Ferries and passenger shipping

[Nick]

Chinese ship capsizes on Yangtze with hundreds missing

Five people have died and hundreds are missing after a cruise ship carrying 458 people capsized on the Yangtze River in China's Hubei province. The ship is floating upside down in a wide stretch of river - state media said rescuers tapping the hull had heard calls for help from inside.

Press article: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-32969861

[Xyzzy]

http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/death-to...-400-1.2409474

[Nick]

Reports say that a fire aboard the "Freedom of the Seas" cruise ship docking in Jamaica was extinguished "within an hour and a half", with one crew member suffering burns.

Photos: http://falmouthpo.com/pictures-of-fr...mouth-harbour/

Press article: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/busi...e28293175.html

[kladner]

Originally Posted by Nick

Reports say that a fire aboard the "Freedom of the Seas" cruise ship docking in Jamaica was extinguished "within an hour and a half", with one crew member suffering burns.

Photos: http://falmouthpo.com/pictures-of-fr...mouth-harbour/

Press article: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/busi...e28293175.html

I have to wonder why a "fire in a mechanical area" was not controlled any sooner. You might suppose that there would be very aggressive systems in such areas.

[jasong]

Picture 12 might explain why it took an hour and a half to put out the fire. Police officers are ill-equipped to deal with fires.

And, yes, I'm being facetious, I know multiple calls go out when people are in danger. We do that in the United States too.

What I've never understood is why the different emergency services have different sounds, when they all simply equate to,"Coming through, get your sorry ass outta the way!!!"

[Nick]

The Old Rhine is the river marking the northern boundary of the Roman Empire. There was a major accident on it today at Alphen aan de Rijn when the road surface section of a new bridge was being put in place.
It occurs from 1:00 to 1:30 minutes in this videoclip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_nTLIuk6Hk

So far, there are 20 wounded, but emergency services are still searching under the rubble of the crushed houses.

[Nick]

This is now international news.
From the BBC (in English): http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33762806

[Nick]

All passengers and crew have been rescued after a fire on a cruise ship. They were transferred using lifeboats and helicopters to the Falkland Islands, where the locals provided hospitality.

Press article: http://www.falklandnews.com/public/s...=7158&source=3

[Nick]

Photographs taken inside the Costa Concordia:
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddes...ia-in-pictures

Protest on Haiti over Royal Caribbean's luxury resort:
http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2016/01...on-at-labadee/

http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2016/01...se-to-labadee/

[kladner]

Originally Posted by Nick

Photographs taken inside the Costa Concordia:
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddes...ia-in-pictures

Protest on Haiti over Royal Caribbean's luxury resort:
http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2016/01...on-at-labadee/

http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2016/01...se-to-labadee/

From sad, with the first story, to infuriated by the exploitation of Haiti. To think that this resort is named for a slave owner, and that it is the result of a deal with Baby Doc. The response of the government suggests that some people are making lots of money off the situation.

[Nick]

A cargo ship drifting with a list of 40 to 50 degrees will hit the French coast within 48 hours if a final attempt to tow it clear fails. The crew were all rescued a few days ago.

Press article: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35456682