Lesson for Norwegian from Concordia

[Azure Moon]

I think one lesson that should be learned by all is not to put on your lifejacket until you reach open decks. Just about all the bodies found below decks had their lifejackets on - trapping them where they were. In a panic, they may not have thought to remove them so they could swim underwater to escape. I realize that many passengers couldn't swim, so they would have become trapped anyways, but we'll never know how many. We do know that most found below decks had their lifejackets on.

Carry your lifejackets, don them only when required should be preached over and over again.

Good point. It makes sense. I never thought of that, so thank you for posting it. My sister-in-law can't swim, so I'm going to pass along your thought to her.

[Azure Moon]

I think you have that mixed up with flying, I have always been instructed to come to the muster station WITH your life jacket ON. On flights you are instructed NOT to inflate.

I thought we were told NOT to put them on until we were at our muster stations. I always thought the reasoning was the possibility of people tripping over vest ties dragging on the ground.

[bean24]

I just got off the Jewel this morning and had the honor of dining with Richard Swardmark who is the staff captain on the ship. We talked extensively about this tragedy, one of the things he told us is the crew undergoes some of the same psychological testing as astronauts. They also do drills all of the time and are constantly retraining. He wouldn't specify particular cruiselines, but he did say not all were as safety concerned as NCL.

 

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[medicalma'am]

I just got off the Jewel this morning and had the honor of dining with Richard Swardmark who is the staff captain on the ship. We talked extensively about this tragedy, one of the things he told us is the crew undergoes some of the same psychological testing as astronauts. They also do drills all of the time and are constantly retraining. He wouldn't specify particular cruiselines, but he did say not all were as safety concerned as NCL.

 

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Obviously we know which cruise lines don't take safety as seriously. This is very sad.

 

After reading that some people didn't have life jackets, I think I would take all the life jackets in my room to the muster station for a real situation. If they aren't needed they could just be left there. We have always taken our muster very seriously. I think that from now on, people will be listening quietly and attentively. The new catch phrase may well be "Be quiet and pay attention. Remember the Concordia."

[jetskier]

In the case of the Concordia, current info suggests that the officers did not admit the gravity of the problem for a long, long time. It appears that rather than sound the general emergency signal (the well known seven short one long on the horn), they instead told crew and coast guard there was an electrical issue. Had the alarm been properly and promptly sounded, could not life boats all been filled and deployed from both sides of the ship? could crew have covered their emergency areas, instructing those who had not yet had muster drills and those that did not pay attention? It seems possible that all would have survived with less trauma had the alarm been sounded sooner.

 

To endanger the lives and the ship to sail close to shore to sound horns at night in a salute was obviously foolhardy. To deny the gravity of the situation while precious minutes slipped away was far worse.

 

To sound the general emergency signal is to only get you to your muster stations. It takes another command from the Captain to go to the life boats and another to abandon ship.

Dave

[Starry Eyes]

To sound the general emergency signal is to only get you to your muster stations. It takes another command from the Captain to go to the life boats and another to abandon ship.

Dave

 

Oh, yes, the general emergency signal would have "only" called cruisers to their muster stations, but it was especially important to allow extra time as some passengers had not yet had their drill. Had the captain sounded the general emergency signal as soon as he ran aground, passengers would have assembled, life jackets would have been on properly, some crew could have checked cabins and public areas for stragglers, disabled people would have been offered assistance, and qualified crew could have inspected the damage. Once the damage was assessed, the captain could have deployed the lifeboats. Odds are that all would have survived.

 

By delaying and denying, valuable time was wasted and lives were lost.

[che5904]

I thought I read that 3 of the deceased were found with lifejackets on, outside of a restaurant (presumably their muster station)? Did I read that incorrectly?

 

I'm not really sure what you read. But I have never read those people were at their muster station. It seems rather unlikely that only 3 showed up to a muster station. There could be tons of other reasons why there were where they were.

 

If I was to guess or assume I would more lean towards being lost. I've posted this on one of the other threads and I will repost it here.

 

I'll start by saying I am directionally disfunctional. After 5 days on a cruise on the Star heading for the pool at the bow, in broad daylight, I ended up at the Stern of the ship. I showed up to our meet and greet in Le Bistro and took forever to find the door to get in, I could see the people I just couldn't find the entrance. Sorry but I can't be the only person in the world that would get lost trying to get out of a paper bag.

 

So my issue with having a muster station in a theatre, restaurant, casino, bar or whereever is different than most others and for the above reason. In the pitch black of the ship that has now started to list, in trying to remain calm mode, trying to locate an out of the way restaurant is a lot more difficult for me than to find (in the case of the Star) the promenade deck where the lifeboats are. So I was very happy when our muster station was on the promenade deck for that reason.

[AttilaTheFun]

I'm struck by how even though the cruise lines hire professionals to plan how the drills and how evacuations work, some people on a message board supposedly know better. Call me crazy, but I'm more wiling to trust the cruise line and their hired professionals :rolleyes:

[chocolatemuffin]

I totally agree. Having sailed Costa several years back, I found the drill to be a joke. Went to the muster station and having our life vest on, the drill consisted of "Everybody outside, ok, everybody inside." Then, started sailing Norweign and felt so much safer and impressed. Sailed on NCL from 1998 and every year since, always, always, assembled on the outside deck or main room, each name was called and checked off, proper instructions on life jackets and info in case of actual evacution. Also being on board during drills where the stimulated actual smoke conditions, all crew member involved, seriously following procedures. I always felt safe and impressed with the deligence of the crew.

 

These is one of the many reason why I sail NCL. I also check each ships CDC ratings and NCL ships always appear to be 95 to 100% compliance with health regulations.

 

No matter what cabin I chose, no matter where I sail from, I really believe NCL is top notch on safety. The only concern I have lately is the the huge mega ships. Living in NYC, I don't want to travel with 4,000 other people. It is enough I take the subway.

 

Last year I took my first cruise with NCL. I believe that they are better than others but having sailed with other (German) cruise lines, I think there are still things to improve and that I liked better on other cruises.

F.e. the drill which was mentioned a few times in this thread: on our b2b cruise we had 2 drills...and it was the same both times: people kept chatting; the bars were open and you could order drinks; you didn't have to bring your life vest; they just tick your name off and don't care if you listen to the instructions... for me this drill was just "weird".