I suppose normally this sort of shipyard incident doesn't make news, can't have been much if she's still ready for sailing in a few days.

Pam

[ 05-18-2004: Message edited by: PamM ]

Let's see....there's NORWAY sitting there in limbo, Pride of America sinks at her berth, and now QE2 suffers a small fire.

Ever get the feeling that Bremerhaven may not be the best choice to have work done?

*Editor's note: Video of the rescue is available at Air Station Elizabeth City and is in Hi-8 and VHS cassette foramt. Please contact Donnie Brzuska for more information.*"

linerguy, if it wasn't at Lloyd Werft I doubt the fire would even have made the local newspapers.

Glad to hear she will be ready for the start of her next cruise!!

All hands keep this in mind. The USCG is fighting for its right to exist! [Disclosure, I have no affiliation or fiscal interest in the wellbeing of the USCG]

Founded as an element of the US Treasury to operate "Revenu Cutters," it has bounced around between the US Departments of Treasury, Navy, (wartime), Transportation, and now "Homeland Security." It is doing the right thing by sending out press releases to newspapers countrywide. If a paper in East Overshoe Kansas decides to run it as a column filler, there are an additional finite number of citizens, voters, taxpayers who may become aware of the USCG's functions.

It no longer is a "service to millionaire yachtsmen," to tow them when in distress, or refill their fuel tanks. It is a significant rescue element of our coasts. If it has to blow its own horn from time to time when it performs a rescue from Alaskan fishermen to ship crewmen, so be it.

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Originally posted by Globaliser:
Very personally, the thing that jarred was "Video of the rescue is available at ...". Time to reach for the bucket and all that.

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Local TV stations are starved for "filler" material. Regularly on DC stations I see photos of a dog being rescured in Kansas City, a car wreck in Idaho, and anything else that is available to fill a short gap between network and local coverage.

Just as press releases often include photos (you should see the handouts and giveaways at tables at the National Press Club of Washington, of which I am a member), so having clippings, photos, AND videos of an incident available to media outlets, is just the work of a competent PR specialist. No more, no less.

[ 05-19-2004: Message edited by: Cambodge ]

The USCG do a sterling job, no bones to pick with them at all. It's the TSA and Homeland Security I do have bones with. [MrP managed to get through all security checks last week in LAX with a boarding pass in someone else's name, issued in error at check-in; he only noticed himself at the gate, so much for the security checks]

But anyway, I do apologise for my comments.

The USCG on QM2 were nice chaps. They brought what I assume was their own photographer as they spent the time having their photos taken about ship by him, and posing for the pax to snap them too

Johan, to answer your question, Europa of '29 (actually, because of the shipyard fire, she entered service in '30), was built at Blohm & Voss.

Bremen of '29 was built at the Weser shipyards.

Two of my favorites.

1. Apology accepted!
2. I was incorrect in stating that I did not have a vested interest in the USCG. Last winter, they broke ice at the docks at the end the end of my street before the plows opened up the street itself - my taxpayer dollars at work!
3. I doubt if the media have to pay anything for their video feeds on incidents such as this. It is good PR for the entity getting the publicity.
4. Homeland Security is still pretty much a zoo, and the past few days hearings by the 9/11 commission indicate things have not improved to any significant intent.

I have been in security-oriented activities for much of my professional life - as had my wife, as you may remember. I have noted that it is the "appearance of security" that counts. If "X" had been wearing an appropriate badge, this would not have happened." If "Y" had been properly signed in, this would not have occured, etc etc. Nonsense!

I remember during the Korean War, in Far East Command Headquarters, Tokyo, we were engaged in "secret" plans for an invasion. We had tons of air photos of our objectives. We did not have classified metal locking cabinets to keep said photos in, and had only flimsy wooden cabinets. But some genius got someone else to "certify" that these cabinets were adequate to keep secret photos.

Problem solved! And the war went on.

quote:

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Originally posted by CGT:
Yes it is available - FOR NEWS OUTLETS, what are you thinking?

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The industrial selling of "news" has departed a long way from the real and important business of publicly disseminating information about events that are happening. You only have to look at the way non-events are given so much air time or column inches by the media while real and important events are just ignored.