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Port of Taormina (Italy) - Port Information (ID: 35558)
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TAORMINA.htm Taormina Italy Italy Taormina Port Information Selections Port Map Geographic Location Harbor as Haven Currents and Tides Visibility Hazardous Conditions Spring Summer Autumn Winter Protective or Mitigating Measures Moving to a new Anchorage Sortie or Remain in Port Scheduling Harbor Protection Local Hazardous Weather Conditions Wind Chill Table Heat Index Table Return To Ports List Untitled Document Geographic Location Geographic Location Coordinates: 37deg/50min N 15deg/16min E. Location: on the east coast of the Italian island of Sicily. Fleet landing is located just west of the jetty/breakwater on the north tip of Capo Schiso. Harbor as Haven Harbor as Haven The port is located on Rada di Taormina and is entered between two small promontories, Capo di Taormina to the north and Capo Schiso to the south. Capo Schiso is low and black, formed from an old lava stream erupted byMt Etna. A high, concrete breakwater extends some 991 ft (302 m) north-northeastward from Capo Schiso. Port facilities are limited; berthing is nonexistent for vessels largerthan a minesweeper. U.S. Navy ships anchor out. The north anchorage, nearCapo di Taormina, has a 66 ft (20m) depth and the south anchorage, justnorth of the jetty, is 49 ft (15m). Larger vessels anchor further east indeeper water. Holding is rated good at all anchorages. The anchorages are fully exposed to winds and seas from the northeast,east and southeast. Although the sandy bottom has good holding, depthsincrease steeply seaward. This, coupled with fast changing wind directions,can cause anchor dragging. With the exception of the waters west of the breakwater near Capo Schiso, the port offers no protection from winds with a strong easterly component.A recent visit by a U.S. Navy ship was cut short due to strongnortheasterly winds which forced the cancellation of boating operations. This port is best avoided when strong easterly winds and/or high wavesare occurring or are forecast to occur. Currents and Tides Currents and Tides Local authorities state that the current at Taormina changes directionevery 12 hours, reaching a peak speed of 2 kt that lasts about an hourbefore slowing. Currents near the mouth of the Sirina River, which divides the cities of Taormina and Giardini, may vary depending on the amount of runoff. Tides at Taormina are negligible, with a range of less than one foot(30 cm). Visibility Visibility Visibility is normally greater than seven miles. There are times in March and April when visibility is reduced to near zero due to fog. This restriction usually lasts less than an hour before improving. Ash storms caused by Mt Etna may occur at anytime and visibility may be severely affected in a powerful eruption. Hazardous Conditions: Spring Hazardous Conditions: Spring Early spring similar to winter. Gregante events decrease after March. Sirocco winds are most frequent March through June. Early morning visibility is infrequently reduced to near zero during March and April. Severe restrictions usually last less than an hour. Hazardous Conditions: Summer Hazardous Conditions: Summer By summer, the storm track has moved north of the Mediterranean basin sothe major causes of strong winds no longer pose a threat to the Taorminaarea. Sirocco winds are common through June but are rare the rest of thesummer as the mean wind flow along the North African coast is landward. During the afternoons anchorage areas occasionally experience a suddenonset of northeast 25 kt winds and, on other occasions, southeast swell. Afternoon sea breezes are not significant at Taormina. Thunderstorms may occur in August but do not last more than 20 minutes orso and are not severe. Hazardous Conditions: Autumn Hazardous Conditions: Autumn Autumn usually lasts only for the month of October and is characterizedby an abrupt change from settled summer-type weather to stormy winter-type weather by month's end. The threat of strong Gregante winds increases as the month progresses. Hazardous Conditions: Winter Hazardous Conditions: Winter The worst conditions for vessels in the southern anchorage and at fleet landing adjacent to Capo Schiso occur during northeast to east winds. The northern anchorage is affected to a lesser degree. Locally called'Gregante' (a cross between Gregale and Levante) a normal outbreak willproduce winds of 40 to 50 kt and be accompanied by waves of 6 to 10 ft(2-3 m). Long period swell of 10 to 14 ft (3-4 m) usually follows theonset of wind. This swell may persist 2-3 days after wind abates,diminishing very little the first day, and gradually thereafter. Winds with a strong northeast component may be reinforced when passing through the Strait of Messina and can reach Taormina as supergradient winds. Fleet landing is exposed to the north and northeast and is a hazardous area during these outbreaks. Lows passing south of Sicily can cause low clouds and heavy rain alongwith strong winds. Every 25 years or so, a storm hits Taormina, generatingwaves which breach the seawall and inundate buildings along beach frontstreets. Southeasterly Scirocco winds are the worst for vessels in the northern anchorage. A typical strong Scirocco may bring winds of 40 to 50 kt and be accompanied by waves up to 10 ft (3m). Long period swell up to 14 ft (4m) usually follows wind onset. More frequent in late winter/spring than early winter, an event usually lasts for 2 weeks or less but can last a month. Most winds during the event will be less than the 40-50 kt maximum. Southeast winds tend to swirl around the rocky coast and have the effect of coming from landward. Northwesterly Mistral winds occasionally reach eastern Sicily from the Gulf of Lion and can raise rough water near fleet landing. Protective/Mitigating Measures: Moving to a New Anchorage Protective/Mitigating Measures: Moving to a New Anchorage To protect from strong northeast to southeast winds/waves, depending on ship size, ships should weigh anchor and head for Messina inner harbor. Or for east to southeast winds, after passing through the Strait of Messina, turn west and anchor in lee of high terrain. If departure not possible:For north to northeast winds, vessels in south anchorage should consider moving to north anchorage for better protection. For south winds, the opposite is suggested. In either case winds are likely to hamper boating operations. Protective/Mitigating Measures: Sortie/Remain in Port Protective/Mitigating Measures: Sortie/Remain in Port There is no sortie plan available for this port. Protective/Mitigating Measures: Scheduling Protective/Mitigating Measures: Scheduling Even though sea breeze regime is negligible sudden onset of brisk winds are possible during summer afternoons. Small boat operations should be done early in day if possible. Note that southeast winds tend to swirl around the rocky coastal terrain and have the effect of a land breeze. Ship's accomodation ladder should be rigged to give best lee conditions. Harbor Protection Harbor Protection Wind and Weather Cyclonic storms developing in the Gulf of Genoa and moving southeastward through the Tyrrhenian Sea and over Sicily or southern Italy will causemost of Sicily's high winds. Depending on the location of the low, windswith a north or south component will have high speeds in the area of theStrait of Messina due to funneling. Funneled winds can be as much as threetimes the speed of the synoptic wind. Gregante winds result when high pressure lies or is building over central Europe or the Balkans and a low pressure system is over the Ionian Sea,near Libya/Tunisia, or transiting eastward south of Sicily. Transitinglows produce winds lasting a day or two, otherwise winds can last up to5 days. The land mass of Sicily affords protection from all but the strongestwinds from southsouthwest clockwise through north. Waves The port is exposed and vulnerable to open ocean waves from east through south, where fetch length is essentially unrestricted. Fetch length isnear zero from south-southwest through north, so waves from thosedirections are not a threat. Fetch from the northeast is sufficient togenerate seas high enough to disrupt boating operations with strongnortheast wind. Fleet landing is protected from south and southeasterly waves but a northwest wind will generate rough water near the boat landing. Local Hazardous Weather Conditions Local Hazardous Weather Conditions Local port personnel have indicated that very few helpful hints exist inthe area to help mariners forecast the onset of bad weather. The followingforecaster hints may be helpful: Strong easterlies are caused by high pressure over Europe or Balkans and low pressure over the Ionian Sea, over Libya/Tunisia or transiting south of Sicily. Increasing southerly winds at coastal stations along the northeast coast of Libya indicate the start of a Scirocco. Strong Scirocco conditionsoccur when an upper trough is present over the Balkans with a strong jetalong its south edge and large pressure falls (non-diurnal) are observedalong the east coast of Tunisia. Locally, cumuliform clouds form and stayover Mt Etna during southeasterly flow prior to onset of Scirocco. Also,dense belts of altocumulus castellanus approaching from the southwestduring a Scirocco can be associated with sudden changes in both directionand speed of the wind. Note that during spring Scirocco, dust ladenatmosphere below inversion will disrupt radio communications. A 'hat' cloud atop Mt Etna usually means rain the next day. Precipitation amounts are indicated by the cloud size; a larger cloud means more rain. Mistral (northwest) Winds: Wave clouds visible on satellite imagery extending from Sardinia to Sicily are indicative of a gale force Mistral that extends southeast into the Strait of Sicily. Thus, it is possible that Mistral winds could be forthcoming at Taormina. Location: on the east coast of the Italian island of Sicily. Port of Taormina (Italy) - Port Information