Epic Interrupted

[BoDidly]

Whew , she is having a bad day .

 

Edited February 13, 2019 by BoDidly

[JoeCanadian]

By my map, GSC is about 1450 kilometres from San Juan.... so unless we’re miraculously at top speed (40 km/h) tonight and tomorrow, we won’t be stopping there. IMHO, best case scenario is a slow cruise back to Port Canaveral.

[Nic6318]

6 hours ago, JoeCanadian said:

No, but he is Italian, and the only other Italian cruise ship captain that I remember became famous for all the wrong reasons.... 😳🤦🏻‍♂️

 

Hi

 

Are you talking about that Christopher Columbus guy. He had his own challenges, but it is true they didn't have GPS then. 

[Mimimatz]

According to Marinetraffic the next planned stop ins BS FPO (Freeport, Bahamas) with an arrival at 8 p.m. local time on Friday. This probably means that the following cruise will start 1-2 days later or get canceled completely.

[CruisinNewbie11]

I just checked NCL website for Feb 16th-23 cruise.  It is sold out, so I doubt if they will cancel it altogether.

[AF-1]

Doesn't the Coast Guard have to come out in San Juan and check the vessel prior to departure to make sure its seaworthy?

[mking8288]

It's now almost 18:45 AST (locally) in San Juan, PR - should be all abroad, ready to sail in about 15 minutes - fingers crossed & we will be watching & trying to keep track.  Watching live cams ... 

 

Nautical distance from Old San Juan to Freeport, Bahamas is about 1,160 nm, it will take about 2.4 days (57 hours) to do the run at an average speed of 20.5 knots.  GSC at the Berry Islands is a little closer, in between Nassau & Freeport, but it does look doubtful lthe Epic can possibly get there any earlier than, maybe noontime on Friday. 

 

From San Juan to homeport, Port Canaveral is about 1,400 nm - same assumptions, 2.8 days non-stop (68 hours) ... meaning that, unless my calculations are off, returning on-time this Saturday morning isn't very promising.  Of course, if the repairs are completed and all systems are go - Epic can manage an average speed of 23 knots, it can lower its ETA to 61 hours, getting into PC around 08:00 instead. 

 

For the folks onboard & ready for the adventure, this isn't something good to pass along & share, just basic math - sorry, and, I don't mind being "wrong".  Wishing all a safe & smooth time onboard; and, be kind & nice to the crew.  

Edited February 13, 2019 by mking8288

[chengkp75]

1 hour ago, Mimimatz said:

According to Marinetraffic the next planned stop ins BS FPO (Freeport, Bahamas) with an arrival at 8 p.m. local time on Friday. This probably means that the following cruise will start 1-2 days later or get canceled completely.

The "next port" in Marinetraffic comes from the input typed into the AIS on the ship by the navigating officer, and this doesn't always get updated promptly, or even until just before sailing.

[chengkp75]

1 hour ago, AF-1 said:

Doesn't the Coast Guard have to come out in San Juan and check the vessel prior to departure to make sure its seaworthy?

I'm sure that USCG Sector San Juan has been down to inspect the vessel long ago.  The fact that a couple of generators are not in service would have nothing to do with the ship's seaworthiness, as long as there is nothing wrong with the steering gear or the propulsion motors.  As for the dents in the hull, there is no breach visible, and I've given my conclusions based on 43 years dealing with the class surveyors (they have more experience and USCG typically defers to class on structural issues) that neither of these dents needs an immediate repair.

[Mimimatz]

I wonder how @mking8288 calculated these 1160 nm, if I measure the distance from SJU to FPO via the Marinetraffic distance measuring tool and placing the track north of Turk & Caicos, I get to around 860 nm which means the ship would have to do 17.2 knots to arrive there at 20:00 local time on Friday.

 

The usual itinerary sees a departure in Charlotte Amalie at 2. p.m. on Wednesday and an arrival at Great Stirrup Cay at 9 a.m. on Friday which is a much further distance than from San Juan to GSC.

Edited February 13, 2019 by Mimimatz

[chengkp75]

1 hour ago, Mimimatz said:

I wonder how @mking8288 calculated these 1160 nm, if I measure the distance from SJU to FPO via the Marinetraffic distance measuring tool and placing the track north of Turk & Caicos, I get to around 860 nm which means the ship would have to do 17.2 knots to arrive there at 20:00 local time on Friday.

 

The usual itinerary sees a departure in Charlotte Amalie at 2. p.m. on Wednesday and an arrival at Great Stirrup Cay at 9 a.m. on Friday which is a much further distance than from San Juan to GSC.

Yes, I use a professional route calculator, using standard shipping routes, and I get about 870nm to Freeport.  I also get 1001nm to Port Canaveral, so at about 16-17 knots, they could make an on time arrival in PC on Saturday.  Going 22 knots, they could afford about 10 hours in Freeport.

[mking8288]

9 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Yes, I use a professional route calculator, using standard shipping routes, and I get about 870nm to Freeport.  I also get 1001nm to Port Canaveral, so at about 16-17 knots, they could make an on time arrival in PC on Saturday.  Going 22 knots, they could afford about 10 hours in Freeport.

 

Thanks, chief. 

Gotcha, my bad for missing it this time - I just had a funny feeling that something isn't right.  I was using this online "calculator" to estimate the nautical distance.  Won't be using this again - based the assumptions & ETA with it.  

http://ports.com/sea-route/freeport-container-port,bahamas/puerto-de-san-juan,puerto-rico/

 

Almost 19:30 AST, Epic still moored at the pier, not yet moving.  Let's hope that she can get underway, necessary repairs done and give the folks a beautiful day on the beach.  

[Mechman1971]

Just pulling through the Bar Channel out to sea now!  Yay!

[bjay3]

So is the ship underway and what is the speed

[Mechman1971]

Just leaving the bay at 9 knots...according to marinetraffic.com.  will probably speed up once out to sea I'd imagine.

 

Up to 15 knots now..

Edited February 14, 2019 by Mechman1971

[mking8288]

New short video clip embedded in post #105 - twitter linked - should be useful for Chief to help explain, when he can view it. 

 

On her way and 3 tugs escorting out of the harbor had turned back & left the Epic to head for sea. 

 

AIS data as seen on MarineTraffic shown her now up to almost 15.5 knots @ 00:36 UTC - 15.8 knots @ 00:38 UTC, steadily picking up speed as she leave Old San Juan behind ... looking fine, thus far. 

 

ETA to Freeport, Bahamas is 03:00 UTC - which is 22:00 or 10 p.m. AST/local time there, a 2 hour leeway or window as 20:00 or 8 p.m. has been said. 

 

 

 

Edited February 14, 2019 by mking8288

[MrMarc]

Not the cruise anyone was planning.  I certainly hope they come up with better compensation.  But, can anyone explain why they would head into Freeport at 8:00 at night rather than just head back home?  Is it to avoid paperwork on a waiver?  How long will they(you) spend in Freeport?

Edited February 14, 2019 by MrMarc

[AF-1]

I would assume NCL will comp the passengers. The headquarters is most likely working on that now. 

[chengkp75]

2 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

Thanks, chief. 

Gotcha, my bad for missing it this time - I just had a funny feeling that something isn't right.  I was using this online "calculator" to estimate the nautical distance.  Won't be using this again - based the assumptions & ETA with it.  

http://ports.com/sea-route/freeport-container-port,bahamas/puerto-de-san-juan,puerto-rico/

 

Almost 19:30 AST, Epic still moored at the pier, not yet moving.  Let's hope that she can get underway, necessary repairs done and give the folks a beautiful day on the beach.  

Use sea-distances.org, it works for most ports that are both commercial and cruise.  Sometimes have to get imaginative for smaller cruise ports.

[OceanBlueWaters]

On 2/11/2019 at 9:27 PM, fstuff1 said:

passengers get 50% of their base cruise fare towards next cruise 

Wait?!  But what if I don't want another cruise with NCL?  Why can't I get 50% off THIS cruise? 

Now I am forced to book a future cruise with NCL to perhaps recoup some $? What if I don't want to book another cruise with NCL?

I am not on this cruise and totally feel for what they are going thru and do hope they arrive home safely.

Everyone with 5,000 + replies you are free to quote NCL's T&Cs to remind me that I/we/they should be grateful what NCL offered to their passengers...

JMO

 

 

[MrMarc]

Just for fun, what if airlines operated the same way that cruise lines do.  I know they're totally different, but imagine the situtations....Sorry, but we are going to skip Clevland and go straight to New York.  We will give you credit you can use on your next flight... lol

[SeaHunt]

2 hours ago, MrMarc said:

But, can anyone explain why they would head into Freeport at 8:00 at night rather than just head back home?  Is it to avoid paperwork on a waiver?  How long will they(you) spend in Freeport?

 

I'd like to ask chengkp75 if he thinks they could possibly be heading to this shipyard that's located in Freeport?  Notice the shipyard does say "AFLOAT REPAIRS" 

 

http://grandbahamashipyard.com/

 

"GRAND BAHAMA SHIPYARD LIMITED, A WORLD LEADER IN DRY-DOCKING AND AFLOAT REPAIRS, REFITS, REFURBISHMENTS AND REVITALIZATIONS"

 

The Yard has three dry docks, capable of docking vessels up to 82,500 tonnes, a pier and a deep water wharf, over 300 m in length and is strategically located in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, approximately 93 nm east of Miami, Florida along all the major shipping routes.

The yard boasts over 57,000 f2 of workshop space to accommodate on-site projects.

 

 

 

Edited February 14, 2019 by SeaHunt
clarity

[BirdTravels]

2 minutes ago, MrMarc said:

Just for fun, what if airlines operated the same way that cruise lines do.  I know they're totally different, but imagine the situtations....Sorry, but we are going to skip Clevland and go straight to New York.  We will give you credit you can use on your next flight... lol

Happens all the time. 

[fstuff1]

13 minutes ago, OceanBlueWaters said:

Wait?!  But what if I don't want another cruise with NCL?  Why can't I get 50% off THIS cruise? 

Now I am forced to book a future cruise with NCL to perhaps recoup some $? What if I don't want to book another cruise with NCL?

I am not on this cruise and totally feel for what they are going thru and do hope they arrive home safely.

Everyone with 5,000 + replies you are free to quote NCL's T&Cs to remind me that I/we/they should be grateful what NCL offered to their passengers...

JMO

 

 

 

lol.. it doesnt work that way in this industry or almost any industry.

it's always future credit.

 

if you to come back, you spend more $.

and if you dont, they win as well.

 

sucks for you that dont want to come back but it's good business decision.

basically, it's win/win for them.

[OceanBlueWaters]

2 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

 

lol.. it doesnt work that way in this industry or almost any industry.

it's always future credit.

 

if you to come back, you spend more $.

and if you dont, they win as well.

 

sucks for you that dont want to come back but it's good business decision.

basically, it's win/win for them.

I was being sarcastic.  I get it...