Cruise Talk: Star Princess: Did cruise ship ignore fishermen drifting at sea?

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Topic: Star Princess: Did cruise ship ignore fishermen drifting at sea?

Salaison
First Class Passenger
Member # 4722

posted 04-19-2012 05:51 PM

RIO HATO, Panama (AP) -- A Panamanian fisherman who saw his two friends die from exposure in an open boat after more than 16 days at sea says a big ship passed but kept going despite their signaling for help.

Two Americans aboard a cruise ship in the same area believe they saw the fishermen adrift at sea and they alerted the crew, but the luxury liner continued on its course.

The company that owns the Star Princess cruise ship says it is looking into whether the crew ignored the fishermen's signals that they needed help.

Adrian Vasquez was the only one to survive, after 28 days adrift in a boat.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Vasquez said of the cruise ship: "Instead of helping us, they left us."

------

Associated Press writer Jeff Barnard in Grants Pass, Ore., contributed to this report.Star Princess: Did cruise ship ignore fishermen signaling for help?

Posts: 444 | From: St. Lucia--The Sleeping Leviathan | Registered: May 2004 | IP: Logged

Salaison
First Class Passenger
Member # 4722

posted 04-19-2012 05:54 PM

Posts: 444 | From: St. Lucia--The Sleeping Leviathan | Registered: May 2004 | IP: Logged

bulbousbow
First Class Passenger
Member # 4440

posted 04-20-2012 10:35 AM

Read the story when it first appeared several days ago. It is appalling that such a thing could happen today with all the technology we have. In the end it is always down to us humans whether we bother or not to take action. The crew member who failed to report it to the captain has plenty to answer for. Pity about those fellas trying to contact the US Coast Guard by e-mail. So close yet so far. Truly sad.

******

Cheers

Posts: 6866 | From: Adelaide, Australia | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

DEIx15x8
First Class Passenger
Member # 14958

posted 04-20-2012 07:54 PM

I don't know if the captain knew about the boat or not. We have no idea if he was on the bridge at the time and can be held directly accountable for it (though the captain is accountable for the actions of all the crew under him). The fact that no one on the bridge spotted this boat though when several passengers did, I do not believe. If we're supposed to believe this story Princess should be under investigation for why they are incapable of spotting objects floating in the water. That is a huge safety risk. Their are normally people on the bridge tasked with looking for things on the horizon whether it's a ship, an object adrift like a buoy, or a fishing boat in need. If they did not spot this boat what else may they miss?

Posts: 521 | From: Kutztown, PA | Registered: Apr 2008 | IP: Logged

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