Thank you Stephen for you great info in post # 15!!!Â*
Have been on the water for the last two weeks (years end sailing) and was able to follow the LISCO GLORIA desaster on the radio. Luckily ALL persons could get off the ship - the whole rescue seemed to be perfectly organized and carried out? As soon as the masses of Â*water from the fire fighting are pumped out into another vessel to regain stability, the Lisco GLORIA will be towed to Odense/Denmark.
Had the chance to make a day cruise into the wadden seas (North Sea) on a small passenger ship (under 50 metres) we have been cruising on before in former years, and this year it was the first time that the crew encouraged the passengers to get acquainted with the rescue devices on board: where are the life belts, the life rafts and the life boats, etc. Safety standards are upgraded.
But here is something that really makes me whorry: look at
Â*thisÂ*Â* Â*Cruiseship of the last generation! Â*The biggest one on the water - it even has a "Central Park" with trees in it. Â* Â*Did any authority ever do any Rescue- and/or Evacuation exercise before it went into service?
Where does the evolution of Cruise Ships end? Does everything, that can be engeneered and built has to be put on the water? Meanwile they reach the size of bigger villages Â*(and midsize towns regarding their enegry consumption, with all its negative impacts on the environment . but that is a different but serious topic).Â*
Â*Uwe
SY Aquaria