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News & Expert Advice
A Blog for the LGBT Community Who Love To CruiseRandall Shirley: Editor
Tom Baker: Cruise Expert
Don Church & Tony Schillaci: Guest Writers
Tagged: Costa Concordia RSS
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markdale
Costa Presents Plan to Remove Costa Concordia Wreck
The salvage consortium that Carnival Corp and Costa Crociere chose to remove the wreckage of Costa Concordia, laid out its plans today in Rome for the Italian government.
The American-owned Titan Salvage, which is recognized as a world leader in wreck removal, and Micoperi, an Italian marine contractor that specializes in underwater construction and engineering, comprise the consortium chosen by Carnival to engineer the removal operation and carry it out.
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markdale
Cruise Industry adopts new policies for the Muster Drill
A new emergency drill policy requiring mandatory mustering for embarking passengers prior to departure from port was announced by the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) in cooperation with the Cruise Lines International Association and the European Cruise Council.
The new policy follows the industry’s announcement on Jan. 27 of a Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review in response to the Concordia incident and as part of the industry’s continuous efforts to review and improve safety measures.
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MeetMeOnBoard
Cruising for answers – The Costa Concordia disaster
Our large ship cruise specialist Tom Baker recently appeared on his local PBC station in Houston to discuss the recent events surrounding the Costa Concordia disaster.
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MeetMeOnBoard
Cruising for Answers
Our large ship cruise specialist Tom Baker recently appeared on his local PBC station in Houston to discuss the recent events surrounding the Costa Concordia disaster.
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Tom Baker
The Costa Concordia Disaster & Safety At Sea
All guests who embark on a ship in the U.S are required to partake in a lifeboat safety drill prior to sailing.
While the Costa Concordia tragedy is still unfolding and the total story is yet to be told, I wanted to share my own shock and horror of seeing this disaster unfold over the past several days. After 200 plus cruises, I could not fathom anything of this nature happening understanding the stringent regulations the cruise industry is held to and their own standards of safety protection put in place to ensure this type of disaster could not unfold.
While the activity of the Costa Concordia’s Captain appears to have made many grave errors, perhaps the only good thing he may have done was beach the ship to keep the ship from completely sinking in deeper water and allowing the guests close proximity to the local port for easier evacuation. I will not comment yet on this major concern until all the facts are in place but it appears, rogue behavior (human error) by the ships Captain, created this disaster.
After nearly 45 years of traveling by ship, this horrendous incident is a first for me but let me share some information about the cruise industry with you.
During the last 10 years – nearly 100 million passengers took cruise vacations – 6 safety related deaths took place during that time until Costa Concordia.
The cruise industry still remains the safest mode of transportation. While there have been other “fender benders” over the years, mostly due to wind activity while docking or un-docking, this industry has a stellar reputation and loss of life has been virtually non-existent.
All guests who embark on a ship are required to partake in a lifeboat safety drill within 24 hours. In the US, this takes place at sailing time due to US Coast guard regulations. Upon embarkation, every ships cabin TV plays the safety video regardless of where the ship is, has complete safety instructions posted on the back of a cabin door, and generally a complete lifeboat drill is held.
The fact that chaos ensued on Costa Concordia is not shocking to me due to the nature of the ships initial accident, loosing power (except for emergency power which did kick in although it is low-level lighting) beaching, turning on its side due to that beaching, the fact the lifeboats on one side were inoperable due to the heavy listing, the lack of instruction for the 500 who had just embarked the ship only a few hours earlier, and the mutual fear factor shared by everyone including the ships crew as this happened so quickly. I believe based on the hull damage caused by the lengthy hole doomed this ship from the initial impact.
The nature of the ship turning so quickly on its side was likely due to the beaching and the laws of physics for a vessel to be in such shallow water.
Do I Think Cruising Is Unsafe?
NO! I think most cruise lines including Costa generally uphold a very high standard of safety, comply with stringent SOLAS (Safety Of Life AT Sea), local coast guard, and all maritime organizations rules. These ships are constantly monitored and crew training takes place continuously. This event was the result of human error and very poor judgment by the ships Captain.
What Would I Do To Assist My Own Safety On My Next Cruise?
- Watch the cabin TV video showing what to do in the event of an emergency-this usually plays all day on the first day of a cruise and is already playing when you enter your cabin
- Review the safety details behind the cabin door that give detailed instructions on what to do in the event of a disaster
- Ask my room steward where the closes evacuation route or staircase is nearest my cabin to ensure I knew where to go
- Attend and listen carefully to the ships safety drill
- Relax and enjoy my cruise as will most all 17 million who will choose to take this exciting vacation!
In the meantime, my thoughts go to those who were lost in this tragedy as well as anyone who endured the agony and fear during this unnecessary tragedy. I know that safety rules will be once again revisited and perhaps changed in the immediate future.
Travel Safe!
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MeetMeOnBoard
Costa Concordia runs aground in Italy
Three people are confirmed dead after a cruise ship carrying more than 4,000 people ran aground off Italy.There were scenes of panic as the Costa Concordia hit a sandbar on Friday evening near the island of Giglio and listed about 20 degrees.
Most people reached land by lifeboats but some swam to shore.
At least 50 people have not yet been accounted for, Italian officials say, but they caution that the passenger list may not be fully up to date.
Coast guard vessels are combing the waters around the ship, while divers are searching the submerged decks.
Read the entire article on the BBC website here >>>
Photo: BBC
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