Ferry Explosion Video Link(s) - Playa del Carmen

http://abc13.com/18-injured-when-mexican-ferry-explodes-after-docking/3120258/

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/horrific-video-captures-moment-explosion-12066562

Reports were two Americans onboard.

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It was the Caribe ferry, not Ultramar that the cruise lines use. My son and I stayed in Cozumel for a week last month. We took the ferry over to Playa one morning. The concierge at the hotel recommended that we use Ultramar. There are 2 other companies with ferry boats, but he said the boats are not as nice as the Ultramar ferries. The others are cheaper.

If you go, pay a few pesos more for First Class on Ultramar. Well worth the comfortable seats and smaller number of people in the first class cabin.

It was the Caribe ferry, not Ultramar that the cruise lines use. My son and I stayed in Cozumel for a week last month. We took the ferry over to Playa one morning. The concierge at the hotel recommended that we use Ultramar. There are 2 other companies with ferry boats, but he said the boats are not as nice as the Ultramar ferries. The others are cheaper.

 

If you go, pay a few pesos more for First Class on Ultramar. Well worth the comfortable seats and smaller number of people in the first class cabin.

What does that have to do with the explosion?

What does that have to do with the explosion?

If you book Xcaret you’re on the nicer ferry. But, you’re right, this is a boat full of tourists.

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And people want to repeal the PVSA, which would allow these Mexican ferry operators to operate in US ports.

And people want to repeal the PVSA, which would allow these Mexican ferry operators to operate in US ports.

It could be replaced or updated by a 100 years or so. Nothing like laws that protect non-existent industries and prevent new ones from being created.

That explosion appears to have come from a passenger deck. Certainly didn't look like any kind of engine room malfunction.

It could be replaced or updated by a 100 years or so. Nothing like laws that protect non-existent industries and prevent new ones from being created.

Are you saying that the ferry boat, commuter boat, water taxi, duck boat, casino boat, dinner cruise industry is non-existent in the US? Because, outside of the limited view of most CC members, that is what the PVSA protects, providing tens of thousands of US jobs, and putting millions into the US economy.

That explosion appears to have come from a passenger deck. Certainly didn't look like any kind of engine room malfunction.

Agreed. And the use diesel powered propulsion and generator engines.

To my expertise limited to a fishing boat diesel shouldn’t explode.

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What a shame, so sad!!!

Agreed. And the use diesel powered propulsion and generator engines.

To my expertise limited to a fishing boat diesel shouldn’t explode.

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Highly unlikely that diesel fumes would have done this. Slow motion video of the blast clearly shows it was too focused to have been caused by fume build up in the passenger area.

Hopefully the Mexican authorities get this sorted out.

Are you saying that the ferry boat, commuter boat, water taxi, duck boat, casino boat, dinner cruise industry is non-existent in the US? Because, outside of the limited view of most CC members, that is what the PVSA protects, providing tens of thousands of US jobs, and putting millions into the US economy.

Speaking of duck boats, there have been a number of duck boat accidents including fatalities. How did the antiquated PVSA prevent those?

PVSA is certainly protectionist and anti-competition. Unions love it.

Speaking of duck boats, there have been a number of duck boat accidents including fatalities. How did the antiquated PVSA prevent those?

 

PVSA is certainly protectionist and anti-competition. Unions love it.

Yes, duck boats are, in my opinion, not very safe, but at least they need to meet the more stringent USCG safety standards than would be applicable if they were foreign flag. Those accidents were caused by human error.

In fact, the large majority of all PVSA jobs are non-union jobs. And over 80 nations worldwide have similar cabotage laws, including China, Japan, Russia, Brazil and the EU.

happens here too

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/Casino-shuttle-boat-destroyed-by-fire-as-50-passengers-abandon-ship-in-frigid-Gulf_164508052

. . . and then there are accidents involving the Staten Island ferries . . .

Stuff happens.

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. . . and then there are accidents involving the Staten Island ferries . . .

 

Stuff happens.

 

 

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Was this explosion an accident?

Yes, duck boats are, in my opinion, not very safe, but at least they need to meet the more stringent USCG safety standards than would be applicable if they were foreign flag. Those accidents were caused by human error.

 

In fact, the large majority of all PVSA jobs are non-union jobs. And over 80 nations worldwide have similar cabotage laws, including China, Japan, Russia, Brazil and the EU.

I'm pretty sure the US could compel foreign flagged ships to comply with some US laws. For example, cruise ships have to comply to some extent with ADA requirements if they wish to do business in the US.

With the reduction in commercial ship building in the US these days, certainly some union jobs disappeared. Unions had to bless a waiver for NCL to offer Hawaii cruises, so they still have an interest in PVSA and would oppose a repeal.

I'm pretty sure the US could compel foreign flagged ships to comply with some US laws. For example, cruise ships have to comply to some extent with ADA requirements if they wish to do business in the US.

 

With the reduction in commercial ship building in the US these days, certainly some union jobs disappeared. Unions had to bless a waiver for NCL to offer Hawaii cruises, so they still have an interest in PVSA and would oppose a repeal.

No, since the US is signatory to SOLAS, the only regulations that the USCG can enforce are SOLAS regulations, and the USCG regulations for US flag ships are more stringent, as allowed by SOLAS (for the flag state's own ships). In order to enforce stricter regulations on foreign flag ships, the US would have to fundamentally amend SOLAS, getting a majority of maritime nations to agree. As the SCOTUS ruling in Spector v NCL stated, first off, SOLAS trumps ADA, and the ship's "internal policies and procedures" do not come under the ADA. The only reason the ADA is enforced on the cruise ships at all is because they offer "accommodation" in the US (while in port). If the US could compel foreign flag ships to comply with US laws, why hasn't Sen. Rockefeller been able to get them to pay taxes, and why did CLIA agree to abide by the Cruise Ship Passenger Bill of Rights, since despite passage in Congress, they knew it wasn't enforceable.

Not sure how much any "blessing" by the unions impacted the decision to allow NCL to get an exemption to the PVSA build provision, or how much the opportunity to not have to pay hundreds of millions in loan guarantees on the uncompleted POA hull swayed the legislators.

Even more important than the unions opposing a repeal, CLIA lobbied for 10 years to get the exemption for Puerto Rico, and when it was finally granted, only Carnival took up the market, and they have dropped the one way cruises as well. CLIA has stated that neither they nor any of their member cruise lines have any interest in modifying or repealing the PVSA, since they see no benefit to their bottom line (despite the clamor for its repeal here on CC, the lines don't see much of a market for these cruises), and potentially damage to the bottom line if the repeal comes with more restrictions in other areas.

Was this explosion an accident?

No. There have been numerous accidents involving the SIF over the years, mostly crashing into docks. Most involve injuries and some involve deaths. My point is that stuff can happen at the intersection of the interaction between large machinery and human beings. Safety on ships is a paramount focus - for passengers AND crew. Remember - the crew wants to go home to their families too.

. . . and I love the Staten Island Ferry - it's the best ticket in town!

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Was this explosion an accident?

Oops - I may have misinterpreted your question. Sorry - it's early for me.

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I DO NOT think an EXPLOSIVE DEVICE on a ferry is "AN ACCIDENT" -- since more have been found on the underside of ferries, I think someone or some group intends to injure or kill people! THINK ABOUT THIS FOLKS! And what's to stop "them" from putting explosives somewhere else on Cozumel?

I DO NOT think an EXPLOSIVE DEVICE on a ferry is "AN ACCIDENT" -- since more have been found on the underside of ferries, I think someone or some group intends to injure or kill people! THINK ABOUT THIS FOLKS! And what's to stop "them" from putting explosives somewhere else on Cozumel?

The ferry was not in Cozumel. It was at the ferry dock in Playa del Carmen. No one was on the ferry, it was empty at the time. The local speculation is that it was related to the ownership of the ferry BARCOS, a local corrupt politicians family. Local people are trying to get that politician out of office so that is why they believe it was totally directed at that ferry. It has ZERO to do with hurting tourists or tourism.

The ferry was not in Cozumel. It was at the ferry dock in Playa del Carmen. No one was on the ferry, it was empty at the time. The local speculation is that it was related to the ownership of the ferry BARCOS, a local corrupt politicians family. Local people are trying to get that politician out of office so that is why they believe it was totally directed at that ferry. It has ZERO to do with hurting tourists or tourism.

Let’s see; the explosion DID injure people including tourists, Cozumel survives only on tourist dollars and those ferries are loaded with people especially with spring break upon us. Locals WOULD be expected to minimize the risks since this has potential to reduce their livelihood.

In addition, you posted this on another thread:

All the cruise lines are cancelling excursions to the Mainland now. This will have a huge financial impact to those tour businesses. They don't rely totally on cruisers, but I bet it is at least half their tourism $$$. So until things settle down, it can be bad. I fell bad for everyone.

Cozumel now is going to be very busy when multiple cruise ships are in port. A friend told me today that all the streets are packed with jeeps and taxis since the tourists are being turned away from ferries over. I bet all the local tour companies are crazy right now. So if you are doing a cruise to Cozumel, book your excursions ahead of time!

 

robin

Help me understand why you’d now minimize something you expressed concern about prior.

The second incident involved finding more bombs, these hadn’t injured or killed anyone yet. Acts of violence and retaliation in public transportation serving a tourist area aren’t going to differentiate the passenger load as locals vs tourists so the cruise lines suspended shore excursions dependent on ferry transportation.

Finally, it doesn’t matter where the ferry was at the time, people are at risk of injury or death.

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Let’s see; the explosion DID injure people including tourists, Cozumel survives only on tourist dollars and those ferries are loaded with people especially with spring break upon us. Locals WOULD be expected to minimize the risks since this has potential to reduce their livelihood.

In addition, you posted this on another thread:

 

 

Help me understand why you’d now minimize something you expressed concern about prior.

 

The second incident involved finding more bombs, these hadn’t injured or killed anyone yet. Acts of violence and retaliation in public transportation serving a tourist area aren’t going to differentiate the passenger load as locals vs tourists so the cruise lines suspended shore excursions dependent on ferry transportation.

 

Finally, it doesn’t matter where the ferry was at the time, people are at risk of injury or death.

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My comment about where the ferry was located at the time had to do with what Kay said.... implying that bombs were going to be planted all over Cozumel.

I am not minimizing this incident.....all I am saying is that it was not a terrorism attack on tourists and that it took place over on the Mainland.

Yes, tourists use the ferries! But most of the passengers on the ferries every day are local Mexican workers. Most cannot afford to live on Cozumel, so they commute over and back daily to their tourism jobs on Cozumel. The ferry is just that, a shuttle for people from the island to the Mainland and vice versa. They run every hour all day long and into the evening. They are running RIGHT NOW, TODAY, with locals and tourists going back and forth every hour. Thousands of people have taken the ferry since this incident 2 weeks ago.

Does the security at the ferry piers need to be improved?

Probably, but I doubt it will happen. Most people pay cash for a ticket, then just walk up to ferry and hand it to someone and get on. No bags xrays, no ID checks, nothing. It is the way it has been done forever.

Many of the American tourists who visit Cozumel on week-long scuba vacations fly into Cancun, take a Mexican bus down to the ferry, then ride the ferry over to Cozumel. It is cheap. I know lots of people who do this all the time as Southwest flies into Cancun but not Cozumel. There is a scuba forum on another website for divers who go to Cozumel, thousands of divers go there every year as it is one of the top 10 dive destinations in the world. World class diving, that is why we go there every year.

All our friends in Cozumel and PDC are in the dive industry and I have known many of them for 10-18 years. I get my news from them, first hand knowledge from the people living there, several Americans, Ex-Pats, Canadians, some Mexican and one from Argentina. I trust them to tell me what is going on as they are THERE daily. It is their businesses that are being affected by this.

So if you really have a problem with the ferry system in Cozumel-PDC then don't take them. Really think carefully about how your spreading rumors and trashing a place affects people who depend on tourism to survive.

think carefully about how your spreading rumors and trashing a place affects people who depend on tourism to survive.[/u]

You’re aware I posted links to news stories and didn’t create any rumor, and I’d also not make claims like this was/wasn’t terror. Taking a casual approach to what is now two events is akin to “aside from that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”

For whatever reason if a bomb placed aboard a public transportation source is intended to or does cause harm to others (in this case both happened) then it’s by definition an act of tourism. I’ve traveled to Mexico, Canada, Europe and China, I have a decent level of understanding risks.

Still waiting for your explain how a device with a timer will differentiate between tourists and locals. Telling someone on a cruise or any tourist forum that risks are minimal is bad advice, regardless of the source. It’s happened twice in a short time, one with injuries.

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