That is the Viking Sky which looks like it’s about to dip into the Viking Ocean, off the coast of Norway. Looks are not deceiving in this case, the Viking Sky sent out a mayday signal that it had lost propulsion, was being battered in heavy winds and seas and must needed be evacuated. There are 1,300 people on board and helicopters have to evacuate them one by one. (:o?) Which does not sound like a promising plan. Last I read about 100 had been airlifted to safety (Imagine that trip alone in the bucket up to the chopper in that wind. Weee!) and the ship had regained partial propulsion.
All of which is significant but mere prelude to a larger point. There are so many problems with cruise ships! Sexual assault of passengers by crew, various losses of power, outbreaks of contagious disease where hundreds are sickened, Schettino’s captaining the ship, all pointing in my mind to the Big Problem: Because they sail the Seven Seas they are not really under the jurisdiction of any government when they do. They do not pay taxes, I do know that. The Costa Concordia and the Viking Sky founderings happened so close to shore that Italy and Norway respectively could rescue the innocent and prosecute the wrongdoers if it comes to that. But are there national health standards that can be enforced? Ship safety standards? There must be but they must be international maritime regulations, a lowest common denominator.Why do you think so many ships are flagged in Liberia? Do you have confidence in the laws of Liberia?
The undersigned has never been on a cruise and don’t intend to, ever.
