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Celebrity Solstice has scare with a close call Dec 14 2018


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From an article in NZ Herald....

A warning to boaties to keep WELL clear of cruise ships, in fact any big ship as they are entering and leaving a port. These ones ran out of fuel,  The video shows how close they came.

 

Rescuer says inflatable in close call with cruise ship in Tauranga Harbour had run out of fuel

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12188108

 

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I was  standing right at the very front of the helicopter deck of the Solstice at the time (you can maybe spot me trying to lean over in the second photo). I captured it on video and will post it once uploaded.

It was a very tense situation and I was not very confident that there would be a happy outcome.

The captain came on the PA later that evening and explained what had happened to make sure there weren't any rumours circulating. He also said that they would lodge an official complaint.

I asked him the next day how close they had been and he said 15 m (40ft). Definitely VERY lucky young people.

I was surprised that nothing had been posted about the incident anywhere up to now.

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4 minutes ago, boeckli said:

I was  standing right at the very front of the helicopter deck of the Solstice at the time (you can maybe spot me trying to lean over in the second photo). I captured it on video and will post it once uploaded.

It was a very tense situation and I was not very confident that there would be a happy outcome.

The captain came on the PA later that evening and explained what had happened to make sure there weren't any rumours circulating. He also said that they would lodge an official complaint.

I asked him the next day how close they had been and he said 15 m (40ft). Definitely VERY lucky young people.

I was surprised that nothing had been posted about the incident anywhere up to now.

Wow, that would have been traumatising to witness if something went wrong.

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Thank you for the first hand report. It must have been quite stressful.

 

We had a close call once on Pacific Princess when we were vcoming out of a lagoon on one of the Tahitian Islands. A local canoe tried to cut in front as we were heading out and the Captain had to take defensive action. We were standing against the railing at the time and saw the coral reef coming closer and closer while on a very hard lean. Luckily it came right but that was too close for comfort .

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When we did our Med cruise 18 months ago we were cruising somewhere off Albania heading up to Kotor and two speed boats came towards us on our port side. The first boat shot across in front of the ship, at quite close range, but the second had more sense and throttled back until we'd passed.

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46 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Thrill seekers putting themselves  and others into danger. As for the breakdown, that is accidental but also very dangerous. I was surprised a pilot boat didn't approach them to clear the way.

Someone on the ship actually raised the same question. Can't answer it but I think the pilot boat had possibly headed out earlier and was waiting for us (we were around 20 mins late in leaving the dock).

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Here is the promised video of the incident. The guy standing next to me thought it was rather entertaining, and I can be heard saying "It's not funny, mate!"

At around 1:28 you can see one of the occupants of the boat entering the water which added to the confusing situation. Indeed some excitement that we all could have done without - but at least it was a good outcome.

Clicking on the picture should get you to the video.

Tauranga close call_Small

 

Edited by boeckli
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44 minutes ago, boeckli said:

Someone on the ship actually raised the same question. Can't answer it but I think the pilot boat had possibly headed out earlier and was waiting for us (we were around 20 mins late in leaving the dock).

Right, that would explain it.

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21 minutes ago, boeckli said:

Here is the promised video of the incident. The guy standing next to me thought it was rather entertaining, and I can be heard saying "It's not funny, mate!"

At around 1:28 you can see one of the occupants of the boat entering the water which added to the confusing situation. Indeed some excitement that we all could have done without - but at least it was a good outcome.

Clicking on the picture should get you to the video.

Tauranga close call_Small

 

Cheers, doesn't seem to work for me.

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Great video boekli, not something I would have wanted to watch had I been on board that day.  I read that they ran out of fuel and had lost a paddle, very scary. The Solstice did well to move aside for them and good job to the boat that went to their aid..

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Thanks boekli, it would have been very scary watching it happen. I agree with Mic, I would have been paddling much harder than they seemed to be. Although perhaps the current was pulling them more towards the path of the Solstice.

 

Leigh

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Over the busy holiday period the port may have to put on an extra "escort" until the ship clears the channel around the Mount.......although they have the  pilot boat that goes ahead and a tug that stands by .,I  dont know how far the tug follows them out.

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