Princess Cruise Ignores Distressed Fishermen.

[Free Agent]

Princess Cruises to Investigate Why Captain Ignored Distress Call - Yahoo!

[boatsmith]

put the cap in a small boat with a cup of water and shove him off.

[barnakiel]

Most sad accident. Hard to believe things like this happen.

Forget the flares, get an EPIRB, sat-phone ;-(

b.

[Jesse]

If this is true someone needs a real butt kicking.

[Ram]

The Cap said he thought he was waving him off the fishing nets- I could see there is a possibility of the Cap believing that- but I would have gotten a little closer just to make sure- being there were 120 miles offshore

[anjou]

Ironic in this week which has seen the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking and the Captain of the Carpathian also neglected to respont to calls for help.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by boatsmith

put the cap in a small boat with a cup of water and shove him off.

Hard to say if it was the captain's fault. The court will probably find out. We cannot get those two lives back no matter what the society does to the ones who failed to act.

Justice nor revenge can undo the events. But we can draw lessons.

b.

[Steve W]

20 years ago we were on a cruise ship on the Cozumel to Jamiaca leg hanging out in deck chairs when about 2pm the ship suddenly slowed and made a sharp (for a ship) turn to starboard. We were soon next to an 18' boat with 3 caribbean fishermen on it.No radio or flares, they were waving T-shirts at us. The ships crew attached straps to the boat and lifted it on deck. These guys had been adrift for 6 days due to engine failure and were in rough shape. Total time for the rescue was maybe 90 minutes and it was really interesting watching it all from the rail. During dinner at the captain's table that night, the captain told us that we were the last cruise ship that would travel that route this week and the rate of drift likely would have taken these guys out of normal shipping lanes in a few hours. Right place-right time and a caring crew.

[Katiusha]

Based on the description given by that bird watcher, Meridith, the fishermen were waving the global distress signal: arms over head and big half circles. That coupled with a red t-shirt/jacket should've given captain the hint.

Fishermen waving to show where the nets are usually use different signals, like pointing in the direction of the net. Fishermen waving to say Thanks for avoiding the nets is either a one-hand wave or a one-finger wave (depending on the outcome). Imho, it's hard to confuse the two types of signals.

It's a sad case and thoughts go out to their families.

[avb3]

Hard to second guess the captain, however, the last paragraph is telling in my mind.

The Fifty Cent (the open fishing boat)was not equipped with a functional radio, making communication between the two vessels, including confirmation that the boat was or was not sending a distress signal, impossible. When the two ships encountered each other, they were roughly 130 miles from the closest land, much farther out than a fishing boat the size of the Fifty Cent would normally go.

The fishing boat was signalling, it was in an open ocean area where it would not be expected, and the captain's schedule is more important?

Two people died!

[Celestialsailor]

The skipper had a responsibility to either investigate or contact local authorities. He did neither. These crew ship skippers are something else aren't they? If it's not this, it's running the ship up on the rocks and being the first one off ship.

[Blue Stocking]

Maybe with a bit of luck the jury will be picked from CF

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

Maybe with a bit of luck the jury will be picked from CF

Nah, the UN would propose a resolution against that

cheers,
Nick.

[Astrid]

the Captain of the Carpathian also neglected to respont to calls for help.

It was Captain Stanley Lord of SS Californian who failed to respond. Captain Rostron of the Carpathia was lauded and received numerous awards for his efficient rescue of the Titanic survivors.

[chuckr]

the crew of the princess cruise lines flat out killed them -- now they are saying no one told the capt or officer on duty - nonsense - these cruise ship capt's think they are gods and act like it -- the capt of the carnival line left his sinking ship and refused to get back on to look for passangers -
we have had a few encounters with cruise ships in passing - some are pleasuerable and some not - some will talk with you and make arrangements for a smooth passing between vessels - but
we were told by one capt near ft lauderdale to sail my boat and he will sail his and stay out of his way and he was to busy to talk with me - this after i had already discussed how to get around 3 other ships in the past 2 hours successfully and each worked with me and me with them on where they wanted me for a safe pass -

this guy will get off based on some technical aspect that the high $$$$ lawyers at princess will come up with -
God will be his judge in the end