Image via Marianne Fearnside
Bob and Marianne Fearnside’s son Richard disappeared one evening while traveling home this year on a P&O Cruises ferry.
“He went on deck for a cigarette and never returned” the Fernside’s wrote in a recent petition to P&O Cruises that the company install CCTV cameras on the decks of their ferries.
As of today, this petition has gathered in excess of 50,000 signatures.
“We do not know what happened to Richard and we don’t know if he fell or jumped or was pushed from the deck. There can be no inquiry because there is no evidence as there are no CCTV cameras on passenger decks. There are CCTV cameras at the Duty Free shop to protect goods such as perfume and spirits, but none on passenger decks to protect people. We will probably never know what happened to our beloved son, but our loss has pointed out how woefully inadequate [sic] the safety measures are to prevent loss of life on passenger ferries.”
Ferry safety has been a big issue this year in many respects. In fact, hundreds have died in ferry accidents and an unknown number have perished in similar ways to Richard Fearnside.
Undoubtably, CCTVs would help increase the situational awareness and in some ways the security of the ferry operators, but it of course detracts from the operators’ bottom line.
Do you have an opinion on the matter? Comment below or sign their petition HERE.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 105,900 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
SINGAPORE, April 24 (Reuters) – Demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to power ships will rise this year on attractive prices, while more dual-fuel vessels join the global fleet, industry executives said....
ROME (Reuters) – An Italian judge on Friday cleared three migrant sea rescue charities that had been accused of abetting irregular immigration in complicity with human traffickers, throwing out a case opened...
(Bloomberg) — The closure of one of the East Coast’s busiest ports after the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge has so far not led to broad price increases,...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 105,900 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
