Fire on Carnival Triumph. No engines, running on emergency generators.

[ducklite]

I had heard that they were going to give every passenger $500 cash.

 

I would hate to see the release contract you have to sign to get that cash.

 

I'd tell them to shove it, as by the time we got into port I'd have a publishing deal lined up for the story. Hmmm, a measly $500 or a $50K advance. Which would I choose...

[cheewiee]

1. The only reason they sail under foreign flags is to avoid US taxes and minimum wage laws.

 

Wrong... just plain wrong.. with the exception for a small exemption held by NCL America, Foreign built ships CANNOT be US flagged...

[ducklite]

CNN now reporting ship is going so slow it will not port until sometime tomorrow.

 

I thought Carnival promised to have the people off tonight. :rolleyes:

[gtalum]

This came up a couple days ago on this thread. Both RCI and Celebrity have solar power on some of their ships. They provide enough power to light some of the larger public areas, such as the Royal Promenade on Oasis Class. Carnival was asked about the possibility of installing solar panals on their ships. They said they would not because the return on investment was not high enough.

 

Here's a link to an article about it:

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2010/01/18/story10.html?page=all

 

I doubt those solar systems generate more power than the backup generator on Triumph. We can argue the environmental aspect of solar backup power, but there already is minimal backup power on triumph and all Carnival ships (as well as everyone else's). to completely power the ship you need a full set of backup power plants, something now required but which wasn't required until 2010. Royal Caribbean, to its' credit, added such a redundant system to Allure and Oasis even though technically they weren't required to yet. On Carnival only Breeze has been built with the entirely redundant systems.

[txponycruiser]

it looks like shes not moving at all on the cnn live feed

 

I read some where on FB that a cable broke on one of the tug boats. :( Can't verify it but I agree she looks like she's just sitting there now.

[Aquahound]

The power plants on these ships produces between 50-150 MW of power. Thats what a cruise ship needs to be fully powered.

 

With current technology there is not enough surface area on the ship for solar power to do this.

 

You would need an orbital solar generator with power beaming technology to do any kind of solar on that scale. Such technology is only a futuristic dream currently even if technologically possible currently.

 

I didn't say anything about powering the entire ship with solar power. That would be impossible.

[MYMOTHERSCHILD]

"I am really amazed at the "sue" mentality of people and how a company who was providing a vacation service to people is ready to be sacrificed at the altar of the courts for a few measly dollars that will likely mostly go to the lawyers."

 

Maybe a lawsuit doesn't have to be about money. Maybe a lawsuit can be to make a change in behavior. Maybe a lawsuit can be to make a change in safety regulations. Maybe a lawsuit can be to make sure it doesn't happen to someone else.

 

Money isn't always the driving factor.

 

Hallelujah!

The goody-goodies who protect the likes of Carnival should come down to earth.

[TomE1963]

You know how many people complain about the costs of the sruise already, yet the comapnies are tasked with turning over the ship in a matter of hours, providing a clean hotel like environment and decent food for the guests. Every cruise I have ever been on I see people who run on board and head for the buffet like it is a feeding trough. I have seen people run over others to get in line at the pizza or burger lines, and this is during a normal cruise. I cannot imagine how people would act in the current situation. Most of the choas is probably being created by the passengers if you want to know the truth.

A lawsuit to force CCL to do something differently is not something to help anyone. Reguslations should come down for all the cruise lines. I know of a couple recently who were to depart on a very expensive cruise out of Miami on another line. When they got to their room they discovered the bed was infested with bed bugs. They left the ship and came home. I probably would have asked to have another oom and if it was in the same shape I might have left, but that was their perogative.

[karatemom2]

I have traveled extensively in some third world countries and I know that these should not be compared, but the stench of sewage is not going to kill them, and certainly is not worthy of lawsuit.

 

And you know this how? Because as someone who works in the health care field and deals with infection control I can tell you that based on the descriptions of the deplorable sewage conditions onboard, Carnival will be very lucky if some of the passengers and crew don't develop some serious health issues as a result. It is too soon to know the level of potential communicable infection that might result from the conditions these passengers have endured. That ship is basically a floating petri dish at this point and it could be days or even weeks until we know if some of the people onboard have suffered health consequences, especially some of the elderly passengers who may have weakened immunity.

[BPyser1]

I read some where on FB that a cable broke on one of the tug boats. :( Can't verify it but I agree she looks like she's just sitting there now.

 

Sure looks like it. Vessel Finder shows that the ship is now moving at only half a knot and is drifting South.

[OKCruiseMan]

"I am really amazed at the "sue" mentality of people and how a company who was providing a vacation service to people is ready to be sacrificed at the altar of the courts for a few measly dollars that will likely mostly go to the lawyers."

 

Maybe a lawsuit doesn't have to be about money. Maybe a lawsuit can be to make a change in behavior. Maybe a lawsuit can be to make a change in safety regulations. Maybe a lawsuit can be to make sure it doesn't happen to someone else.

 

Money isn't always the driving factor.

 

As corporations have become so focused on shareholder value and profits, lawsuits seem to have become the only language that can be used. A company will change if it believes lawsuits will impact their bottom-line.

 

Not how it should be, but does seem to be.

[dwjoe]

hi I don't know if this is allowed, but our local dallas station, wfaa, just posted a pic to their facebook page showing the deck with sheets tied up making basically a tent fort.

 

hope this works.. if not.. please forgive me for breaking any rules. :)

 

Thanks for this.

 

It backs up pax accounts of a "tent city" onboard, and also why yesterday's birds-eye ABC photo looked like chairs were covered with white.

[ducklite]

I would be interested to hear all of the arm chair quarterbacks hear tell me how Carnival could have handled this situation much differently.

I have heard some say that passengers should have been transferred to another ship. Obviously this statement was made by someone who has no idea the dangers and difficulties in doing something like this between a large ship with no propulsion or stabilazation. Not to mention what would have to be done with people's luggage and the logisitcs of getting that stuff back to them in an effecient and timely manner.

I have heard complaints about taking the ship to Mobile and whynot somewhere else. Well, those decisions were likely made by the people running the salvage boats based upon the prevailing winds and currents and the diffculty in taking a powerless ship of this size thru a narrow waterway into the port, such as the excursion from the Gulf into the port of New Orleans.

Many are suggesting that these folks need to be put into a position to take a shower before being bused to their hotels. Do you have any idea how long something like this would take? or the lgoistics of providing hot water and soap for over 3000 people? Imagine someone taking a long hot shower while others wait in line to get their turn. Folks are complaining about waiting in line to get a sandwich, and you want to subject them to this?

I am really amazed at the "sue" mentality of people and how a company who was providing a vacation service to people is ready to be sacrificed at the altar of the courts for a few measly dollars that will likely mostly go to the lawyers.

I for one would be happy that I was alive considering the implications of what happened. I have traveled extensively in some third world countries and I know that these should not be compared, but the stench of sewage is not going to kill them, and certainly is not worthy of lawsuit.

 

I think that they haven't done a good job of bringing supplies on board. I think their corporate communications department needs to be fired. I don't think they've had a good plan for an emergency to begin with.

 

These people didn't sign up to travel to a third world country, but they sure got a trip there.

[Rasvar]

I thought Carnival promised to have the people off tonight. :rolleyes:

 

I think CNN may be speculating since it is having an issue getting into the channel.

[cruisinfanatic]

hi I don't know if this is allowed, but our local dallas station, wfaa, just posted a pic to their facebook page showing the deck with sheets tied up making basically a tent fort.

 

hope this works.. if not.. please forgive me for breaking any rules. :)

 

Great Picture

[Clinty76]

I just spoke to my wife again and she updated me on a couple more things.

 

1. The cellphone carriers are covering all calls that may be considering "Roaming/At Sea" calls!

 

2. The coast guard boarded the ship this morning and took water samples to analyze.

 

3. The "Hoarding" of food is accurate. Carnival had to make an announcement for people to stop hoarding food!

 

4. On a funny note, most people are wearing their robes today because it is so cold and a lot of them have decorated the backs of them. She has seen a couple people with "Ship Happens" colored on their backs.

 

5. Their phones are not dead because there are random plugs throughout the ship that work. They have power strips plugged into them and they are charging their phones using that!

[chi-esq]

I would be interested to hear all of the arm chair quarterbacks hear tell me how Carnival could have handled this situation much differently.

I have heard some say that passengers should have been transferred to another ship. Obviously this statement was made by someone who has no idea the dangers and difficulties in doing something like this between a large ship with no propulsion or stabilazation. Not to mention what would have to be done with people's luggage and the logisitcs of getting that stuff back to them in an effecient and timely manner.

I have heard complaints about taking the ship to Mobile and whynot somewhere else. Well, those decisions were likely made by the people running the salvage boats based upon the prevailing winds and currents and the diffculty in taking a powerless ship of this size thru a narrow waterway into the port, such as the excursion from the Gulf into the port of New Orleans.

Many are suggesting that these folks need to be put into a position to take a shower before being bused to their hotels. Do you have any idea how long something like this would take? or the lgoistics of providing hot water and soap for over 3000 people? Imagine someone taking a long hot shower while others wait in line to get their turn. Folks are complaining about waiting in line to get a sandwich, and you want to subject them to this?

I am really amazed at the "sue" mentality of people and how a company who was providing a vacation service to people is ready to be sacrificed at the altar of the courts for a few measly dollars that will likely mostly go to the lawyers.

I for one would be happy that I was alive considering the implications of what happened. I have traveled extensively in some third world countries and I know that these should not be compared, but the stench of sewage is not going to kill them, and certainly is not worthy of lawsuit.

 

Here's how you do it: RIGHT NOW, you ask every person onboard if they wish to go immediately to a room in Mobile or take the bus ride to NOLA. You then arrange for lodging and transportation in Mobile for those who choose that alternative. You organize the bus rides the same way convention centers like Javits in NYC get people all across NYC to their respective hotels.

 

You then convey the instructions to the passengers and have Carnival people there to immediately give them a box lunch, beverage and escort them to respective buses.

 

This actually should have been organized and done yesterday. There is no excuse for putting profit before people. Let Carnival BE LOYAL to their customers. Yes, it willcost money and man hours...but at this point,it is the best PR campaign avalable to them.

 

The best protection against lawsuits is doing all you can in any given situation. Carnival is NOT doing all they can in regard to these ludricious bus rides.

 

The best insurance agsinst losing lawsuits is not alllowing the general public or potential jury pool to view you as obsessed with the bottom line rather than your paying customers.

[TomE1963]

I know this because I DO work in the healthcare field, and specifically in infectious disease. The smell of sewage is not dangerous. ingesting fetid water or contaminated items is completely different.

[fourcruisin]

I'm at work and just watched the CNN video. Can someone tell me what the sheets that people were holding up say?

 

I'd like to add that I'm so sorry that the passengers, crew and loved ones have had to endure the last several days. I would never want to be in their position. I'm glad to hear the crew is trying their hardest to make the passengers as comfortable as possible.

 

We were on the 1/9 Splendor cruise to Hawaii from Long Beach and I would be lying if I didn't admit that the possibility of another fire on board hadn't entered my mind frequently. I would think "we are so far from land and other ships, what the h#ll would we do if things went south in a hurry?" I didn't let it overwhelm me but it definitely was on my mind.

 

We will be taking a break from cruising for couple of years but not just because of recent events. The 15 day cruise was very long and we want to see more of the US in the near future. JMHO.

[dockmaster]

In the old days they would have had the ability to just purge the tanks into the ocean. Modern "green" fleets prevent this.

 

International Martime Origination laws are a bit convoluted but do allow for: Sewage which is not comminuted or disinfected has to be discharged at a distance of more than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land.

 

Were talking an emergency situation in the middle of the ocean outside of territorially waters and outside of no discharge zones.

 

It perfectly legal for me to take my yacht and pump my untreated holding tank, 3 miles out from land for instance.

 

But no matter what, pumping it into the ocean is better than walking thru it......in an emergancy situation

 

billd

[ducklite]

When these sort of things occur in a military force, police force, etc, a safety stand-down is necessary to take a good look at the trend, what is causing them, and what changes need to be made to prevent them from happening again. If this is not already happening, the Carnival big-wigs really need to take a good, hard look at recent events and if need be, implement corporate wide changes. Between the 3 major incidents and the rash of collisions over the past few years, this is overdue.

 

I couldn't agree more.

[mcca2]

Just got a call from my friend Nancy who is onboard. She seems in pretty good spirits although she said conditions were gross.

 

She is reporting that three people died on the cruise? One in the engine room fire? She also says that the Customs and Immigration people have boarded the ship and that there were people inspecting and flushing the toilets she thinks it may have been the Coast Guard. I guess we will find it all out for sure later today.

[gtalum]

I thought Carnival promised to have the people off tonight. :rolleyes:

 

Weather isn't cooperating. I'm no expert, but I think they really screwed the pooch when they chose to go to Mobile instead of Progreso.

 

Are you watching CNN? I don't see how they can navigate the channel with the weather the way it is...

[broberts]

When these sort of things occur in a military force, police force, etc, a safety stand-down is necessary to take a good look at the trend, what is causing them, and what changes need to be made to prevent them from happening again. If this is not already happening, the Carnival big-wigs really need to take a good, hard look at recent events and if need be, implement corporate wide changes. Between the 3 major incidents and the rash of collisions over the past few years, this is overdue.

 

One of the events you reference was clearly human error. A stand-down would be pointless for this.

 

I'm not sure it's valid to suggest a trend based on two incidents occurring three years apart and involving equipment designed and built nearly a decade apart. But the Bahamian Maritime Authority with the aid of the NTSB will produce an exhaustive report on the Triumph mishap and that will surely provide a starting point for corrective action. Standing down 90 vessels seems like overkill until these reports are in.

[shof515]

why is the ship appears to be turning? Live cam is not clear, but there seems to be alot of smoke near the front of the ship