Crippled cruise ship reaches land
Source: Agencies |
March 2, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HOT and tired passengers disembarking from a disabled cruise ship yesterday in the Seychelles said they had prepared to abandon ship when fire broke out in the engine room three days ago, causing smoke to billow from the vessel and setting it adrift in waters prowled by pirates.
Life boats were lowered, passengers said. Austrian Thomas Foaller said some passengers panicked. Couples who were separated were calling out to each other, he said.
Among them were American couple Gordon and Eleanor Bradwell of Athens, Georgia. They were separated when Eleanor went to the couple's room to get a life vest. A crew member had handed the 72-year-old Gordon his own as smoke rose from the ship.
"Those were the worst moments," said Gordon.
But the fire that broke out on Monday was brought under control and the more than 1,000 passengers and crew wound up staying aboard the Costa Allegra, which suddenly had no engine power, no air conditioning and no running water for showers or toilets.
Eleanor Bradwell said that the initial response to the alarm seemed to be disorganized but overall she and her husband felt the shipping line handled the emergency well.
"It could have been worse than it was," said Gordon. "It could have been disastrous ... we're here, we're alive."
The couple ate sandwiches for three days and moved their bedding onto the deck to escape the stifling heat after the fire left the Costa Allegra without power. "The toilets were running over and it was very hot," said Eleanor.
Foaller said after the fire was contained the situation was fairly calm, if not comfortable. "It was not dramatic. It was quiet. After (the fire was out) it was just boring," he said.
The fire came only six weeks after the Costa Concordia, owned by the same company, Florida-based Carnival Corp, hit a reef and capsized off Italy, killing 25 people and leaving seven missing, presumed dead.
The Costa Allegra crew formed up and clapped as passengers disembarked and boarded buses.
"The focus is to get them a warm meal and a shower," said Guillaume Albert, head of Creole Travel Service.
A Seychelles official suggested on Wednesday that the journey may have taken longer because the French fishing vessel towing the ship had refused to give way to two faster tugs sent by the Seychelles. Although assistance to people at sea is free, assistance to ships is often paid.
The Allegra left Madagascar on Saturday, carrying 627 passengers and 413 crew.
About 375 people are taking advantage of the company's offer of a free vacation in the Seychelles. They will also be reimbursed for the cruise.
Life boats were lowered, passengers said. Austrian Thomas Foaller said some passengers panicked. Couples who were separated were calling out to each other, he said.
Among them were American couple Gordon and Eleanor Bradwell of Athens, Georgia. They were separated when Eleanor went to the couple's room to get a life vest. A crew member had handed the 72-year-old Gordon his own as smoke rose from the ship.
"Those were the worst moments," said Gordon.
But the fire that broke out on Monday was brought under control and the more than 1,000 passengers and crew wound up staying aboard the Costa Allegra, which suddenly had no engine power, no air conditioning and no running water for showers or toilets.
Eleanor Bradwell said that the initial response to the alarm seemed to be disorganized but overall she and her husband felt the shipping line handled the emergency well.
"It could have been worse than it was," said Gordon. "It could have been disastrous ... we're here, we're alive."
The couple ate sandwiches for three days and moved their bedding onto the deck to escape the stifling heat after the fire left the Costa Allegra without power. "The toilets were running over and it was very hot," said Eleanor.
Foaller said after the fire was contained the situation was fairly calm, if not comfortable. "It was not dramatic. It was quiet. After (the fire was out) it was just boring," he said.
The fire came only six weeks after the Costa Concordia, owned by the same company, Florida-based Carnival Corp, hit a reef and capsized off Italy, killing 25 people and leaving seven missing, presumed dead.
The Costa Allegra crew formed up and clapped as passengers disembarked and boarded buses.
"The focus is to get them a warm meal and a shower," said Guillaume Albert, head of Creole Travel Service.
A Seychelles official suggested on Wednesday that the journey may have taken longer because the French fishing vessel towing the ship had refused to give way to two faster tugs sent by the Seychelles. Although assistance to people at sea is free, assistance to ships is often paid.
The Allegra left Madagascar on Saturday, carrying 627 passengers and 413 crew.
About 375 people are taking advantage of the company's offer of a free vacation in the Seychelles. They will also be reimbursed for the cruise.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
