diff --git a/model/src/ww3_outp.F90 b/model/src/ww3_outp.F90
index d4397a2cd0..b18ee26409 100644
--- a/model/src/ww3_outp.F90
+++ b/model/src/ww3_outp.F90
@@ -967,10 +967,10 @@ PROGRAM W3OUTP
           J = LEN_TRIM(FNMPRE)
           IF (FLFORM) THEN
             OPEN(NDSTAB, FILE=TRIM(TFNAME), STATUS='OLD', &
-                IOSTAT=IERR, FORM='UNFORMATTED', ACCESS='APPEND')
+                IOSTAT=IERR, FORM='UNFORMATTED', ACCESS='SEQUENTIAL', POSITION='APPEND')
           ELSE
             OPEN(NDSTAB, FILE=TRIM(TFNAME), STATUS='OLD', &
-                IOSTAT=IERR, FORM='FORMATTED', ACCESS='APPEND')
+                IOSTAT=IERR, FORM='FORMATTED', ACCESS='SEQUENTIAL', POSITION='APPEND')
           END IF
 
           PROCESS_POINT_ONLY = .TRUE.