How far from the coastline does a typical Caribbean cruise ship sail

[buffi001]

This ordeal with the Carnival Triumph got me wondering.. How far off the

coastline is the normal path for a ship sailing from New york to the Caribbean? In other words, in extreme circumstances, how long would

it take to be rescued and pulled into port.

 

And how far into the Gulf was the Carnival Triumph. It seemed like a

very long time before it was able to be towed into an accessable port.

 

Also.....I was roasted once before for this......but once again, this

is a ship that was built in Italy that is having severe trouble. It certainly

seems to be a pattern with ships built in Italian shipyards.

[dmwnc1959]

Yes, those Italian made cruise ships are catching fire every other day it seems. :rolleyes:

 

- Adventure of the Seas (small, brief engine fire Nov. 13, 2012), built in Finland

 

- Allure of the Seas (small fire on April 20, 2012), built in Finland

 

- Azamara Quest (fire on March 31, 2012), built in France.

 

- MS Costa Allegra (fire on Feb. 27, 2012), built in Italy

 

- Bahamas Celebration (fire on Dec. 21, 2011), built in Germany

 

- Queen Mary II (fire on Oct. 5, 2011), built in France

 

- Ocean Star (fire on April 16, 2011), built in Finland

 

- MSC Musica (fire on Dec. 19, 2010), built in France

 

- Carnival Splendor (fire on Nov. 8, 2010), built in Italy

 

- Carnival Ecstasy (fire in 1988), built in Finland.

 

- Star Princess (fire on March 23, 2006), reportedly caused by smoldering cigarette

 

- MS Nordlys (fire on Sept. 15, 2011), built in Germany

 

- SS Norway (boiler explosion May 2003), built in France

 

- Wind Song (fire on Dec. 1, 2002), built in France

[Big_G]

This ordeal with the Carnival Triumph got me wondering.. How far off the

coastline is the normal path for a ship sailing from New york to the Caribbean? In other words, in extreme circumstances, how long would

it take to be rescued and pulled into port.

 

And how far into the Gulf was the Carnival Triumph. It seemed like a

very long time before it was able to be towed into an accessable port.

 

Also.....I was roasted once before for this......but once again, this

is a ship that was built in Italy that is having severe trouble. It certainly

seems to be a pattern with ships built in Italian shipyards.

 

Looks like you got roasted again. Don't take it personal. Some people can't help themselves.

[BND]

This ordeal with the Carnival Triumph got me wondering.. How far off the

coastline is the normal path for a ship sailing from New york to the Caribbean? In other words, in extreme circumstances, how long would

it take to be rescued and pulled into port.

 

And how far into the Gulf was the Carnival Triumph. It seemed like a

very long time before it was able to be towed into an accessable port.

 

Also.....I was roasted once before for this......but once again, this

is a ship that was built in Italy that is having severe trouble. It certainly

seems to be a pattern with ships built in Italian shipyards.

 

It varies all the way and it depends on the first port of call. Some go straight down the coast (Bahamas, Western Caribbean) and others angle out farther to the east (eastern and southern Caribbean). "Rescue" also depends on where the ship is. There are places where the Coast Guard is very close, others not so much. Way too many variables. But, the fires are not about where a ship was built; some are maintenance issues while others are just "crap happens" just like anything else-shorts, engines seizing, etc.

[dmwnc1959]

This ordeal with the Carnival Triumph.....but once again, this is a ship that was built in Italy that is having severe trouble. It certainly seems to be a pattern with ships built in Italian shipyards.

 

Looks like you got roasted again. Don't take it personal. Some people can't help themselves.

 

Not roasted, stating facts to correct a falsely made assumption.

 

There is a difference, you know. ;)

[KirkNC]

Eleven fires in the last few years, a surprisingly high number.

[Hlitner]

A few thoughts about the OPs post. The distance from the nearest land can be anywhere from about 1 inch to hundreds of miles depending on the phase of the moon, day of the week, etc. But seriously, we suggest the OP just look at a map because nearly 80% of the earth is covered by sea and a ship can go just about anywhere on the sea. As to where the ship is built, these fires have nothing to do with Italy but rather the design of complex mechanical and electrical systems. There are new international standards (that only apply to the newest ships) designed to minimize the chance of this kind of event. The new standards call for separate engine rooms and independent electrical systems. Most of these fires may not appear too serious, but will usually melt or destroy electrical buses that then deprive the ship of needed electrical power. Everything on modern ships operates from electricity provided by multiple generators. Once you lose power then nothing functions other then emergency systems which are intended to protect life. On the Triumph it should be noted that not a single person was injured as a result of their event.

 

Hank

[orville99]

Not roasted, stating facts to correct a falsely made assumption.

 

There is a difference, you know. ;)

 

 

The list should also include the Disney Magic (built in Italy) that has also experienced engine room fires, and electrical power losses (total blackouts) while at sea.

[okgirl]

Yes, those Italian made cruise ships are catching fire every other day it seems. :rolleyes:

 

- Adventure of the Seas (small, brief engine fire Nov. 13, 2012), built in Finland

 

- Allure of the Seas (small fire on April 20, 2012), built in Finland

 

- Azamara Quest (fire on March 31, 2012), built in France.

 

- MS Costa Allegra (fire on Feb. 27, 2012), built in Italy

 

- Bahamas Celebration (fire on Dec. 21, 2011), built in Germany

 

- Queen Mary II (fire on Oct. 5, 2011), built in France

 

- Ocean Star (fire on April 16, 2011), built in Finland

 

- MSC Musica (fire on Dec. 19, 2010), built in France

 

- Carnival Splendor (fire on Nov. 8, 2010), built in Italy

 

- Carnival Ecstasy (fire in 1988), built in Finland.

 

- Star Princess (fire on March 23, 2006), reportedly caused by smoldering cigarette

 

- MS Nordlys (fire on Sept. 15, 2011), built in Germany

 

- SS Norway (boiler explosion May 2003), built in France

 

- Wind Song (fire on Dec. 1, 2002), built in France

 

Or as some people would have you believe.......wow....those Carnival Corporation ships are catching fire every other day......they must have a really poor maintenance plan...probably why their cruises are so cheap....:rolleyes:

 

Would you please send this list to CNN and 20/20....

[dmwnc1959]

Eleven fires in the last few years, a surprisingly high number.

 

That's out of over 150 cruise ships world wide, with countless tens of thousands of voyages carrying over 100 million passengers in the last decade. Still, not a bad track record.

 

P.S. The fire on Star Princess was far worse, yet people have long since forgot about it and book that ship in droves with credit card in hand:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[clackey]

 

And how far into the Gulf was the Carnival Triumph. It seemed like a

very long time before it was able to be towed into an accessable port.

 

.

If I remember correctly the Triumph was about 150 miles north of Progreso when it lost power. The direction of the wind and current made it hard to tow the ship back to Progreso. As for distance to the shore, look at a map and draw a straight line from Progreso to Mobile. The ship was several hundred miles from shore.

 

We were once told that the ship was never over 2 or 3 miles from land, but it was straight down.:eek:

[Sheffie]

If I remember correctly the Triumph was about 150 miles north of Progreso when it lost power. The direction of the wind and current made it hard to tow the ship back to Progreso. As for distance to the shore, look at a map and draw a straight line from Progreso to Mobile. The ship was several hundred miles from shore.

 

We were once told that the ship was never over 2 or 3 miles from land, but it was straight down.:eek:

 

On tv they said that the reason they didn't go to Mexico was the fact that a lot of the passengers didn't have passports. That would have been a nightmare getting them home! I also wonder if that closest port would have had facilities to get those passengers housed, meet with US authorities to get passports, and fly them home.

[Capt_BJ]

back to OP's actual question

 

This ordeal with the Carnival Triumph got me wondering.. How far off the

coastline is the normal path for a ship sailing from New york to the Caribbean? In other words, in extreme circumstances, how long would

it take to be rescued and pulled into port.

 

And how far into the Gulf was the Carnival Triumph. It seemed like a

very long time before it was able to be towed into an accessable port.

 

consider this: Bermuda lay approxomately 630 miles from the nearest land in the general vicinity of Cape Hatteras

 

The distance from Progresso to Mobile Alabama is approminately 630 miles

 

it would appear that the ship was disabled a bit to the Progresso side, but currents pushed it towards the Mobile side ..... so safe to guess the situation started 'close' to mid way between. So a ship from Baltimore to Bermuda with a similar problem 1/2 way there . . .

 

Take a map and draw hypothetical lines from New York to Nassau and you'll quickly see that being 300 miles off shore is probably going to happen. 300 miles at 70 mph on I-95 is a lot different from 300 miles under tow at 5 mph.

 

But this really only addresses part of the issue. Let's go back to the Princess fire. Where did that happen? The ship was near Jamacia was it not (150 miles or so). Who arrived to provide assistance? Fortunately the ship was able to put out the fire and sail to JA under their own power. What if the ship had lost power.... where was the assist going to come from? Where are the nearest tugs able to tow something so large?

 

Just being near land does not mean you are near help. Getting a few thousand cruise passangers into the life boats and heading for the beaches of Haiti is not going to be a very good plan.

[bbwex]

Fire is the biggest danger and most common event at sea. The crews are trained to fight fires, though in some cases, i.e. the Star Princess, they did a less than perfect job.

 

I think the proper count of cruise ships is something slightly above 270, so 14 fires (notable ones) over a decade is not out of the ordinary.

 

The problem is a lack of compartmentalization and redundancy. Ships built before 2010 were allowed to have all of the generators in the same space, and did not have to have redundant and separated electrical panels. Any fire that affects all of the propulsion generators leaves the ship dead in the water. Any fire that affects the generator(s) for the ship's electrical systems can leave the ship without plumbing, elevators, ventilation, cooking, etc. Heretofore it has been a recognized but acceptable problem. It has been addressed from 2010 forward, but older ships may never comply.

 

It could be argued that many fires are the result of improper maintenance, but parts can fail.

 

Ships are built in Italy, Germany, Finland, etc., because they can be built more inexpensively there. Not necessarily less well, but for less money. Any yard could have compartmentalized the generators or made the electrical systems redundant. All that had to happen was the the buyer had to be willing to pay. The International Marine Organization did not require it before 2010, so all of the older ships were built to the existing standards. Over the course of time, we shall see if that was a wise financial decision.

[mikedw]

Look at it this way, in a small town of 5,000-6,000 people, how many fires does the local fire dept. respond to in a year. I'm sure it's more then the number of fires onboard ships in a decade.