#storm – With more than a quarter of a million homes without power this evening as the current extreme westerly weather event sweeps across Ireland with all-destructive force, you'll scarcely spare a thought for the sailors on the North Atlantic route where this winter has seen winds of Force 10 and more become almost the norm.

But these quietly heroic folk go about their business with a steady professionalism which ensures that goods are in the shops and the raw materials are feeding into the factories all over the world.

Here are three photos from the bulk carrier MV Atlas (75000 tonnes, 225m long) in a recent sustained North Atlantic wind strength of 72 knots and more, which is 133-plus kilometres per hour in the new money.

It's all in a day's work out on the Western Ocean.

More pics below

The anonometer does not exaggerate – 72 knots and counting

The ship may be 225m long and weighing in at 75,000 tonnes, but even with the bridge and accommodation right aft you can feel a sea like this hitting home.

Photos courtesy Lavinia Bulk London.