A zoomed-in view of the photo taken by Jeff Gilligan. When he saw the image, Adrian Vasquez — the boat’s only survivor — said, “That’s us.
Lawsuits have piled up this week against Princess Cruises alleging the cruise line was negligent when one of its luxury ships failed to assist a group of distressed fisherman adrift in the Pacific Ocean, ultimately leading to two deaths and one miraculous story of survival.
The lawsuits stem from a April incident where Princess Cruises’ Star Princess ship came within close proximity of the group of three recreational fisherman who had broken down 15 days earlier off the coast of Panama, setting the small fishing boat adrift in the vast Pacific Ocean. Following the chance encounter, two of the fisherman died of dehydration while the third, just 18 years old, was miraculously rescued after 28 days at sea without food or water.
As the media later found out, a group of birdwatchers on the Star Princess spotted the fisherman frantically waving for help, reported what they saw and their concerns to crew, and even snapped photos of the distressed vessel that they later sent to the U.S. Coast Guard. But in spite of the passengers best efforts to relay the information, the Star Princess never stopped, or even investigated, what was reported.
Now, three federal lawsuits have been filed in Miami against Princess Cruises on behalf of each of the three children of the eldest victim, Elvis Antonio Oropeza Diaz, who was 31 when the Star Princess passed him and his group by, seeking damages for negligence, breach of the duty to rescue, and pain and suffering.
“These three cruise passengers immediately reported the distressed boat to a crewmember of the Star Princess who in turn reported this emergency situation to the bridge,” the complaint states. “This same crewmember also visually confirmed the distressed boat for himself.”
However, “Despite this clear notice of a boat in distress, as well as the fact that the small fishing vessel was in clear view of the mammoth cruise ship, said Star Princess failed to discharge its duty to render assistance to the distressed vessel and its occupants.”
“Notably, two days after the sighting incident of March 10, 2012, the three passengers who witnessed the distressed boat followed up with an officer of the Star Princess,” according to the complaint. “They all confronted this officer with the information and as asked him what had happened to the distressed boat they reported. This officer did not have an answer for them and walked away without explanation.”
What exactly happened after the initial report by the cruise ship passengers is still being investigated, but it has been reported that crew members themselves may have seen the distress signals and reported to the ships bridge, although no log of the incident was ever recorded. Meanwhile, the ships captain, Captain Edward Perrin, insists that neither he nor the officer of the watch were notified of the incident.
In a statement, Princess Cruises said there appeared to have been a “breakdown in communication in relaying the passenger’s concern” and notes that the company and its employees understand that a responsibility and the law of the sea is to provide assistance to any vessel in distress.
The lawsuits join an earlier lawsuit filed in May against Princess Cruises by the loan survivor Adrian Vasquez, 18, alleging similar complaints.
Princess Cruises is a subsidiary of Miami-based Carnival Cruises, who was also sued today in connection to the Costa Concordia disaster.
I rescued many years ago a capsized catamaran with one man only signalling with a yellow jacket.I still remember the name.As rescued , he kissed the lifeboat and told me that he was capsized there from one week and many ships pass more close than mine but nobody spotted him.He was a boat maker and built on the keel a watertigth compartment where to recovery and stowe survival equipments.No comments.
Shocking. This is what happens when you employ substandard so called 'Officers' and crew. Its about time the maratime industry woke up and realisedthat money can be saved in the long run by employing and paying the best trained seafarers in the world, rather than making money in the short term by employing cheep labour.
It is drilled into every British Officer that our first duty is to others, second is to ourself.
That's it! Straight to the point! Thanks!
Joss, do you know that Officers mentioned in the article were not British.
Nope but statisticaly guessing I doubt I'm not wrong !
I think the problem is more about the culture onboard a cruise vessel. The Captain is so 'high class' that the crewmembers dare not approach him with something they are not entirely sure of. They culture of treating the crew and petty officers as low life is unfortunately very wide spread in the merchant fleet and certainly in the cruise bussiness. British officers in general tend to see themself as gods gift to seafaring. A view that could do with a little modification. You can get excelent crew and officers from the far east, but it takes an effort and some time to rid them of the humbleness that has been beaten into them from childhood. A humbleness towards their superior (in rank) officers that is so killing of a decent and essentiall communication onboard.
neglect of duty…should punished
Unfortunately, sometimes the Captains put before all the ship's schedule in benefits for charter. They "forget" the basics SOLAS rules. It happens once on a merchant ship where I was employed that the electrician was badly sick and for few days he can't drink or eat throwing away all the food or water. All the medical care from officers was to monitor his temperature and blood pressure! Although one of the crew was able to put him perfusion, captain stated that he don't have any qualification so better step out. Our ETA was for next morning, Rio de Janeiro. I asked the Captain to seek radio help or to alter course in order to transfer him at shore. After an long argue, his last sentence was " I can't do that, we have to be in Rio tomorrow morning, otherwise the owner will be charged for delay! But don't worry bosun, I'm sure that he will make it till tomorrow." But…he just died in my arms half an hour before the pilot was on board. On the next days I found out that he together with second officer , prior to forensics come on board, they filled the daily medical report where they wrote a lot of lies regarding the treatment. That was by last seagoing job, because I realise that years passing, the officers and ratings getting this job are way too substandard so I don't want to put my life in hands of so called "Marine Masters". Period.
Unfortunately, sometimes the Captains put before all the ship’s schedule in benefits for charter. They “forget” the basics SOLAS rules. It happens once on a merchant ship where I was employed that the electrician was badly sick and for few days he can’t drink or eat throwing away all the food or water. All the medical care from officers was to monitor his temperature and blood pressure! Although one of the crew was able to put him perfusion, captain stated that he don’t have any qualification so better step out. Our ETA was for next morning, Rio de Janeiro. I asked the Captain to seek radio help or to alter course in order to transfer him at shore. After an long argue, his last sentence was ” I can’t do that, we have to be in Rio tomorrow morning, otherwise the owner will be charged for delay! But don’t worry bosun, I’m sure that he will make it till tomorrow.” But…he just died in my arms half an hour before the pilot was on board. On the next days I found out that he together with second officer , prior to forensics come on board, they filled the daily medical report where they wrote a lot of lies regarding the treatment. That was by last seagoing job, because I realise that years passing, the officers and ratings getting this job are way too substandard so I don’t want to put my life in hands of so called “Marine Masters”. Period.
WHEN IN THE COURSE OF MANAGEMENT THAT REFUSES HUMAN DIGNITY, THE LAWSUITS WILL SOMEDAY CATCHW HIM, BUT MEANWHILE THE CAPTAIN HAS DEVASTATED THE LIVES OF MANY. CHOOSING HOW HE WILL LOOK IF LATE, THAN THE FEELINGS OF THE SICK AND POOR, MAY HIS WILL TO LIVE BE INTERUPTED WITH REALITY, AND BE GIVEN A SHOT OF HELLO!!