.
The hurricane classification used is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, wich is the standard and official classification used in the Atlantic Basin.
It should be taken into account, that Tropical Cyclones wich manage to maintain their storm or hurricane strength during their passage through the "Southern Caribbean Dy Zone", are relatively small systems with an associated raduis of damaging winds of often less than 75 nautical miles.
The table below shows known and recorded hurricanes that passed with their center within 75 nautical miles of Curaçao. For a more detailed history a copy of "Hurricanes of the Nehterlands Antilles" can be downloaded here.
| year |
date |
hour |
minimum |
storm |
name |
| |
|
(AST) |
distance (NM) |
intensity |
|
| 1784 |
- |
- |
lt 25 S |
hu |
- |
| 1831 |
June 24 |
0900 |
35 N |
hu |
- |
| 1877 |
Sep. 23 |
1130 |
lt 25 S |
hu |
- |
| 1886 |
Aug. 17 |
1800 |
lt 25 NNE |
100 mph |
- |
| 1887 |
July 21 |
1900 |
72 NE |
100 mph |
- |
| 1887 |
Dec. 9 |
1200 |
lt 25 NNW |
60 mph |
- |
| 1892 |
Oct. 7 |
2300 |
35 SSW |
100 mph |
- |
| 1897 |
Oct. 11 |
0400 |
72 N |
50 mph |
- |
| 1901 |
July 3 |
2000 |
50 N |
50 mph |
- |
| 1918 |
Aug. 23 |
1700 |
67 NNE |
80 mph |
- |
| 1932 |
Nov. 2 |
0800 |
48 N |
100 mph |
- |
| 1933 |
June 29 |
0600 |
lt 25 NE |
100 mph |
- |
| 1954 |
Oct. 7 |
1300 |
50 N |
120 mph |
Hazel |
| 1961 |
July 21 |
0100 |
38 NNW |
70 mph |
Anna |
| 1969 |
Aug. 29 |
1900 |
36 N |
30 mph |
Francelia |
| 1971 |
Sep. 7 |
0800 |
lt 25 NNW |
70 mph |
Edith |
| 1971 |
Sep.16 |
0200 |
lt 25 S |
35 mph |
Irene |
| 1978 |
Aug.11 |
2000 |
40 N |
35 mph |
Cora |
| 1978 |
Sep. 14 |
1400 |
lt 25 N |
45 mph |
Greta |
| 1988 |
Oct. 16 |
1300 |
lt 25 S |
50 mph |
Joan |
| 1993 |
Aug. 8 |
0700 |
60 S |
45 mph |
Bret |
| 1996 |
Jul. 25 |
1700 |
lt 30 SW |
45 mph |
Cesar |
| 2004 |
Sep. 8 |
2300 |
65 N |
145 mph |
Ivan |
| 2007 |
Sep. 2 |
0700 |
30 N |
105 mph |
Felix |
| 2008 |
Oct. 14 |
1400 |
77 N |
50 mph |
Omar |
Altough Curaçao is not completely immune to tropical storms and hurricanes, two other factors should also be considered:
1. it's deep, large and well-protected inlets have troughout our history been havens of safety for all types of shipping during storms and hurricanes in the Caribbean.
2. the Meteorological Service of the Netherlands Antilles&Aruba in coordination with the NHC in Miami and together with te local disaster prevention organizations, run a well organized cyclone warning systen, which will advise the owners of small craft sufficiently ahead of an approaching Tropical Cyclone, to ensure that all boats and yachts can be brought to safety and moored correctly.
Excluding boats and yachts moored in Curaçao from insurance against damage caused by Tropical Cyclones based solely on the fact the island is located just North of latitude 12ºN does not seem te be appropiate. Especially not if boat owners and marina owners see to it that proper action is taken based on watches and warnings issued by the National Meteorological Service and the local disaster prevention authorities.
Director Meteorological Service of the
Netherlands Antilles&Aruba,
A. J. Dania
