Two ships collided in Cozumel this morning...

[Capt_BJ]

So if the story that it was on autopilot is true, that is a major no-no.

I can not imagine a case where auto-pilot would be 'on' when approaching a pier ..... however I'd be careful about semantics ....

what I'd call 'autopilot' was traditionally a device that when set to a particular compass course, kept the ship steering that course ... it steered but was not 'smart' wrt navigation; the course was adjusted when navigation revealed a drift from desired course due to wind current etc. Today's bridge has an integrated system where the 'autopilot' is talked to by a computer with GPS inputs and a set of 'way points' programmed by the navigator and this system detects where the ship is and can adjust the autopilot and often speed to ensure the ship is on track and on time. These are normally used for open water sailing. Once a ship gets into 'pilot waters' it is my experience that hand steering will be used ESPECIALLY during docking/mooring.

but wait, there's more:

old designs had a helm controlling the rudder, throttle(s) controlling the engines and similar throttles controlling bow/stern side thrusters and all of this was controlled manually. TODAY all of this is often tied together by a computer and the 'conn' turns a dial to tell the computer which way the bow should point, and a joystick is used to command the direction of motion and a computer controls all the parts to make this happen. Not what I'd call 'autopilot' in a traditional sense but probably MORE in terms of what it does. This system would almost certainly be 'in use'. Can things go wrong? ABSOLUTELY ......

 

[MalkaR]

Not just Cozumel...

Like this:

Oh my gosh! That looks terrifying!

 

[Jessicabr]

I don't think we will ever know the whole story. But after seeing the video of the pilot boarding the ship, wow a whole new appreciation for them... Even in calm weather, it would be terrifying to me.

 

[mevelandry]

Accidents happen, glad no one was hurt seriously.

For one, I will be on the Legend in a few weeks, and so hope those winds in the Western Gulf are not when we are there.

Me too! I'll be in Cozumel in January. Not taking any chance. Bringing a lot of sea sickness meds and ginger pills!

 

[SL6827]

Last year we made two trips to the Grand Cayman. First was in March and the ocean was as calm and wonderful as all get out. Then we returned in December, and boy what the difference. The ocean was mad and angry, so much so the cruise ships did not dock in their normal port by Georgetown. I was in shock. I really had no idea how much of a difference there would be. We stayed ten days during each trip so we really got to experience the difference. If the ocean had the same bad vibes this year, I could see this happening with the ships.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I've only done Easterns so far, but my next one is a Western. Are the winds and waves that much different? We didn't get sea sick, but never say never....

 

[starvenger]

Seems like it's dependent on the time of year. I remember October being rocky, but August was fine.

 

[ChicosWife]

If you look at the flags on the back of the RC ships, it doesn't seem to be windy enough to push two Carnival ships into each other.

 

[Capt_BJ]

Last year we made two trips to the Grand Cayman. First was in March and the ocean was as calm and wonderful as all get out. Then we returned in December, and boy what the difference. The ocean was mad and angry, so much so the cruise ships did not dock in their normal port by Georgetown.

UMMMMMM ... there is no cruise ship pier/dock in Cayman ... you always tender ..... SOMETIMES ships don't ANCHOR off Georgetown but move to the alternate on the south side. . .

 

[Capt_BJ]

If you look at the flags on the back of the RC ships, it doesn't seem to be windy enough to push two Carnival ships into each other

I'm a retired ship Captain/Master ...... and have 'parked' at Cozumel many times. AND have gone SCUBA here many times.

The SCUBA dives were always drift dives because of the current ..... a boat chases your marker buoy.

When I brought a ship in, EVERY TIME the pilot warned that the currents frequently changed direction and could be STRONG . . . . somewhat UNPREDICTABLE and we should be ready for this .... one visit while we were parked I watched a cruise ship SMACK HARD and damage the pier . . .

 

[hrhdhd]

I've only done Easterns so far, but my next one is a Western. Are the winds and waves that much different? We didn't get sea sick, but never say never....

We just got off a Western itinerary on Celebrity. Our snorkeling excursion was canceled at Cozumel (we were there a day or two before the Carnival ships' incident), and we anchored on the other side of Grand Cayman because of the wind. There were four ships due in at GC; two stayed and used the alternate spot. The other two left. We also had a couple of bouncy nights aboard.

 

[mevelandry]

Last year we made two trips to the Grand Cayman. First was in March and the ocean was as calm and wonderful as all get out. Then we returned in December, and boy what the difference. The ocean was mad and angry, so much so the cruise ships did not dock in their normal port by Georgetown. I was in shock. I really had no idea how much of a difference there would be. We stayed ten days during each trip so we really got to experience the difference. If the ocean had the same bad vibes this year, I could see this happening with the ships.

We are supposed to be sailing Grand Cayman in January and I worry that our ship might not be able to make it.

What happened when your ship could not anchor?

 

[mevelandry]

If you look at the flags on the back of the RC ships, it doesn't seem to be windy enough to push two Carnival ships into each other.

Apparently currents were also pretty strong. The guests experienced rough seas the night before.

 

[starvenger]

Apparently currents were also pretty strong. The guests experienced rough seas the night before.

I bought some Gravol ginger thingies after reading this!

 

[Dug720]

Apparently currents were also pretty strong. The guests experienced rough seas the night before.

Yes. One ship decided to abandon trying because their captain felt the conditions were too dangerous.

 

[lklgoodman]

We are supposed to be sailing Grand Cayman in January and I worry that our ship might not be able to make it.

What happened when your ship could not anchor?

We went there 2017. Almost all excursions were cancelled due to rough seas. We stayed on the ship since our excursion was cancelled. They were able to tender people to GC. I get seasick pretty easily, every time we cross the gulfstream leaving PC on the first night I feel ill(ginger candy helps tremendously with this, btw). It didn't feel like the waves were rough when looking at them and it didn't feel rough at all. It was the first time we stayed on the ship at a port, we had a lot of fun. Another ship tried to do whatever they do to be able to tender before us. They had trouble and finally gave up and left the area. We leave next month for another WC on the Fantasy. I already have my bonine, seabands, and 60 pieces of ginger candy. Hoping we can actually get off the ship this time. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[belle032]

We are supposed to be sailing Grand Cayman in January and I worry that our ship might not be able to make it.

What happened when your ship could not anchor?

We went there 2017. Almost all excursions were cancelled due to rough seas. We stayed on the ship since our excursion was cancelled. They were able to tender people to GC. I get seasick pretty easily, every time we cross the gulfstream leaving PC on the first night I feel ill(ginger candy helps tremendously with this, btw). It didn't feel like the waves were rough when looking at them and it didn't feel rough at all. It was the first time we stayed on the ship at a port, we had a lot of fun. Another ship tried to do whatever they do to be able to tender before us. They had trouble and finally gave up and left the area. We leave next month for another WC on the Fantasy. I already have my bonine, seabands, and 60 pieces of ginger candy. Hoping we can actually get off the ship this time. Hope you have a great trip!

We'll be in Grand Cayman in January as well. Luckily, this is one port we booked an excursion through the cruise line so no worry about that, but I'd hate to miss Cayman! Tender ports are tricky!

 

[insureman]

Not just Cozumel...

Like this:

This gave me flashbacks of my Navy time taking the liberty boat back to the ship anchored in Naples at midnight in 3 foot swells after a night of bar hopping! Good times, good times!

 

[SL6827]

We are supposed to be sailing Grand Cayman in January and I worry that our ship might not be able to make it.

What happened when your ship could not anchor?

We weren't on a ship, we flew in, but I had the Grand Cayman port schedule on hand and knew when the ships were supposed to dock. I was told that some of them docked at another location on the island on certain days. Now I couldn't see that dock location like I could see the Georgetown dock from our villa on seven mile beach.

 

[mevelandry]

I bought some Gravol ginger thingies after reading this!

You let me know how it goes. They’re my favorite. They work well on me and I don’t get sleepy like I would on regular Gravol.