Assigns to a berth in stormy seas (8)
I believe the answer is:
ascribes
'assigns' is the definition.
('ascribe' can be a synonym of 'assign')
'berth in stormy seas' is the wordplay.
'berth' becomes 'crib' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'stormy' is an anagram indicator (stormy suggests disruption).
'seas' anagrammed gives 'ases'.
'crib' placed inside 'ases' is 'ASCRIBES'.
'to a' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ascribes that I've seen before include "Attributes, regards as originated by" , "Attributes to, credits with" , "Attributes or assigns" , "Attributes (to) -- rib cases (anag)" , "Attributes, regards as belonging to" .)