KILLING THE GOOSE

Typical cruise ship having 4000 persons on board

Yesterday we wrote in reply to a really petty pathetic Post about soot in which a cruise ship was accused, falsely actually, because there was no evidence showing she was involved in the incident.  Remember evidence?  There is a whole procedure for collecting it and preserving its integrity.  It is what makes ones case in the Courts, it seems to be lacking in our Courts and in the current Administration these days.  So perhaps we should not be surprised at the Blog author going off half-cocked with no evidence but publishing a cruise ships name as the title to his Post.


In the haste to blame someone for something that happens in the marine environment there is a rush to accuse the cruise lines and in particular cruise ships that are in Port.  If one reflects on this it is really quite strange because with say 4000 passengers and crew spending just a average of $125.00 per diem per person in the Port generates $500,000.00 income per day.  In addition the vessel will generate Pilotage fees, berthing fees, Port passenger dues and taxes, Federal, State and Local Authorities.  Then there are refuelling costs, maintenance and repairs as needed, resupplying the ships storerooms to supply the needs of crew mess rooms, restaurants, bars, shops, casinos and so on.  The ashore hotel rooms for arriving and departing passengers and crew, transportation by taxi and coach to and from the Airport, the flights themselves, all the greeting personnel ashore to look after the 'guests' - the list goes on and on. 


Do you really want to kill the Goose that lays the Golden Egg?  Yet the first thought seems to be how can we "screw the cruise ship".  Here in Florida we have pretty much realised just how the cruise line industry pours monies into the State and work with them to achieve responsible environmental and other needs so that all of us benefit.


It is time that the cruise lines fought back as they have been really complacent.  Here at NAUTICAL LOG we have written quite a few times about Safety issues aboard cruise ships, never once has there been a challenge or even a comment on the opinion expressed in our Posts. It would be valuable to have such comments either confirming our opinion as being accurate or pointing out the different approach taken by the cruise line.  On issues such as the soot article where a ships name was improperly used most definitely strong action should be taken by the cruise line involved.  Such a false accusation reflects poorly on the Ships Command and the Engineering Officers and for the cruise line to ignore this speaks poorly of their respect for the professionalism of their own Officers.


It also speaks poorly for the standards maritime Blogs should be setting for themselves on what to write about, how to write about it and how to acquire evidence that proves their case.  If these standards are not set by ourselves then our Blogs will be reduced to being regarded as petty whinging.  Those of us who really wish to make a difference to improve all maritime life and the boating community in general will not be well regarded.  The fact that the author of the sooty article is teaching a course for the United States Coast Guard does not add anything worthwhile to a worthless article.


Good Watch.

Please remember the 800 of our fellow seafarers held captive by pirates off Somalia.