1. This has been a busy week on the Blog. NAUTICAL LOG had the most 'hits' ever both per diem and for the week as a result of the SALVAGE RIGHTS Posts. Also we were mentioned in OLD SALT BLOG, thank you Rick, and listed prominently as a reference on Google®. The SSCS also drew attention to themselves with the usual 'Chief Windbag' Press releases and the Post on the SSCS seagoing Cult generated a few comments, remarkably not a single one in their favour - how that has changed over the years since NAUTICAL LOG first wrote about them!!
2. Congratulations to the Captain of the FV Trevignon for a job well done towing the MS Costa Allegra safely to Port on Mahé, Seychelle Islands. This powerful tuna seiner has earned the salvage rights to a nice award as a result of its successful 'cure' under LOF. It is remarkable how the Media are always able to find a couple of passengers, 'Americans' this time to moan and groan, about these incidents they never find anything decent to say for the ship's crew. Of course for us seafarers who understand or at least should the remarks make little sense. Ah! the joy of sailing in cruise ships NAUTICAL LOG misses those days - or does he? The same passengers who complain to the Media after an incident are usually the same ones boozing and whingeing about having to go to the 'Abandon Ship' drill prior to departure.
3. One cannot imagine that Carnival Group will be able to support the Costa Cruises brand of its Group any longer. How they handle that problem will define the Cruise Industry for the immediate future since Carnival Group controls so much, far too much actually, having a virtual monopoly of the cruise industry.
4. Another aspect of cruising are the inland cruises through the rivers and canals of Europe, Russia, Egypt and China. Being interested in cruising through the European countries we requested information and are now on the mailing lists for both Avalon® and Viking® inland companies. The vessels look attractive with professional uniformed crews however there is a problem -SAFETY. In neither companies brochure is there any information, in addition e-mails to both companies requesting details of their safety equipment and passenger drills went unanswered - NOT GOOD. Of course they cruise only a few hundred metres or less from the river banks and canal towpaths so in an emergency they can quickly tie up or even go aground on the bank and one can walk ashore. That is all well and good but passengers need to be informed; are there liferafts? are there lifejackets? where are they kept? what is the Abandon Ship (Barge?) procedure.. NAUTICAL LOG as an experienced passenger cruise ship Safety Officer wants to know before going and we should be told - so now answer those e-mails to boucp@hotmail.com let us know about your safety protocol. Is there a European Inland Passenger Vessel Association that tracks safety and does inspections? If you have cruised recently in these river cruise vessels or know someone who has we should like to hear from you and your opinions.
Good Watch
Fairly close to the shore but far from safety are some 300 of our fellow seafarers held hostage by pirates off the coast of Puntland, Somalia. They face mutilation and or death every day with no rescue in sight.
2. Congratulations to the Captain of the FV Trevignon for a job well done towing the MS Costa Allegra safely to Port on Mahé, Seychelle Islands. This powerful tuna seiner has earned the salvage rights to a nice award as a result of its successful 'cure' under LOF. It is remarkable how the Media are always able to find a couple of passengers, 'Americans' this time to moan and groan, about these incidents they never find anything decent to say for the ship's crew. Of course for us seafarers who understand or at least should the remarks make little sense. Ah! the joy of sailing in cruise ships NAUTICAL LOG misses those days - or does he? The same passengers who complain to the Media after an incident are usually the same ones boozing and whingeing about having to go to the 'Abandon Ship' drill prior to departure.
3. One cannot imagine that Carnival Group will be able to support the Costa Cruises brand of its Group any longer. How they handle that problem will define the Cruise Industry for the immediate future since Carnival Group controls so much, far too much actually, having a virtual monopoly of the cruise industry.
4. Another aspect of cruising are the inland cruises through the rivers and canals of Europe, Russia, Egypt and China. Being interested in cruising through the European countries we requested information and are now on the mailing lists for both Avalon® and Viking® inland companies. The vessels look attractive with professional uniformed crews however there is a problem -SAFETY. In neither companies brochure is there any information, in addition e-mails to both companies requesting details of their safety equipment and passenger drills went unanswered - NOT GOOD. Of course they cruise only a few hundred metres or less from the river banks and canal towpaths so in an emergency they can quickly tie up or even go aground on the bank and one can walk ashore. That is all well and good but passengers need to be informed; are there liferafts? are there lifejackets? where are they kept? what is the Abandon Ship (Barge?) procedure.. NAUTICAL LOG as an experienced passenger cruise ship Safety Officer wants to know before going and we should be told - so now answer those e-mails to boucp@hotmail.com let us know about your safety protocol. Is there a European Inland Passenger Vessel Association that tracks safety and does inspections? If you have cruised recently in these river cruise vessels or know someone who has we should like to hear from you and your opinions.
Good Watch
Fairly close to the shore but far from safety are some 300 of our fellow seafarers held hostage by pirates off the coast of Puntland, Somalia. They face mutilation and or death every day with no rescue in sight.
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