Skip to main content

DON'T BLAME THE CRUISE SHIP

This mornings Press Release folder brought news of a cruise ship returning to Florida with sick passengers. As it happens it is a vessel of one of my former company's so NAUTICAL LOG took more than usual interest.

The report states that "a large number of passengers and crew members complaining of flu-like symptoms during a two week voyage". Of course the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) arrived and determined that 168 passengers of 1,211 and 19 crew of 559 were sick.

One passenger Mr. (77) stated "I feel the ship didn't do what they were supposed to do to take care of us. They should have cleaned the damned place up". But another Ms. (66) stated "They were so careful they sprayed our cabins down with chemical to kill it".

Having served in cruise ships for three decades these are typical reactions of passengers/guests. Cruise ships are cleaner than most hotels ashore, just about all restaurants and most likely Mr. 77's own home. Cleaning goes on 365/7/24 and is monitored by the ships own command, the CDC and the water quality continuously recorded on graphs for examination by Health Authorities. It is unlikely that Mr. 77 does that in his home either.

As will be found in this case no doubt a passenger or passengers came aboard for the cruise already sick and of course in the relatively confined shipboard atmosphere spread the germs. Many times when boarding there are passengers coughing and sneezing in the Cruise Terminal and we used to comment about it. Unfortunately unless they collapse and paramedics have to be called the Law requires they are allowed to board.

So Ms. 66 thank you for your gracious comments about the crew, as always they work long and hard. Mr. 77 look to your fellow passengers or perhaps even yourself - but don't blame the cruise ship.

Good Watch.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PAINT LOCKER FIRES

The photographs above are revealing in several ways, lets have a look. Clearly the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) vessel JS "Kurama" impacted the Korean container ship MS "Carina Star" just aft of the turn of the fo'cs'le on the Starboard side. Please note that's the Starboard side, thus it appears JS "Kurama" would have shown "Carina Star" the red port sidelight and "Carina Star" would have shown JS "Kurama" the green starboard sidelight. This impact point would tend to suggest that JS "Kurama" was the 'stand-on' vessel and the MS "Carina Star" is the 'giving-way' vessel. Until there is a complete plot of the tracks made good of both these vessels and the position in the Kanmon Strait of the point of collision no determination can actually be made. As a result of this impact there was severe bow damage to JS "Kurama" and in addition a massive f

HOW TO WEAR A LIFEJACKET

A popular U.S.-based cruise ship style A popular European ferry style Several times during the year NAUTICAL LOG has had visitors searching for lifejacket instructions. With two just over Christmas we decided to publish something for everybody to see and read. Choose a Coast Guard approved life-jacket and make sure it is undamaged. Make sure life-jackets are readily accessible, never locked away. Check the fit, there are adult, child and infant sizes, the correct one MUST be used. Choose bright colour life-jackets so as to be seen easily by Search and Rescue (SAR). Put your life-jacket ON BEFORE you leave the berth. Make sure you have a light and whistle attached AND they BOTH WORK. Good Watch

BOUILLABAISSE

TAAF Service vessel operated by CMA CGM TAAF Regional flag Well now let us see if here at NAUTICAL LOG we have got a grasp on things simmering in the pot. It seems that when the anti-whaling campaign started out some years ago it was between Greenpeace, the Sea Shepherds and the Japanese whaling fleet. The Australians came down to their own Southern Ocean Territory in a chartered civilian vessel one year. Beyond taking photographs and returning some Sea Shepherds to their ship the MS "Steve Irwin" not much was accomplished. The Greenpeace crowd then dropped out and Animal Planet boarded the MS "Steve Irwin" to shoot 'reality TV' and so Whale Wars came into being. This resulted in some deplorable behaviour on all sides and some appalling exhibitions of seamanship - or rather total lack of seamanship by the Sea Shepherds. But now there was money coming in which could be spent on - well nobody really knows what the money is spent on. New Zealand made it q