RSSCarnival Cruise Ship’s Extreme Tilt Causes Panic
A cruise ship that departed from Port Canaveral on one of the last days of October of this year experienced some sort of technical malfunction within the first few hours of its journey that caused guests extreme concern. According to the Carnival Cruise Line, the ship departed from the port on October 28th, while the incident which resulted in such an upset to the voyage took place only three or four hours after the vessel departed from shore.
Guests told reporters that they were beginning to settle into their cabins, many were enjoying a drink at the bar or a light meal as the waves gently rocked the boat beneath them. The boat tilted to one direction and then to another, and then back again. Then it kept tilting. Guests expressed a growing sense of unease as the boat failed to right itself and continued to list. Dishes and glassware started sliding off of tables, and bottles in the duty free store fell from the shelves.
Soon, many aboard the increasingly destabilized ship were panicking, screaming, and generally succumbing to the bewildering fear that the ship on which they were traveling was about to overturn and sink.
In an official report, the Carnival Cruise Line admitted that something within a fin stabilizer malfunctioned, causing the terrifying moments that seemed to stretch on and on until, thankfully, whatever caused the malfunction was rectified, the ship righted, and the journey continued as though nothing at all had occurred.
While the Carnival Cruise Line did offer forth a general statement as well as apologies to its guests aboard the Carnival Sunshine, it was not until several days later that a note from the ship captain informed guests as to the precise nature of the malfunction. According to the letter delivered to each of the rooms on the ship, the problem was caused after an electrical switchboard failed, preventing one of the fin stabilizers from operating correctly. The letter went on to state that the fin stabilizer is not one of the key safety features of the ship, and that at no time was the ship in any actual danger.
In an attempt to placate the understandably upset passengers, each them were given a $50.00 credit to be used aboard the ship.
It is not known if anyone was injured as a result of the tilting ship.
Sources:
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.