Abandon ship?

[taffy12]

I'm not thinking there has been, but for curiosity's sake, I thought I'd ask. Have there been any situations in recent cruising history that have warranted an abandon ship order, lifeboats filled and lowered and everything?

[runner15km]

Your answer could be here. http://www.cruisejunkie.com/index.html#Marine_Accident

[K&RCurt]

I guess it depends on how you define recent. Here are a few from this http://www.disaster-management.net/ship_acc.htm website over the past 10 years.

 

1995 June 18th. after a fire in the control room knocked out power the 2,560 passengers and crew aboard the Carnival Cruise Lines' "Celebration" drifted for two days with overflowing toilets and no running water. No one was injured, and passengers were transferred to the sister ship Ecstasy and brought back to Miami.

 

1995 July 22nd. Alaska, Prince William Sound: a fire that began in the engine room disabled the "Regent Star" owned by Regency Cruises and forced the evacuation of 1,280 passengers and crew. Two people sustained minor injuries.

 

1996 July 6th. Pacific Ocean, northwest coast of British Columbia: a fire broke out in the engine room of the "Golden Princess" during a cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver. About 1,200 passengers and crew were aboard vessel which was towed 60 miles to Victoria. None were injured.

 

1996 May 8th. off the coast of Freeport, Bahamas: a fire broke out in the engine room of the Discovery Cruise Lines' "Discovery 1"; none of the evacuated 800 passengers and 400 crew was injured.

 

1996 July 27th. Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Alaska: a fire on the San Francisco-based World Explorer Cruises' "Universe Explorer" with 732 people aboard was believed to have started in the laundry room; 5 crewmembers died of smoke inhalation and 70 people were injured.

 

1997 April 6th. Atlantic: a fire on the Cunard Line Ldt.'s "Vistafjord" en route from Florida to Portugal was caused by a short circuit in the laundry equipment. The vessel with 991 passengers and crew aboard was diverted to Freeport in the Bahamas. 1 crew member died of smoke inhalation. A similar fire broke out in the same area of the ship the previous February.

 

1997 October 4th. Mediterranean Sea, about 65 miles off Cyprus: fire aboard the Cypriot "MS Romantica", owned by Paradise Tours that was on a three-day trip to Egypt and Israel. Estimated 650 passengers and crews were evacuated into lifeboats and helicopters. No one was injured.

 

1998 July offshore southern Florida: Carnival Cruise liner "Ecstasy", fire started in a laundry room; 3,475 people aboard, 54 had to be treated for smoke inhalation.

 

2000 January 11th. Jamaica, 100 miles off Montego Bay: Carnival Cruise liner "Celebration": fire started at the auxiliary generator system, extinguished by the automated Halon system. 1,586 passengers and 667 crew were on board, no injuries reported. The ship was without electrical and propulsion power for several hours.

[spongerob]

The most recent example would be the boiler explosion aboard SS Norway. The ship was docked in Miami at the time, and evacuated, therefore no one had to take to the boats.

[FreesiaE]

I've seen photos of the Sun Vista's sinking several years ago taken from lifeboats. Yikes!

[tomc]

That should answer the occasional thread: "Is lifeboat drill really worth it?"