Page 29: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 1999)

ors to chew on. A series of accidents at sea, combined with recent criminal activity surrounding sex crimes and pol-lution, have generated more bad public-ity for the cruise market in the past few months than the past few years com-bined. The latest incident involved a fire in the engine room aboard Carnival's Trop-icale, an accident that left the vessel without power and on the fringe of a tropical storm. Compounding the mat-ter, the consumer press in the U.S. has sensationalized the matter, giving exten-sive, disparaging coverage regarding conditions aboard the disabled vessel, which was carrying approximately 1,700 passengers and crew. Not to isolate Carnival, but it was recently involved in another scandal regarding sexual assault. Carnival Cruise Lines, which carry about two million vacationers a year, was accused of sexual assault 62 times in the five years up to last August. Car-nival Cruise Lines gave few details of the 62 allegations investigated by com-pany security staff other than to say each matter was referred to police if the accuser wished. At the time, Senator McCain said: "I am extremely con-cerned about recent reports of cruise ship crew members sexually assaulting passengers and co-workers. Cruise ship companies should do everything in their power to ensure that this criminal activ-ity does not occur, regardless of where the ship is flagged." Carnival ? and for that matter, the U.S. cruise market ? has not been alone in it troubles, as two other promi-nent carriers ? Norwegian Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean ? have had recent troubles as well. Norwegian Cruise Line's 50,764-gt Norwegian Dream, carrying 2,400 pas-sengers ? was involved in a collision with the 52,090-gt, 1997-built contain-ership Ever Decent, in the English Channel. While only three passengers on the Bahamas-registered liner were injured, the incident has raised many concerns, as, although it occurred in the middle of the night, winds were light and visibility was good, and each vessel was reportedly outfitted with working version of the latest electronics and col-lision avoidance systems. Both ships were badly damaged, and several large containers with a newfound home on the deck of Norwegian Dream served to punctuate the severe damage to the ship's bow and bridge. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean execu-tives spent a few days at the end of the summer touring ports in Alaska to apol-ogize in person for pollution left in the state's waters by the cruise line's ships. Royal Caribbean agreed to pay an $18 million fine to U.S. authorities for dumping oily bilge and chemical wastes at sea, as well as into U.S. ports and wild waterways. The line plead guilty to (Continued on page 35) M/S Europa bucks the current cruise ship trend towards "bigger is better." The 646-ft. (196.9 m) luxury suite ship, built at Kvaerner Masa-Yard's Helsinki Shipyard, accommodates only 408 passengers, making it one of the most spacious cruise ships in the world. The vessel was designed and built ? from the signing of the contract ? in only 21 months. It was a battle royal, but the smoke has finally cleared. 1 decisive victory tor passengers and crew, (.?specially the crew. The reduced emis-sions make it a lot easier to clear the decks To give \<>ur passengers and crew the roval irealment. call 1-51 ;>-552-531 I or cruise ('.learing the air was exactb what Roval Caribbean had in mind when tliev selected the (.1-'. gas tin bine engine. Compared to traditional riiesel electric engines, CiK gas turbine engines reduce \( )\ emissions In 80% and S( )\ emissions In <)8'/<. It was a over to our web site: www.geae.net. GE Marine Engines We bring good things lo life November, 1999 Circle 253 on Reader Service Card