approached by a Caribbean cruise liner, the carnival spirit early this week. All 24 people board the small boat were taken in by the crew members as they appear to be in distress. They were handed over to the US coast guard ship after medical workers checked them.
Cruise ships assume the duty of rescue is not uncommon while its primary purpose is not for a rescue mission. For the carnival, the rescue on Tuesday, was its 5th this year, and the 14th since June last year. Several other lines including Royal Caribbean International, MSC cruisers and celebrity cruisers have also come to aid of vessels this year. Most of this distressed vessels were carrying migrants according to reports.
No track record or rescue history was maintained by Carnival. The US coast guard did not give a definite answer to questions regarding cruise ship rescues. However, the latest examples were revealed as the US coast guard reported a higher number of Cuban migrants intercepted at sea.
More than 6,300 Cubans were intercepted and intradicted from October 1st to this week. This report was put out by the military branch which also indicated that 6,182 immigrants were intradicted the entire previous year.
A visible presence was maintained by the coast guard to detect and interdict anyone attempting to illegally migrate by sea in the Florida straits and Caribbean region.
These illegal voyages are incredibly dangerous and no one should risk their lives in unpredictable seas on rustic vessels.
Depending on circumstances, rescue can unfold in different ways. Usual practice is the ship’s crew does deploy life boats to complete the rescue. In other circumstances maneuvering the ship near the vessels in distress so that its side hatch can be used to allow anyone who needs rescuing by lowering it.
The captain of the celebrity Beyond documented a rescue in January, of 19 people on her Instagram account. Stating one of her officers noticed a glimmer on the horizon which prompted the captain to turn the ship around for the rescue. However, illegal it may seem, it is a duty of the captain to follow protocol, aid and assist any vessel that seems to be in distress.
