Posted on 03/27/2019 7:21:18 PM PDT by Rebelbase
A maritime official says the engines of a cruise ship failed off Norway's coast during a storm because they didn't have enough lubricating oil.
Lars Alvestad, the head of Norway's Maritime Authority, said Wednesday that low oil levels were the "direct cause" of the engine failure that stranded the Viking Sky on Saturday.
Alvestad says safety systems detected the problem and automatically stopped the engines to prevent a breakdown.
Viking Sky's crew sent a mayday call and anchored in heavy seas to keep the ship from being dashed on rocks in an area known for shipwrecks. Five helicopters lifted 479 passengers off with winches.
(Excerpt) Read more at wfaa.com ...
Actually, it’s the captains fault. The captain is ultimately responsible for the actions and conduct of his crew.
I can’t stand the new two-class cruising heralded by the Mega Ships. The worst cruise I ever had was on HOTS. Over crowded and understaffed. The ship was clearly designed for less than 2/3 of its full capacity. And our cruise was full capacity. You had to have a suite to have block-bookings available at shows and venues. Reservations for the non-suite ‘steerage class’ for these events was sold out months in advance.
Unfortunately, even the older single-classed ships are being retrofitted to cram in more cabins and suites extending the First Class/Steerage Class model to all the ships. I took my daughter on the Paradise twice before its refit and we had a fantastic time. No waits anywhere. Not anymore though. Sorry, but I’m not paying a thousand dollars a person for a steerage class cruise. Combine that with the deteriorating conditions in the Caribbean and future vacations will probably be a 5-day at an all inclusive resort in Mexico or elsewhere.
So THAT’S why the “Check Engine Light” was on!
There but by the grace of God.
What, did they have the US Navy at the helm?
The person in charge of the person in charge with checking on the person in charge of the supplies of lubricating oil for the engines was on shore leave until just minutes before the ship’s departure, and then never got around to doing all their duties that needed to be done before departure; while the engine crews just looked at each other and said “it’s not my job”. /sarc
In January 2018 (just after the hurricanes) I took a two-week Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Pride (out of Baltimore). It was a "Journeys" concept. Two weeks, more intellectual and cultural experiences.
The ship just came out of drydock. They took out the library and Chapel and replaced them with a pay-to-play video game room! They're pushing paying for things like getting on and off the ship first, getting a 15 drink a day package that includes free milkshakes and boutique coffee drinks, herbal tea bags, canned soda. Why the heck should I have to pay for milk shakes and a herbal tea bag when drunks don't have to????
Then there's the stops. I don't like the large ships; it's not me to be surrounded by mobs of people who aren't at least familiar faces. Okay, so I get on a smaller ship. But at a port that's busy, it's a mob scene equivalent to Spring Break in Daytona! And then there's the only few hours at most ports. If you take a bus or boat shuttle tour, a lot of that on-shore time is doing that.
What's happening is they're appealing to people I don't have much in common with. I can't imagine being on a cruise with people who wouldn't want access to new reading material for two weeks, or a Chapel to say a prayer if a passenger has to be evacuated (for example).
And now, stretching it to the breaking point with safety....that cargo ship that went down awhile ago, the ship that almost toppled in a freak wind, this Norwegian coast situation, the Carnival Pride doing a few more cruises before engine problems were fixed are probably not the only close calls (or worse). What happens when (not if) it's one of the mega-ships that has one of these problems?
Next vacation, Tennessee. Real Blues music and early rock instead of the stuff that wouldn't make it to a HS musical. And not being herded like cattle!
Cruises are for people who want to think they have been somewhere but do not realize they have not.
I knew a guy who bought a used car and drove it until the engine seized up for lack of oil. He couldn’t understand what happened...he said it had oil in it when he bought it.
Shouldn’t have gone to Jiffy Lube.....
It doesn't have to be that way. A few years ago I took two transatlantic cruises on the QM2.....one to the Med, one to Canary Islands, Medeiros, and a Portugal stop. With a good choice of tours, it was a very efficient way have a valued cultural and learning experience at places I'd never experience any other way. The problem is this "cruising is for all" mentality is trashing the experience for everyone. I can't imagine the Ports of Call like being mob scenes, except for the money in generates.
You are correct...... there are cruises and then there are cruises.
The very best!
And your take on the engines failing from lack of oil is indeed inconceivable.
Man a ship that size would have I’m think 20 tonnes of lube oil
Marine shell likely
And recently, many of these marine engines use off-line filtration systems as well.
It’d wreak havoc on ME; too; if I were on board for those rolls!
20 tonnes of lube oil”
Stormy Daniels goes through that amount in a year.
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