Following an incident aboard Pacific Sun last year when 77 passengers and crew were injured, Princess Cruises has been recommended by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) to review the role of active stabilisers in ensuring passenger safety.
The MAIB report found that by deferring maintenance to the stabilisers at the vessel’s previous drydocking, there was an increased likelihood of the cruise ship being without working stabilisers in heavy weather, as happened during the incident.
The cruise line has been asked to review the risk of injury from moving furniture ad objects and ‘develop suitable means of securing such items in heavy weather.’ The MAIB also recommended that Princess Cruises develop heavy weather guidance and instructions to ‘include actions to reduce the risk of injury to personnel.’ Pacific Sun was on the final leg of an eight day cruise of the South Pacific when the vessel rolled heavily in gale force winds and high seas, resulting in 77 passengers and crew being injured, seven seriously. As conditions deteriorated during the day, the Master had hove to into the wind and swell. As a result of this action, the vessel’s speed fell below the level where the stabilisers would work effectively.
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Wednesday, July 1, 2009
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As a participant in this cruise, could I add that the MAIB report also identified the following: That the stabilisers had not been inspected or maintained in the last dry dock of the ship in Brisbane about 4 years prior to the cruise, because the dry dock chosen was TOO NARROW to allow the stablisers to be extended and checked!! Makes you wonder, doesn't it.
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