Not Enough Life Boats For All

[Poly Pal]

Magic and Wonder have 20 lifeboats (hmmm, same number of boats Titanic had!) According to the Passporter each of them have a capacity of 150 persons. Looking at the DCL brochure I see that 2 of the boats are smaller than the rest, so I figure they'll hold less than 150 each - I figure 75 to 100.

Doing the math means that the capacity of the lifeboats is about 2,900 people. The DCL brochure and the Passporter indicate a maximum passenger capacity of 3,000 Plus Crew of 950 for a total of 3,950.

Assuming that in the event an emergency evacuation of the ship is required, potentially more than 1,000 "souls" will need to rely on life jackets and "liferafts" This would the BEST case scenario, since it assumes that the total lifeboat capacity is available to launch (i.e., not damaged in the emergency, able to be launched despite the ship's listing, gear in working order, etc.)

I wonder if attending the lifeboat drill improves your odds of actually getting a seat in the lifeboats? Perhaps the crew are taking head counts and sizing passengers up during the drill?

Has anyone seen the so-called "liferafts" on Wonder or Magic?

 

[CheapMom]

potentially more than 1,000 "souls" will need to rely on life jackets and "liferafts" This would the BEST case scenario

Actually- Best Case Scenario would not include anyone needed a lifeboat/jacket or raft.
But seriously- this freaks me out- can anyone out there explain this.

 

[Susan Prescott]

When we were on the Wonder in February, we did the Bridge tour. They explained that the round canisters that you see on the ship that look like barrels are actually life rafts. I can't remember how many there are, but there are quite a few. I also can't remember the exact number of people who could fit on them.

 

[mcorbo]

Have you ever noticed those round canisters outside the portholes on the secret porthole rooms (if no, go to http://www.castawayclub.com, and click on the secret port holes link). These are the inflatable liferafts. I found an interesting read from www.cruisesaver.net.

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Accordingly to SOLAS, a passenger ship has to carry lifeboats for all the persons on board. Another rule says that lifeboats can be replaced by launchable liferaft, keeping a number of lifeboats with a capacity of 37.5% (of the persons the ship is certified to carry) on each side. Almost all ships are now build with lifeboats for 75% (37.5% X 2) of the persons and with the remaining 25% going into liferafts (plus an additional 25% of the capacity in liferafts, which is compulsory anyway). The main reasons why shipping companies decide to use the minimum number of lifeboats are less costs, less maintenance costs, easier maintenance on the raft, less cabins or public areas with the view obstructed, etc. Usually passengers are allocated on lifeboats and crew members on liferaft, but on ships with low crew/passenger ratio you may find some passenger liferafts.
(courtesy of Ryndam)
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So, the capacity stated in the original message is in line with this posting, there are just about enough life "boats" for passengers and life "rafts" for crew.

 

[NCRedding]

I may be confused on this, but aren't the boats used for tendering also used as life rafts if needed. On our RCCL cruise, some of these tenders were actually stored out of sight, so if DCL works the same way, you wouldn't necessarily see the tenders. Those hold a good number of people also

 

[Hygiene99]

VERY FUNNY , And Also the Safety Drill is Run By some of the Kitchen Staff ... So they are also making sure they bring your favorite food for u to eat while u r in the lifeboat......

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

Tenders you'll see at DCL ports of call are run by either the port authority of that port or independents from there.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Hygiene99
And Also the Safety Drill is Run By some of the Kitchen Staff ... So they are also making sure they bring your favorite food for u to eat while u r in the lifeboat......

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[NCRedding]

DMS: so DCL doesn't own tenders? Is it the port that governs this, or the cruise line. OUr RCCL tenders were RCCL with all the markings, etc. of the cruise line, and were stored on the ship.

 

[neosnightmare]

remember...the captain goes down with his ship. i call dibs on his place.

 

[ThreeCircles]

DCL is *wwwwaaaayyyy* too classy to use lifeboats as tenders as some of the cruise lines do!

 

[NCRedding]

Not that I want to defend RCCL, but I think they used the some of the tenders as lifeboats (if needed), not the other way around. I thought the tenders were much nicer than what I have seen of a lifeboats on DCL or RCCL.

 

[Poly Pal]

Thanks for the SOLAS info Mcorbo. I found it interesting that the reasons cruise lines don't put enough lifeboats for all on ships today are the same reasons White Star did not put more lifeboats on the Titanic - less expensive, more deck space, fewer obstructed views.

I doubt that only passengers would board the boats leaving the crew to the rafts. I imagine some crew must go with the boats to operate and navigate them as well as to try and maintain order and reduce panic.

My concern would not be about an accident causing the ship to sink. I am more concerned about fire on board which has happened on several ships in the last few years. Luckily none have gotten out of control.

 

[inkkognito]

We've seen other cruise lines using lifeboats for tendering, too.
I'm with Polypal...fire is a much bigger fear for me than sinking for any other reason. I know that between the boats and rafts, there is more than enough capacity for everyone, and even if I couldn't make it to a lifeboat, I could float with my life jacket. The water is warm enough, and with modern communications and so many other ships in the area, rescue ships would be there quickly. So even in the worst case scenario, as long as you can float in your life jacket, you will be saved.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Poly Pal]

Barb, you're probably right about surviving in the warm waters of the Caribbean, unless you find yourself in the water with a 1,000 other panicking passengers, or you get hit with debris flying off the burning ship, or the seas are rough, or you are in the water in the dark. (Well enough of my cheery thoughts !)

 

[Zandy595]

... and don't forget about the man-eating sharks!

 

[LindaBabe]

I feel Reallly REALLy safe on the Disney ships. There are backup systems on back up systems including a complete fire alarm / sprinkler system over the whole boat, including your cabin. It sprinkles first and they ask questions later, if you were thinking of smoking in your cabin;-)

Also, when we are talking life rafts, we aren't talking these little six man dingy type things but huge, covered, floating islands.

According to our guide, they do a complete crew drill every second Nassau day, beginning a mock scenario where say - one segment of the ship is on fire or whatever - up to & including launching the lifeboats.

A well trained crew is paramount to the success of any safety operations, and it appears to me that, rather like the military, Disney cast members are particularly well trained in many areas.

 

[CRB#33]

Geesh! I'm not coming back to this thread!!

 

[neosnightmare]

Originally posted by Zandy595
... and don't forget about the man-eating sharks!

cant forget bout those. lol.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Zandy595
... and don't forget about the man-eating sharks!