How Often do Cruise Ships Sink?

Table Of Content

• Passengers were reportedly all from a cruise ship
• Strengthening Passenger Education and Emergency Preparedness
• Historical Cases of Cruise Ship Sinking
• Understanding Cruise Ship Sinking Statistics
• Understanding Cruise Ship Design
• When was the last time a cruise ship sank?
• How Many Cruise Ships Have Sunk in the Last 5 Years?
• Why Don’t Modern Cruise Ships Sink As Often?

The hull is the outermost layer of the ship and is responsible for keeping the ship afloat. The hull is designed to displace water and create buoyancy, allowing the ship to float on the water's surface. Lusitania (1915)  For a few months before her sinking, the Lusitania was the largest passenger ship in the world. A casualty of WWI, she was hit by a torpedo from a German U-boat off the south coast of Ireland.

Passengers were reportedly all from a cruise ship

The ship was met with winds of up to mph, and ultimately, a downburst (a strong downward wind) caused the ship to capsize and sink. Out of the 454 people on board, only 12 survived, making the total number of dead 442. The cruise ship MV Explorer struck an iceberg early on November 23, 2007, causing it to sink off the coast of Antarctica. The iceberg tore open the ship’s hull, resulting in catastrophic flooding.

Carnival cruise ship rescues two men stranded in kayak off Mexico coast - USA TODAY

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Posted: Tue, 30 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Strengthening Passenger Education and Emergency Preparedness

About a half dozen people in the shot are seen swimming towards another boat stopped a short distance from the ferry. The MV Explorer, originally the MS Lindblad Explorer, began her career in 1969 as the first ship of her kind to sail through the Antarctic Ocean. The SeaBreeze, originally named Federico C., was launched in 1958 and sailed for Costa Cruises. In 1983, it was transferred to Premier Cruises and renamed three times.

Historical Cases of Cruise Ship Sinking

NCL complained, so the shipyard agreed to continue working, but then NCL sold the ship to P&O where she sailed as Spirit of London. As there was nobody on board to correct the list, the only option was for the tugboat to cut the ship free and allow it to capsize and sink off the coast of Cape Town. The MS Achille Lauro was a cruise ship that was originally built for a Dutch company but eventually ended up being in the hands of StarLauro, which would go on to form part of MSC Cruises. In 1986, the ship was operating a cruise from Sydney, exploring New Zealand on a two-week itinerary.

Understanding Cruise Ship Sinking Statistics

Captain Vicq tried to put out the fire and beach the ship, but things worsened. Consequently, the death toll from these kinds of incidents is usually rather low. A more recent and well-known incident was that of a fire on Carnival Triumph, since renamed Carnival Sunshine. The ship was left stranded and without power after the generator caught fire. Understanding the facts, being aware of the procedures, and debunking misconceptions are crucial in ensuring a safe and enjoyable cruising experience.

Understanding Cruise Ship Design

And in the rare event of a catastrophic disaster, cruise ships have enough safety features in place to allow for a safe evacuation. Modern cruise ships are engineered to withstand the toughest conditions and offer the utmost safety and reliability. On 25 October 1927, the SS Principessa Mafalda ocean liner departed from Genoa, Italy, and the destination was South America. But when it reached the coast of Brazil, a fracture occurred in the propeller shaft, causing damage to the hull. In a matter of hours, rescue ships and aircraft safely evacuated everyone else on board the sinking ship before it submerged beneath the water. Around 1,000 guests and crew perished when the Soviet cruise ship Mikhail Lermentov struck rocks and sank off the coast of New Zealand on February 16, 1986.

But the report noted that some passengers testified that they didn’t hear the alarm to proceed to the lifeboats. Evacuation was made even more chaotic by the ship listing so far to starboard, making walking inside very difficult and lowering the lifeboats on one side, near to impossible. Making things worse, the crew had dropped the anchor incorrectly, causing the ship to flop over even more dramatically. GIGLIO, Italy — Ten years have passed since the Costa Concordia cruise ship slammed into a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio.

There was much suspicion around the sinking because the scrap value of the ship was estimated to be around $5 to $6 million, which was much less than its insurance payout value of $20 million. In some cases, cruise lines may offer refunds, credit for future cruises, and additional compensation voluntarily or as part of a settlement. Balancing her writing career and family life with effortless grace, Judith is happily married, mother to two wonderful children, and a doting grandmother to three grandkids.

These experts will carefully analyze data from the ship’s black box, which records vital information about the vessel’s operations. Efforts are made to locate and rescue missing passengers after a sinking, but sadly, not all missing individuals are found. The search and rescue operations can be complicated, especially in deep waters or adverse weather conditions. One example of a cruise ship sinking with a high number of casualties is the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. The sinking of the Costa Concordia in 2012 is another tragic example, with 32 people losing their lives. Over 1,000 passengers and crew were rescued but two French passengers went missing and were never found, presumed dead.

Modern safety regulations and advanced shipbuilding techniques make today’s cruise ships incredibly seaworthy. One of the crucial aspects of preventing cruise ship sinkings is enhancing the navigation systems on board. The only ocean cruise ship to sink with passengers on-board within the last 15 years was human error, and they’ve been found guilty at a criminal trial. Cruise ship captains were already vetted for their safety standards but now even more so – it’s unthinkable that anything like that could happen again.

But when it deviated from its planned path to sail closer to the island of Giglio, the ship struck a reef known as the Scole Rocks. The impact damaged the ship, allowing water to seep in and putting the 4,229 people on board in danger. While the possibility of a cruise ship sinking is terrifying, the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor. Once on board, it is important to follow the instructions given by the cruise ship crew. They are trained to handle various situations and will provide guidance in case of an emergency. Familiarize yourself with the ship’s safety procedures, including the location of emergency exits and assembly points.

While modern cruise ships are built with advanced technology and safety features, they still have design weaknesses that can make them vulnerable in certain situations. To further understand the odds of a specific cruise ship sinking, it is necessary to consider the size of the cruise ship fleet and the number of sailings each year. With over 300 cruise ships in operation worldwide, and thousands of sailings taking place annually, the odds of any individual cruise ship sinking are minuscule.

When the ship lost power and listed, the crew quickly rescued nearly all 1,195 passengers. As the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro sailed off Somalia on November 30, 1994, a destructive engine room fire broke out and swiftly got out of control. Tragically, during a nocturnal emergency evacuation, two passengers perished.

From its fleet of Carnival brand cruise ships, none have ever sunk or capsized. The cruise ship had a capacity of 1537 passengers, with 1,195, mostly American and Canadian onboard at the time of the incident. The fire started in the vessel’s engine room while it was sailing from Malaysia to Singapore. All passengers and crew were successfully evacuated from the ship before it completely sunk. Cruise ships, renowned symbols of vacationing and exploration, annually transport millions of individuals across the globe.

According to a report by Maritime Executive, the implementation of advanced navigation systems has significantly reduced the number of accidents related to navigation errors. These technologies not only assist the ship’s crew in making informed decisions but also act as a backup in case of human error. Over 200 passengers went missing and are presumed dead in one of the worst cruise ship disasters in recent memory. The MV Explorer was a small cruise ship that had many owners in her life, launching first in 1969. She has the honour of being the first cruise ship specifically used for cruises to the Antarctic Ocean.

Another design weakness is the possibility of a breach in the hull, either due to a collision with another vessel or hitting an underwater obstacle. While cruise ships are built to withstand such incidents, a significant impact can compromise the integrity of the hull and potentially lead to sinking. Following the Costa Concordia disaster, the cruise industry once again faced scrutiny and calls for stricter regulations. The incident highlighted the importance of proper training for crew members, emergency response protocols, and the need for regular safety drills to ensure the well-being of passengers and crew. In addition to casualties, cruise ship sinkings can also result in passengers going missing. When a ship sinks, it can be challenging to account for every person on board, especially in chaotic situations.