Safety at the Pier.

[Boasun]

Violent Winds Send Mediterranean Cruise Passengers Into Sea
Friday, March 06, 2009


Four passengers had to be rescued from the sea after the cruise ship they were boarding was ripped from its mooring in high winds, pitching the gangway into the water.

The incident happened as passengers tried to board the MSC cruise ship, Fantasia, in Palma, Majorca. It was part-way through a Mediterranean cruise.

Video footage shows the passengers swimming for their lives after gusts of up to 110km per hour snapped the ropes holding the ship fast.

One passenger was treated for head injuries, and all four had hypothermia.

Now how safe is it for your boat when you are boating in any form of wind??
Will your lines hold the boat in close or will you end up doing the splits???

[twisty2]

I watched the vid of the gangway falling away, unfreakin believable!

[lbdavis]

Here's a vid. Wow. Makes me want to go buy new dock lines. Oh, wait. I'm on a mooring.

[sailingdog]

Just curious... why were they still trying to board a boat with winds in that range??? Waiting until the winds had calmed a bit would strike me as being far more wise a decision.

[quidam1947]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Just curious... why were they still trying to board a boat with winds in that range??? Waiting until the winds had calmed a bit would strike me as being far more wise a decision.

I would imagine overconfidence on all involved parties due to the size of the ship(?)

[Valiente]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Just curious... why were they still trying to board a boat with winds in that range??? Waiting until the winds had calmed a bit would strike me as being far more wise a decision.

Someone shouted "Free shrimp cocktails!" from the rail, the irresponsible bastard.

[T37Chef]

I'm guessing the bar was opened?

[sailingdog]

These people really need to use just a bit of common sense. 110 km/hr = 68 mph...