Fire on Carnival Triumph. No engines, running on emergency generators.

[smeck]

People saying all Carnival is doing isnt enough is just laughable. This is the country of entitled babies we have become. Something doesnt go our way and we feel like we should just get showered with all sorts of compensation. They are getting their money back even though the cruise did technically have 2 of their days fine. It would do nothing for their PR but they could really say they will jsut refund half (like I pretty sure it says in the agreement you sign) and be done with it.

Something went wrong. It wasnt like Carnival set a fire to keep people on board to milk them of more money. It could have been a lot worse and Im sure you can ask someone who was on the Concordia who had to ditch all their personal belongings and then jump into freezing water and swim how bad it could be.

Remember their are reports that the ship had issues before this particular sailing if so Carnival could be in alot of trouble. If proven true rightfully so.

[txponycruiser]

I just logged on today, so I haven't been following this thread. Why wasn't a ship sent to rescue the pax and bring them back to land?

 

No available empty ships.

[broberts]

I just logged on today, so I haven't been following this thread. Why wasn't a ship sent to rescue the pax and bring them back to land?

 

Shortest answer: USCG on-scene Captain on record as saying would be too risky.

 

Short answer: read any five pages of this thread, you will most probably find the topic discussed.

 

Longer answer: if you have ever tendered, recall getting on and off the tender. (If if was Grand Cayman, reduce the size of the tender to a 125 person lifeboat.) Now increase the swells from 1 - 2 feet to 6 feet. Then add-in a ship that can't hold it's position, so both tender and ship are bobbing and swaying. Finally consider how many children and mobility challenged people may have been aboard.

[Brenna's Mom1]

My only question was with #2. After the initial event, it seems everyone assumed it was over (and it was). However, if I had been on that ship, my biggest fear would be that the fire was not completely out and would re-ignite without the ability to stop it used the first time. Everyone would be in a panick mode trying to get off a ship on-fire with no power. Then everyone would be asking why they didn't get off the ship when they had the chance.

 

I would believe that a ship that has had such a significant event would not be considered safe at all. At the very least, rescue ships should have been enroute and on close standby should an evacuation be required.

 

I believe those who have said that the room where the fire occurred was blasted with CO2 extinguishing methods. That's a foam, I think and clings to every surface and doesn't it also eat up the oxygen in the room and fire can't burn without oxygen. Also, the doors to the room and the walls were/are probably 4 hour fire doors and walls so it would take a minimum of 4 hours for the fire to break out of a controlled space. Plenty of time to evacuate a ship if absolutely, abolutely necessary. Also battery operated emergency lighting is required to stay active for "x" (sorry can't remember the length of time) hours. All stairwells, hallways, and emergency exit routes would have been lit for quite a while.

[broberts]

My only question was with #2. After the initial event, it seems everyone assumed it was over (and it was). However, if I had been on that ship, my biggest fear would be that the fire was not completely out and would re-ignite without the ability to stop it used the first time. Everyone would be in a panick mode trying to get off a ship on-fire with no power. Then everyone would be asking why they didn't get off the ship when they had the chance.

 

Heard an interview with a USCG retired officer who was aboard. He said that he was initially concerned that the all clear may have been given earlier than it should have been. He was basing this on the smoke he saw coming out of the tail. But other than that he felt things were handled well and never subsequently felt the ship was in any serious danger.

 

While the fire suppression system in the aft engine room may have dumped and not been able to do more, I expect the crew was most attentive to insuring there was no chance of a re-ignition. The crew would have had portable fire suppression equipment and the areas around the engine room would still have active systems. Crew lives were also on the line.

 

I would believe that a ship that has had such a significant event would not be considered safe at all. At the very least, rescue ships should have been enroute and on close standby should an evacuation be required.

 

Does anyone have a link to a timeline for this event? My recollection is that Triumph was rarely alone and then just on Sunday and Monday up until the Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous joined it that evening.

[airmj2123]

My only question was with #2. After the initial event, it seems everyone assumed it was over (and it was). However, if I had been on that ship, my biggest fear would be that the fire was not completely out and would re-ignite without the ability to stop it used the first time. Everyone would be in a panick mode trying to get off a ship on-fire with no power. Then everyone would be asking why they didn't get off the ship when they had the chance.

 

I would believe that a ship that has had such a significant event would not be considered safe at all. At the very least, rescue ships should have been enroute and on close standby should an evacuation be required.

 

Significant event and sinking are two different things... If the ship isn't going to blow up and the ship isn't going to sink, you're best bet is aboard.

[dwjoe]

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20674256,00.html

 

 

I like this article. Tells the story without editorializing much.

 

-Biohazard bags were handed out with instructions to leave outside cabin door for stewards to pick up. Some pax did not follow instructions and went in non-working toilets.

-Lower levels smelled the worst

-Her room had no light or ventilation, so she slept on deck 9. The entire deck was full of people.

-Elevators not working made it difficult for elderly and mobility challenged

-Cucumber and onion sandwich was delicious!

-Food available 24/7, but lines long. Some pax were hoarding

-Bar was opened two nights ago

-Crew was amazing. They had musicians, comedians, trivia, movies.

 

Thanks to cjskids for the original link.

[njf1003]

Don't worry! Someone has already sued!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/15/mexico-carnival-lawsuit-idUSL1N0BFALA20130215

[dwjoe]

Does anyone have a link to a timeline for this event? My recollection is that Triumph was rarely alone and then just on Sunday and Monday up until the Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous joined it that evening.

The best I know of is the prior CC news articles.

 

According to this one, the Vigorous arrived on the scene early Monday morning at 12:45am.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5191

[OKCruiseMan]

Heard an interview with a USCG retired officer who was aboard. He said that he was initially concerned that the all clear may have been given earlier than it should have been. He was basing this on the smoke he saw coming out of the tail. But other than that he felt things were handled well and never subsequently felt the ship was in any serious danger.

 

While the fire suppression system in the aft engine room may have dumped and not been able to do more, I expect the crew was most attentive to insuring there was no chance of a re-ignition. The crew would have had portable fire suppression equipment and the areas around the engine room would still have active systems. Crew lives were also on the line.

 

 

 

Does anyone have a link to a timeline for this event? My recollection is that Triumph was rarely alone and then just on Sunday and Monday up until the Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous joined it that evening.

 

 

All good points, thx.

[Gr101997]

Don't worry! Someone has already sued!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/15/mexico-carnival-lawsuit-idUSL1N0BFALA20130215

 

Terry suffered physical and emotional harm, including anxiety, nervousness and the loss of the enjoyment of life, according to the complaint filed in federal court in Miami.

 

What a victim. Loss of enjoyment of life? Get out of here. I hope the judge laughs in this slobs face with this lawsuit.

[tozer]

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20674256,00.html

 

 

I like this article. Tells the story without editorializing much.

 

-Biohazard bags were handed out with instructions to leave outside cabin door for stewards to pick up. Some pax did not follow instructions and went in non-working toilets.

-Lower levels smelled the worst

-Her room had no light or ventilation, so she slept on deck 9. The entire deck was full of people.

-Elevators not working made it difficult for elderly and mobility challenged

-Cucumber and onion sandwich was delicious!

-Food available 24/7, but lines long. Some pax were hoarding

-Bar was opened two nights ago

-Crew was amazing. They had musicians, comedians, trivia, movies.

 

Thanks to cjskids for the original link.

 

Think you left out some things.

 

The quote about the sandwiches appears to be sarcasm

 

As for food, I mean, we had a delicious cucumber and onion sandwich the other day

 

pay no attention to the boat listing.....

 

The boat at that point was lifting and leaning to the right and the PA came back on and they let us know that everything was fine with that – no cause for alarm.

 

Nice communication....

 

There was a whole day after the fire without an update.

 

Exact quote about the 24/7 food:

 

They've had food 24/7, but the lines have been so long. Absurd. Two, two-and-a-half hours for food. People were afraid they'd run out so they've been hoarding and taking, like, 15 pieces of bread.

 

Her closing remark:

 

I feel like I have been here for a month

[gampy]

I wish I had been on the ship instead of at my job for the last week.

 

You need a better job, seriously

[waldocruiser1]

More quotes on local TV, this time from New Orleans:

 

"We went down to Bourbon Street last night. Just let it all hang out."

 

"Our bus broke down with a radiator problem."

 

So for those of you that think Carnival did not do enough, should they give the people on the bus that broke an additional $100, or should the bus company do it?

[ikirumata]

Amen. Now back to our regularly scheduled booze smuggling, chair hogging, "the stewart (sic) called me by my first name!" threads.

 

Where is that beating the dead horse emoticon when you need it?

 

Look at all the chair hogging! :eek:

 

[wavesbreaking]

http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2013/02/articles/fires-1/here-we-go-again-engine-room-fire-cripples-carnival-triumph-cruise-ship/

 

In the background the tales of the Concordia are fading.

 

As long as the main focus remains to be about fun, frills and food cruisers will get what they pay for. It doesn't seem to be a huge concern about how Cruise lines protect their passengers and their employees against incidents at sea, even to ask who is accountable. Even though problems are reported and ships are quickly whisked away to be fixed for the moment, unfortunely after a major, sometime, life threathening incident, people are given compensation. This seems to clear the way for greater sales of products that have prior records operating with sub par equipment. The main discussion surrounds the media interview skills, the passenger attitudes, and the crabby cruiser, distracted from the accountability.

Crusiers set themselves up for reactive cruises with a flame of fame rather than demanding information and assurance ships will be reviewed, maintained and signed off enough times to eliminate and resolve problems and worn out or faulty equipment BEFORE people are put at risk.

I think when prior passengers are told and relate to others equipment problems that occured which resulted in a changed planned cruise itinerary on any cruise line, its too late and then to continue knowing those flaws with a ship of people is beyond neglience. Its the nature of the business and this is a very profitable business, when you promise the public a safe product you need to make every effort to provide a safe product. Otherwise sell something else, not 102,000 tons of floating hotels where at anytime without maintence and expected expertize of operation, these ships can become unresponsive, proper corks of struggling humans.

With our human all accepting, move along, turn the channel character, even though cruisers pay good money for this experience, its worrisome that, when future continued cruise crisis at sea occurs, it will become so common, it will be reduced to a 3 minute segment on Entertainment tonight.

But hey, you get what you expect, and of course all that V!P status.

[fuddrules]

I believe those who have said that the room where the fire occurred was blasted with CO2 extinguishing methods. That's a foam' date=' I think and clings to every surface and doesn't it also eat up the oxygen in the room and fire can't burn without oxygen. Also, the doors to the room and the walls were/are probably 4 hour fire doors and walls so it would take a minimum of 4 hours for the fire to break out of a controlled space. Plenty of time to evacuate a ship if absolutely, abolutely necessary. Also battery operated emergency lighting is required to stay active for "x" (sorry can't remember the length of time) hours. All stairwells, hallways, and emergency exit routes would have been lit for quite a while.[/quote']

 

CO2 wouldn't so much produce a foam, as it is an inert gas, but in a very concontrated area, could form a coating of ice on surfaces. CO2 also is what creates the fizz in your soda/pop. Once the discharge has stopped it eventually goes by by in the atmosphere - which causes environmentalists to freak out ;)

 

It wouldn't eat the oxygen but could displace the oxygen in a confined environment causing an oxygen deficient atmosphere.

[scottamemnon]

I keep seeing the going to Progresso thing come up.

 

Lets see if I can explain the reason why Mobile made more sense.

 

If I remember correctly when it began they were 140mi from Progresso and 450mi from Mobile(may be off a bit).

 

The oceans in the area were moving the ship at 3-4kt, we will average it at approx 4mph towards the north.

 

After 20 hours the ship was still in these currents and now 220mi from Progresso and only 370 from Mobile.

 

The tug boats would have to work against the current and would have had a max speed of approx 2mph to Progresso.

 

Working with the current they were able to get 5-6mph towards Mobile.

 

220 Miles / 2 Miles Per Hour = 110 Hours to Progresso

370 Miles / 5 Miles Per Hour = 74 Hours to Mobile

 

Since it took roughly 3 days to get to Mobile from that point I would say my estimates are pretty close.

 

Unless that current had changed, they would still be fighting to get into Progresso now.

 

Its all simple math. This is not cheerleading.

 

Much like driving in the city, sometimes the shortest route is not the fastest.

[dockmaster]

My only question was with #2. After the initial event, it seems everyone assumed it was over (and it was). However, if I had been on that ship, my biggest fear would be that the fire was not completely out and would re-ignite without the ability to stop it used the first time. Everyone would be in a panick mode trying to get off a ship on-fire with no power. Then everyone would be asking why they didn't get off the ship when they had the chance.

 

I would believe that a ship that has had such a significant event would not be considered safe at all. At the very least, rescue ships should have been enroute and on close standby should an evacuation be required.

 

Let me see if I can clear up the firefighting procedures. They should be real pretty close to what we used on a CG or Navy ship.

Fire spotted....fire reported to the bridge with TYPE of fire A: fire that leaves and ash B: combustibal liquid or oil; C: electrical D: burning metal (magisium etc)....can have a combination of all four but D is rare, B and C are most common... Call away the fire team In this case was probably Alpha team from reports passed.

at scene of fire in E/R: (these are your guys on watch in probably coveralls etc) initial action with what ever fire ext to engineroom mounted fire extinguishing agents with foam etc.. all machinery being. IF its too hot/smoky, the initial team backs out secures the entry door, Ventalition and compartnment secured.(make compt air tight). At this point the fire is turned over to Alpha team, the E/R is clear of personell and everything should be shut down.

Alpha team mans up..makes entry...original team possibly the back up hose team now.as there dressed out. Remember the fire has been burning for some time.

Alpha team make re-entry into the e/r with two hose teams. Reports on condition fire, either puts out fire: Good, back out and back up team is the reflash watch. OR

 

Fire Out of Control...... Too big to handle by a hose teams. Time to energize CO2 fire suppression system ...

Compt emptied of all personnel and totally air tight. Reported to the Captain that compt is CLEAR of all personnel, Order from Probably the Captain to Dump the system.

System engerized, all oxygen displaced in the compt. Fire needs oxygen to continue. At this point the fire is either out and is monitored from out side. At this point I'm not sure of how long thjey wait to go back in, probably at least an hour. Now a days they have cameras, thermal imagining equip so they can see the fire is out. Then they assess the damange.

 

During this other teams should have ALREADY set fire boundary's, above forward and aft of the engine compt. If nothing else is burning, the fire is limited to one compartment, with maybe some small heat damage or small fires immediately around the E/R. Sounds like they did a good job of containing it to only the aft engine room where it started. lucky them!!

 

Compts are ventilated of smoke, etc.

 

This procedure can take hours, after the CO2 is dumped,. So since everything was secured, its still all secured

I heard someone say the fire was 1250 deg, probably correct, probably hotter too in spots.

 

This is a quicky, not a whole ships firefighting doctrine, which they should have and sounds like they practiced.

 

Billd

[caribill]

It is a PR disaster,not because Carnival is an inferior cruise line, but because their handling of this terrible situation seems to indicate the bottom line trumps concern for these customers. The "busing to NOLA" might make BUSINESS SENSE but it does not make PEOPLE SENSE. It reeks of a lack of compassion and a sparcity of common sense. Anyone who puts themselves in these peoples places, tries to imagine their discomfort and what tney have been through, would think that there should be rooms ready in BOTH places...so whatever any individual needed...Carnival would be sensitive enough to provide.

 

 

BUT take care of these poor people AS SOON AS THEY return..in whatever way,THEY WANT.

 

 

Hearing the interviews with people getting off the ship, very few said they wished they could have stayed in Mobile (some who are getting home on their own did stay in Mobile).

 

A number really wanted to get to Galveston (where their cars were) and opted for the bus ride there so they could get home ASAP. They did not want to wait until the next day to fly to Houston and then bus to Galveston.

[caribill]

First passenger lawsuit filed.

 

Didn't take long to find a lawyer to take the case.

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/15/carnival-brief-idUSWEN007TJ20130215

[dockmaster]

CO2 wouldn't so much produce a foam, as it is an inert gas, but in a very concontrated area, could form a coating of ice on surfaces. CO2 also is what creates the fizz in your soda/pop. Once the discharge has stopped it eventually goes by by in the atmosphere - which causes environmentalists to freak out ;)

 

It wouldn't eat the oxygen but could displace the oxygen in a confined environment causing an oxygen deficient atmosphere.

 

http://gcaptain.com/the-dangers-of-co2-use-in-firefighting-videos/

[RRLLAL]

Some truths now coming out.

 

A few passengers had some "fun" and went around slashing some red bags open that people had left in pails outside their doors as instructed.

 

Some passengers not using the red bags as instructed and using facilities that were not working.

 

Some of you he media pics/video of soaked/squishy carpets were not from urine but from water and in some cases water sprinklers that had gone off

 

Sent using my Commodore 64 on Tapatalk 5.3

[caribill]

I would be interested to hear all of the arm chair quarterbacks hear tell me how Carnival could have handled this situation much differently.

 

I think the main thing that could have been better is regular onboard announcements, even if all that could be said is that there is no new information.

 

This is what was done on the Splendor, and the passengers there appreciated it.

[Timmys_mom]

Look at all the chair hogging! :eek:

 

 

Shocking, just shocking. Carnival should do something about that.