News story on evacuation from Sea Diamond sinking

[Fblack]

Today’s Wall Street Journal has a story including passenger interviews about the evacuation from the sinking Sea Diamond near Santorini.

 

While there will always be complaints and second guessing, the story is not too uncomplimentary to the cruise line or crew. A few things that caught me eye were.

 

1. Once the power went out there were no lights below deck.

2. Few people were able to run back to their cabins to get their life jackets

3. The crew struggled to lower the life boats because the ship was listing to one side

4. Don’t count on your “fellow passengers” to act responsibly.

 

“On her way toward the stairs, the passageway grew increasingly crowded and the lights on the ship began to fail as the incoming seawater began to short the vessel's electrical systems, according to witnesses. A fellow passenger ripped a lifejacket from her arm. As crew members appeared and tried to manage the flow of traffic, they directed passengers away from a malfunctioning elevator, where at least one woman was already trapped, her arm jerking about through a crack between the doors.”

 

So the next time you complain about a life boat drill, just hope the crew is really well trained.

 

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117771668276285461-NOtmFRzww_MrSMSaO2qtrumsHNQ_20070528.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks.

 

On our recent Maasdam cruises, the first 10 days the life boat drill was turned into a party by the photographers running having people pose for pictures. The passengers thought this was really funny and starting to laugh and do funny poses and not listening to cabin numnbers being called out and instructions on what to do in case there was a real emergency. This was mentioned to the captain and hotel manager and the next week - guess what - no photograpers!!

[tomc]

The same happened to me on one trip. I wrote to Kirk Lanterman and never had it happen again. If it does, another letter to Kirk, Stein and the probably uncaring photograph company. Nah -- the photographers probably don't give a ****.

[Himself]

I have noticed too many people take these drills as jokes. They talk and joke when they should be listening. I think if one does not know what to do in a real emergency, that is when panic sets in. It is imperative that people keep thier wise cracks to themselves during the drill. We are not there to be entertained but to be prepared. Perhaps if there is a positive thing about the ship going under, it is to remind all of us that this drill is serious and neither we or the ship is invincible.

[Copper10-8]

Every boat drill we have attended has had folks that treat it as a social event and obviously have a real hard time remaining quite for all of 15-20 minutes. Constant BS'ing, not paying attention, walking around draping life vest straps behind them, blowing whistles, joking and coking, being in the wrong place, walking up late, ignoring repeated requests by P.A. and in person by officers to shut up, you name it! I have no doubt that in the unfortunate event that the real thing strikes, there'll be lots of these same fine folks running around with their respective heads cut off demanding to be saved.

BTW, the ship's photographers as well as the video guy should be banned from the drill, I agree. Someone in the photo dept. obviously figured out some time ago that pax look "very cool" in lifevests and that a whole bunch will wind up buying those same pics for $12.95, Another money maker was born.

[u4ea]

Agreed copper John, sounds like you want to slap some people around.;) I know I'd be delayed in mustering because I would be stopping by the count room in the casino to fill my pockets with cash. :eek: I wonder if that happened on the Sea Diamond.:confused:

Mark...

[Nghthawke]

Thanks.

 

On our recent Maasdam cruises, the first 10 days the life boat drill was turned into a party by the photographers running having people pose for pictures. The passengers thought this was really funny and starting to laugh and do funny poses and not listening to cabin numnbers being called out and instructions on what to do in case there was a real emergency. This was mentioned to the captain and hotel manager and the next week - guess what - no photograpers!!

Not surprisingly they would take it seriously since Holland America lost a ship back in 1980 -- The Sinking of the Prinsendam:

 

http://explorenorth.com/library/ships/prinsendam-1980.html

[Fblack]

I was not aware of the earlier Prinsendam incident. I am surprised that HAL used the name again. On the one hand it's to honor that ill fated ship. But then again, would a cruise line ever name a new ship Titanic?

[PDAZ]

I was not aware of the earlier Prinsendam incident. I am surprised that HAL used the name again. On the one hand it's to honor that ill fated ship. But then again, would a cruise line ever name a new ship Titanic?

 

:eek: Ditto!

[SDHALFAN]

Not surprisingly they would take it seriously since Holland America lost a ship back in 1980 -- The Sinking of the Prinsendam:

 

http://explorenorth.com/library/ships/prinsendam-1980.html

 

That's absolutely fascinating reading Nghthawke, thank you so much for sharing the article.

 

What a miracle that everyone survived and what a heroic life-saving effort by so many.

 

Valerie:)

[waiting2retire]

Thanks for the fascinating reports -- great reading. Am I the only one who gets goosebumps all over when reading about rescues at sea? Particularly thinking about all the ships, big and small, who abandon whatever they are doing to come to the aid of the ship in trouble...

 

Bonnie

[serendipity1499]

Not only do people treat this as a Joke, but we've had people post on Cruise Critic that they DON'T GO to Lifeboat Drill...These are the same people who do not pay attention to the Airlines evacuation procedure & if there is an emergency would panic!:(

 

However, give HAL lots of credit.. They are professionals! I've seen them insist that passengers who do not attend lifeboat drill, attend a special one the next day or they would be put off the ship at the first port..We often laugh when we see some of the passengers who boarded with us & had to go through the Drill the next day..:rolleyes:

 

Happy cruising all..:) Betty

[Copper10-8]

For those who are interested, there's a book out about the sinking of Prinsendam I. It's called "Burning Cold, the cruise ship Prinsendam and the greatest sea rescue of all times" by H.Paul Jeffers. Has some decent pics also. Her captain was Cornelius Wabeke. Hotel Manager was Dirk Zeller. One of her fourth officers was Simon Douwes, now a HAL captain himself, working out of Seattle.

Amazon.com has it

http://www.amazon.com/Burning-Cold-Cruise-Prinsendam-Greatest/dp/0760320799

[Grumpy1]

Another interesting read... although quite technical, is the investigation report by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada of the 2002 fire in the electrical equipment on Statendam.

http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/marine/2002/m02w0135/m02w0135_index.asp

[Bill S]

Grumpy: thanks for posting the link! We were on the Statendam when that fire happened! Now we know the real details, which do not differ in general terms from what were told by the Captain. It was a tad unnerving to see crew members in fire-fighting gear pulling fire extinguishers from from the passageways and running aft, but we had frequent announcements on the PA system from the bridge by the CD. One of the tugs was right below our verandah cabin. So, we take the muster drills very serious and also find the fire extinguisher closest to our cabin.

[Fblack]

Has anyone else seen the move The Guardian. It's a bit long and full of cliche's, but it gives you new respect for our Coast Guard rescue teams.

[Tinknock50]

For those who are interested, there's a book out about the sinking of Prinsendam I. It's called "Burning Cold, the cruise ship Prinsendam and the greatest sea rescue of all times" by H.Paul Jeffers. Has some decent pics also. Her captain was Cornelius Wabeke. Hotel Manager was Dirk Zeller. One of her fourth officers was Simon Douwes, now a HAL captain himself, working out of Seattle.

 

Amazon.com has it

 

http://www.amazon.com/Burning-Cold-Cruise-Prinsendam-Greatest/dp/0760320799

 

 

Thanks John. I love books like that.....I will check that out.

[Tinknock50]

I should be mad at you , John:mad:

 

I bought the book and while I was there I bought another book called "Doomed Ships: Great Ocean Liner Disasters"

 

Are you trying to bankrupt me??

[Tarheelbelle]

That's absolutely fascinating reading Nghthawke, thank you so much for sharing the article.

 

What a miracle that everyone survived and what a heroic life-saving effort by so many.

 

Valerie:)

Everyone besides the 2 people never found...

[Kindlychap]

I know we are all stuffed shirts on Cunard, but there is a serious air with the Muster Drill.

 

I have to say that I do feel confident in the crew, who of course have been working together for years.

 

Equally, I was surprised on Arcadia to find that the officer running the drill wanted to make jokes about the whistles.

 

Jokes and drills never meet.

 

I've NEVER missed a drill, and would not do so even if it had been a week since I'd been on board. I owe it to the ship to take it seriously, and they owe it to me to insist I do.

 

Matthew