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Costa Concordia - life boat drill

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merlotgran Fri 11-Jan-13 23:07:40

dorsetpennt You've brought back memories. We went to Aden via the Cape because of the Suez crisis. I can remember one of my mother's friends constantly worrying about the provision of water in the event of a disaster. Somebody finally told her that if a disaster occured the last thing she would want would be water! I remember babies with prickly heat, not suffering from seasickness when everyone else was laid low and, of course, the drills.

We flew home.

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crimson Fri 11-Jan-13 23:02:36

Does anyone remember that terrible cross channel ferry disaster? A friend of mine had travelled on that boat. She said that the dining room was full of glass partitions and that, when the ferry went down, it would have been like trying to find your way through an invisible maze.

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Deedaa Fri 11-Jan-13 22:47:36

Speaking as someone who married into an Italian family the fact that the Captain and crew were Italians says it all !

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nonnasusie Fri 11-Jan-13 14:22:40

Italians are not very safety concious!! They rarely if ever use rear seat belts in cars and you frquently see children standing up in the front and back and sometimes little ones sitting on the drivers lap!! They seem to completely ignore any European laws!!angry

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jeni Fri 11-Jan-13 11:55:07

Always on our boat when newcomers were aboard. It was only 29ft long!

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JessM Fri 11-Jan-13 11:18:46

none on cross channel or irish sea ferries

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petra Fri 11-Jan-13 10:48:12

First day at sea. With Celebrity cruises. I have to say, whatever boat I go on ( at least 4 ferries a year) I always make sure I know exactly where I am in relation to the deck. I'm the same on planes, I always count how many rows I am away from the emergency exit. Makes me sound like a nervous traveler, doesn't it. Maybe I am, but accidents happen.

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jeni Fri 11-Jan-13 10:13:28

Before leaving port on cunard!

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dorsetpennt Fri 11-Jan-13 10:10:53

There was a programme last night on the Discovery Channel about this disaster - the methods they are going to use to refloat this ship is an engineering feat of marvellous proportions.
However, what amazed me was that the passengers had not had lifeboat drill yet - and now the rule will be [?in Italy] is to have the drill within a short time of leaving the harbour. I thought this happened.
From the age of two years old until I was 16 years old my brother and I trekked all over the world with my parents. There wasn't the jet travel as we know now so we always went by ship. As our father was in the Forces our trip to Hong Kong was via troop ship. It took 3 weeks to get there, with plenty of stops on the way - 6 weeks coming back as by then the Suez Canal had been closed by Nasser and we had to go via the Cape.
We had our first drill within an hour of leaving the harbour and twice a week after that. We mustered with hats and long sleeve clothing to protect us against the tropical sun - no shade - what provisions there was for food and water I can't remember. Coming back same procedure however, the captain must have though we were becoming somewhat jaded as he then instigated unannounced drills [beforehand we had a 24 hour notice dropped through the cabin door by our steward].
There were troops and families on board this ship so it was a vital exercise. On a journey back to Canada we travelled on an Italian Line ship - wonderful food and decor. However, my father was not happy with their lifeboat drill so sorted one out for us just to be safe.
I haven't been on a modern ship - in fact I'm pretty sure I wouldn't enjoy the ones on the massive liners - floating gin palaces and casinos - so those of you who have when did you have lifeboat drill?

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