Q&A on the News
Q: I was heartsick when I read about the cruise ship that didn't stop to rescue the occupants of a disabled boat because someone in the ship's chain of command failed to report passengers' sighting of the stranded boat to the officer on duty. Has Princess Cruises management determined exactly where the lapse occurred? Will Princess be conducting any company-wide employee training to minimize the chance of such a lapse ever occurring again?
-- Michelle Hutchinson, Marietta
A: Princess Cruises is conducting an investigation into the incident and told The Associated Press that Star Princess Capt. Edward Perrin or the officer on duty did not receive passenger reports of a boat in distress. Passengers have said they told a Princess Cruises sales representative that they saw a man waving an orange shirt from a small boat off the Pacific Coast of Panama on March 10 and were assured that the information had been passed along to the crew. The ship didn't attempt to rescue three Panamanian fishermen, two of whom died before they were found after 28 days at sea. In a statement released last week, Princess Cruises said there was an apparent "breakdown in communication in relaying the passengers' concern." It also said: "Had the captain received this information, he would have had the opportunity to respond." Princess Cruises said its ships have provided "assistance to any vessel in distress" more than 30 times in the past 10 years. Maritime lawyer Charles Lipcon told The Miami Herald that international laws require ships to assist vessels in distress.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? Our news researchers will try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city). Sorry, individual responses are not possible.
