Freak weather (From Essex County Standard)

Freak weather

3:16pm Thursday 22nd November 2012 in Countywide news By Helen Barnett

FREAK weather put fishermen at risk on Wednesday night, November 21, when unexpected high north-westerly winds shook Harwich Quay.

Emergency engineers had to fix part of the LV18 gangway after a fish plate was bent.

The ship, gangway, and pontoons and fishing boats were all seen jumping up and down on the tidal surge.

Predicted south-westerly winds changed to north-westerly in Harwich Quay for an hour at around 6pm.

Tony O’Neill, who runs the LV18 lightship said it was a “near miss”.

“When you get a north westerly wind in Harwich Quay it is quite frightening,” he said.

“It was a near miss and could have been worse. The gangway is now fixed thanks to AJ Woods’ coming to the rescue.”