12 Rescued & Now on the Wonder?- Update From CNN

[Tonka's Skipper]

I imagine that some of those boats might be disabled drug smugglers, especially in southern waters around the US, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Not likely, the druggies are using high speed, state of the art boats and submarines these days All running at night, without lights.. The last thing they want is to be bothered by a cruise ship with 4000 pairs of eyes watching them and the chance of losing their cargo of dope. In the rare chance of a breakdown, they simply radio their evil buddies to come get them, which they hope happens before the USCG finds them.

AKK

 

[kamik86]

I do wonder though who pays for the food and medical care they receive? The company?

I understand why they have the law, but at the same time there is a part of me that wonders about making a law that someone has to help someone else. I mean I don't think we would ever see a law that if you came upon a car crash on the side of the road that you had to stop and offer assistance for example. Most probably would in most circumstances but I can think of a few where I would not (area with no service, isolated, and I'm alone for one example... or a very icy patch of road being another, its not uncommon to get a chain reaction of crashes in an icy patch) I would still call to get them help as soon as I had service but not necessarily stay as boats are apparently required to do.

What if the reason for distress is a bad storm? Does the ship by law have to stay to help people even if it would push their passengers in danger? (In this case think larger boat in distress not a small raft)

Given the article above where someone is apparently suing princess for not stopping for them I have to wonder about the details of this law.

Actually if its an international law who even polices that law?

 

[Bridgett_Anna]

I wouldn't worry about letting them on too much because there is a crew of trained personal on board that will make sure nothing bad happens. Someone probably said something about this already, but what are they going to do with the 12 people?

 

[MammaMoe48]

I do wonder though who pays for the food and medical care they receive? The company?

I understand why they have the law, but at the same time there is a part of me that wonders about making a law that someone has to help someone else. I mean I don't think we would ever see a law that if you came upon a car crash on the side of the road that you had to stop and offer assistance for example. Most probably would in most circumstances but I can think of a few where I would not (area with no service, isolated, and I'm alone for one example... or a very icy patch of road being another, its not uncommon to get a chain reaction of crashes in an icy patch) I would still call to get them help as soon as I had service but not necessarily stay as boats are apparently required to do.

What if the reason for distress is a bad storm? Does the ship by law have to stay to help people even if it would push their passengers in danger? (In this case think larger boat in distress not a small raft)

Given the article above where someone is apparently suing princess for not stopping for them I have to wonder about the details of this law.

Actually if its an international law who even polices that law?

Apparently the UN: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Maritime_Organization

 

[MammaMoe48]

I wouldn't worry about letting them on too much because there is a crew of trained personal on board that will make sure nothing bad happens. Someone probably said something about this already, but what are they going to do with the 12 people?

All cruise ships are equipped with what basically equates to a police force and an armory onboard that can be mobilized if needed. They don't like to advertise this because they want everyone to feel safe and happy (and they don't want someone trying to access that armory). If they are doing their jobs right, you'll never know they are there.

From the picture posted by OP, it looks like a refugee boat so I imagine the 12 people rescued will be handed over to the appropriate authorities and returned to their home countries.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

By international law and various maritime organization like the IMO, every vessel must stop and offer assistance and rescue to any other vessel/people at sea. This goes back long before the the UN, back centuries to sailing ships and traditions of the sea.

In this incident, the Master would slow down and access the situation and call the USCG. They would likely appoint a USCG commander and work together with the Master of the Wonder and other vessels in the area. If it is deem the Wonder was not needed, the USCG Commander would release her and she goes on with her voyage. Otherwise she did just as happened, they sent a boat into the water and rescued the refugees. This same format would happen if a vessel was in danger, or burning or sinking, whatever danger is there, other vessels offer aid. If their was no USCG Commander, the Master would proceed to the best of his abilities, the vessel and the CM's to save the people.

While rescue as sea often means the CM's putting their lives on the line, that does not mean they have to be reckless or risk their lives beyond reasonable limits.

Frankly the cost of a few meals, when valued against human lives is meaningless.


Soooooo.........

A very well done to the Wonder, Master and CM's. Demonstrating the finest in Seamen ship and saving lives, and following the traditions of the seas.


AKK

 

[~Dani~]

... I mean I don't think we would ever see a law that if you came upon a car crash on the side of the road that you had to stop and offer assistance for example. ....

In a lot of countries it is actually illegal to NOT stop and offer assistance at the scene of the accident.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

but what are they going to do with the 12 people?

They will be turned over to the authorities in Grand Cayman (next port of call).

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

In a lot of countries it is actually illegal to NOT stop and offer assistance at the scene of the accident.

There are various areas of the US as well!

AKK

 

[kid-at-heart]

I am so grateful that I was lucky enough to be born in a country that provides the ability to have a decent life. I can only imagine what it would be like to live somewhere so horrible that I was willing to leave behind my family and venture across a hostile area (land or ocean) for a better life. I am grateful there is a maritime law that forces people to do the humane act of recusing those at risk in the ocean.

 

[MammaMoe48]

I am so grateful that I was lucky enough to be born in a country that provides the ability to have a decent life. I can only imagine what it would be like to live somewhere so horrible that I was willing to leave behind my family and venture across a hostile area (land or ocean) for a better life. I am grateful there is a maritime law that forces people to do the humane act of recusing those at risk in the ocean.

Me too!

 

[SuzannesDCL]

We got 2 more today! But these were US citizen- announcement said- stranded on a disabled or distressed boat.

 

[emma'smom]

But they don't just bring people on board, hand them a margarita and send them up to the pool. There's a protocol that must be followed to determine need and if there's a danger but when they do bring people aboard they are fed, given medical attention if needed and held in a secure part of the ship until the captain can transfer them to the local navy or coast guard. If the person is deemed to be a criminal or his intentions are questionable they will be put in the brig (yes, they have those on cruise ships).

I would hope that they might give these folks a couple of mickey bars while they figured out what to do. They don't leave Cuba on precarious rafts just of the fun of it....even if they are breaking laws, it is out of desperation. Even if they have to be sent back (which is the law)....why not let them have a little bit of pixie dust while they are aboard? What's the harm?

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I do wonder though who pays for the food and medical care they receive? The company?

I understand why they have the law, but at the same time there is a part of me that wonders about making a law that someone has to help someone else. I mean I don't think we would ever see a law that if you came upon a car crash on the side of the road that you had to stop and offer assistance for example. Most probably would in most circumstances but I can think of a few where I would not (area with no service, isolated, and I'm alone for one example... or a very icy patch of road being another, its not uncommon to get a chain reaction of crashes in an icy patch) I would still call to get them help as soon as I had service but not necessarily stay as boats are apparently required to do.

What if the reason for distress is a bad storm? Does the ship by law have to stay to help people even if it would push their passengers in danger? (In this case think larger boat in distress not a small raft)

Given the article above where someone is apparently suing princess for not stopping for them I have to wonder about the details of this law.

Actually if its an international law who even polices that law?

Would you feel the same way if you were the one stuck on the side of the road in the middle of the night with a dead cell phone?

 

[kamik86]

Would you feel the same way if you were the one stuck on the side of the road in the middle of the night with a dead cell phone?

As much as I would hope someone would stop I do understand why someone wouldn't want to. This is why I would definitely call authorities but if I'm alone in the middle of the night I"m not stopping my car where no one knows where I am just because there is a car on the side of the road. Heck who even knows if that car is REALLY broken down.

For the places where its a crime to pass an accident and not stop to offer assistance how far does that go? I mean if someone is injured I could do more harm then good in trying to help. So do they just have to stop and call the authorities? What is considered enough help?

Honestly I don't think it should be illegal to just not help someone. Especially if helping someone has the potential to harm the person.

 

[kamik86]

As much as I would hope someone would stop I do understand why someone wouldn't want to. This is why I would definitely call authorities but if I'm alone in the middle of the night I"m not stopping my car where no one knows where I am just because there is a car on the side of the road. Heck who even knows if that car is REALLY broken down.

For the places where its a crime to pass an accident and not stop to offer assistance how far does that go? I mean if someone is injured I could do more harm then good in trying to help. So do they just have to stop and call the authorities? What is considered enough help?

Honestly I don't think it should be illegal to just not help someone. Especially if helping someone has the potential to harm the person.

Actually thinking about it and knowing my skill level to help (with either a non working car or an injury) me continuing to drive until I have signal and then calling an ambulance to the accident may be BETTER help. If I stopped and there is no signal (common in my area there are pockets that have either no signal or no signal for certain carriers) there is still no one with medical training (or just a tow truck) on the way.

 

[jrabbit]

We were on the Wonder a few years ago and stopped and waited for the Coast Guard to arrive on station, then we took off.

One of the people that I work with is ex-Coast Guard and spent a lot of time in the area. their standard operating procedure was to

• drop a rescue boat
• rescue the people from the raft
• sink the raft
• fire hose down the people from the raft
• bring them back to the states
• fly them back to Cuba

We saw the CG drop a rescue boat and start moving the people from the raft to the boat and then then they were out of sight. We waited less than 45 minutes before we were on our way again. We were somewhere between Key West and Cuba.

 

[Capt_BJ]

I can assure you after having conducted hundreds of such cases this is NOT

REPEAT NOT

an accurate description ......

a) use of a fire hose on the 'victims' would result in charges against the fire hose holder if I'd seen it; they are searched for weapons, given a basic medical check for emergent issues,

b) through various treaties and international agreements these victims are seldom brought to US soil unless there is a compelling reason, questioning begins as well as a check of any documents they have to determine nationality which can impact where they go next (see the US "feet dry" policy.)

c) Some are sunk as hazards to navigation but, a lot of these rafts and boats et al are a heck of a lot harder to sink than you'd expect so often they are simply "marked" as empty and left to deteriorate and sink on their own. I've pumped hundreds of rounds of machine gun fire into some, them rammed than and set them on fire and hour later they were still floating!

In my years I pickup thousands of Cubans and Haitians, a few hundred Chinese and a smattering of others all trying to get to the US by sea. To me, they were all rescues with final determination of potential refugee status up to folks other than me. The vast majority were returned to the country of origin.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I've pumped hundreds of rounds of machine gun fire into some, them rammed than and set them on fire and hour later they were still floating!

That's cool, I'd like to participate in that!

 

[vvv]

I wonder if the people can refuse to be picked up?

I'm referring more to the refugee type situations in either homemade or very poor condition rafts/boats who may decide that they want to take their chances and continue. Or, does the Coast Guard or even the Ship Captain decide that their "vessel" is not seaworthy and force them to abandon their craft?