Royal Caribbean encounters more difficulties as two ships suffer problems returning to port
By Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. From injuryattorneyfla
Over the weekend Royal Caribbean’s was struck another blow when two of its ships, the Adventure of the Seas and the Navigator of the Seas, had problems returning to port. The Adventure of the Seas lost propulsion Saturday night after the cruise ship leaked oil and barely made it to San Juan on Sunday. Navigator of the Seas was unable to make port on time due to an oil spill caused by a collision between a ship and a barge. Although the ships were delayed for different reasons, the handling of the incidents by Royal Caribbean is causing the company huge headaches.
It would appear that neither passengers arriving to board the Adventure of the Seas in San Juan, nor those entering Houston to embark on the Navigator of the Seas were advised of the ship’s delays. One of the most common complaints about cruise industry is the cruise lines are woefully unprepared to deal with emergency situations onboard their ships. Further, when problems arise, passengers are kept in the dark as to the nature, extent, and possible duration of any complications. It would appear that Royal Caribbean remains among the ranks of those cruise lines that has failed to develop sufficient procedures to effectively communicate with its customers, both onboard and on ground.
Royal Caribbean’s recent woes are yet another in a seemingly never-ending string of cruise mishaps, made worse by cruise liners continued policy of denial and concealment of such issues. As our Florida cruise ship accident attorneys recently discussed on this blog, although some cruise liners are now volunteering statistics regarding the safety of their vessels, those companies are unscrupulously artificially deflating crime numbers and diluting crime statistics through several underhanded tactics.
According to an article published in the New York Times last year, cruise incidents are much more common than commonly perceived, citing the following statistics:
Between 1990 and 2011 there were approximately 79 fires onboard cruise ships and, until 2006, there were three or four fires each year.
Between 1972 and 2011, 98 cruise ships ran aground, an average of 2.5 ships each year.
Between 1980 and 2012, sixteen cruise ships sunk. Although sinking of cruise ships is becoming more rare, such incidents can be devastating, as demonstrated by the catastrophic crash and sinking of the Costa Concordia in 2012, which resulted in the deaths of thirty two individuals and injuries to dozens of others.
Cruise companies have a duty to provide a safe environment for their passengers and the failure to do so may entitle the injured party to compensation. Despite enhanced safety measures and new policies designed to ensure passenger safety, cruising can be a risky activity.
The Florida cruise ship accident attorneys of Gerson and Schwartz, P.A. are licensed to practice law in all of Florida’s state and federal courts, and have been representing the victims of cruise ship accidents for over four decades. If you or someone you know has been injured in a cruise ship accident, contact the Florida maritime accident attorneys of Gerson and Schwartz, P.A. today.
Photo Credit: Christian Lambert Photography via Compfight cc
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Two killed in Royal Caribbean cruise ship accident on St.Kitts
From Virgin Islands News
Times Caribbean: BASSETERRE, St Kitts – Two men tragically lost their lives in an accident involving Royal Caribbean’s ‘Independence of the Seas’ on St.Kitts on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 . Reports are that The two men apparently were assisting with the unberthing process of the cruise vessel when it overturned while the ship was pulling out of port.
Eyewitnesses suggest that the Cruise Liner may have pulled out before the men had enough time to clear the berting area. As a result the sea currents created by the massive cruise liner may have caused the smaller berting boat to capsize and the men were apparently sucked below water by the current and drowned.
A member of the crew on the Royal Caribbean “Independence of the Seas” Cruise Ship said “The small boat was capsized when our rear azipods pushed us away from the dock. The two men where thrown overboard and never resurfaced, only one had on a life vest, the other man’s life vest came off when he was thrown into the water. The capsized boat was then pushed into the back of the Silhouette. All of this viewed from my aft balcony, kinda puts a damper on an otherwise wonderful cruise. Very sad for the families of these two men.”
A passenger on the cruise liner indicated that they heard an “Oscar, Oscar, Oscar” call and there was some commotion.
He said “Sitting in the port of St kitts, a port boat capsized while helping untie our ropes. We heard an “Oscar Oscar Oscar ” then lots of action…………… Both the Indy(Independence of the Seas) and Sillouette were involved in the search effort. We left 4 hours late. “
The incident is under investigation and the St.Kitts Air and Sea Port Authority have announced a Press Conference for Thursday April 3rd at 3pm.
S.L Horsford and Co. Ltd employers of one of the victims and owners of the small boat involved, issued a statement expressing sympathy and sincerest condolences to the families of the victims.
Up to Press Time Royal Caribbean has yet to issue an official release on the tragic incident.
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