Another anomaly is the statement from Carnivals PR department. If I am to understand the following comment came from them later in the day and during the time when SKNVibes was interviewing Denzil Crooke, around 11:00 a.m. ‘Public relations officials at Carnival Cruise Lines told this media house that they have not yet received any information on the damages but would issue a statement at the earliest possible time.’
I find this highly improbable because the vessel would have been on ‘the blower’ almost immediately to report the incident, first and foremost so the famous ‘Carnivore’ PR guru’s could start planning their usual negative response of ‘we know nothing’ until they are ready to talk about it and the ship would have been required to commence a CRP-1 form or equivalent as required when the following instances occur –
Section 191 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1976 requires the Master to report damage sustained by or accidents caused to a Bahamian registered vessel that results in:
- 1) loss of life
- 2) total loss of the vessel
- 3) serious injury
- 4) material damage affecting the vessel’s seaworthiness
- 5) machinery or hull damage affecting the vessel’s efficiency
Under Section 241 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1976, the Bahamas Maritime Authority may hold a Preliminary Investigation into any of the following, therefore the following should also be reported:
- 6) any damage to a ship
- 7) any damage caused by the ship
- 8) stranding or grounding of ship
- 9) abandonment of ship
Once again it appears Carnival will never change and are set to continue to always give a different account to the rest of the world.
The 88,500 gross registered ton Carnival Miracle is a Spirit Class cruise ship owned owned by Carnival Corporation Eighty percent of her staterooms have ocean views, and eighty percent of those feature private balconies. Her capacity allows for 2,124 passengers and 930 crew.
Carnival Miracle Collision
An Eyewitness Report
By Mike Groves
