WATCH: Cruise ship BATTERED by ‘Gates of Hell’ storm in dangerous Bay of Biscay seas

Located along the west coast of France and the north coast of Spain, the violent storms are common.

Professor Adrian New, from the National Oceanography Centre told BBC: “Winds blow from America to Europe and the waves grow all the way as they travel from west to east.”

However, YouTube users couldn’t quite believe that it was a force 12, with many denying it despite the ship’s captain stating it was.

One wrote: “If you think this is force 12, you have never seen force 12, especially in the Biscay. This is 8, max. 9.”