Latest Update on Hurricane Katrina: Cruise Lines Sought for Help in Katrina Disaster
September 02, 2005
In the aftermath of Katrina's devastation, people simply need help, and lots of it. From the thirsty child with pleading eyes to all levels of the government, everyone is asking for assistance. In fact, the federal government's Centers for Disease Control has asked several cruise lines to consider sheltering New Orleans storm victims in their ships. Yet it isn't as simple as having the ships pull up to waiting passengers like a bus at a bus stop.
The safety of navigating the Mississippi upstream to New Orleans is questionable at best. The opaque surface of the water may hide debris and widespread silting that could damage or incapacitate a cruise ship, making any rescue mission impossible. Cruise lines state that before any operation is undertaken, the Army Corps of Engineers or other authorities will have to ensure that there is a navigatable and safe passage available to them. But that isn't to say that the cruise lines have given up on the idea of lending a helping hand.
"We are exploring what is feasible and trying to talk to the federal government," says Michael Crye, the president of the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL). Many of the cruise lines' ships that operate out of nearby ports can hold between 2,000 and 3,000 people. Still, there are many details that would have to be ironed out, such as how and where to moor the vessels; how to make sure there's enough water and food for everyone who would come onboard; and also how to ensure that there would be adequate medical care for all who require it.
Cruise ships have previously acted as floating hotels for events, such as the last Super Bowl and the Summer Olympics in Athens. But those events hardly occurred in what one would call crisis situations.
If the cruise ships do come to the assistance of those in need, it will not have been the first time they were used in emergencies. Indeed, in WWI and WWII, cruise ships were used as transport vessels, floating triages for wounded soldiers, and civilian rescue vessels. The difference is that this crisis is not caused by war or any man-made plight; this time, it is the worst natural disaster in U.S. history that may bring cruise ships to the front lines once again.
All of the 16 cruise lines that make up the ICCL are considering ways they can help, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Disney Cruises among them. Yet, perhaps the cruise line most able to help is Carnival Cruise Lines. Carnival Cruise Lines has two ships that operate out of the now-closed Port of New Orleans, Conquest and Sensation, the first of which was currently scheduled for dry dock, while the second will soon be returning to Galveston, Texas after a 5-day cruise to Mexico.
Yet no matter if the cruise ships are able to come or not, the people of New Orleans, Biloxi, Gulfport, and other cities and towns along the Gulf Coast urgently need our help. It's a situation so catastrophic, that it's hard to wrap your mind around. People are suffering through dire conditions, such as a lack of food and water, unsanitary "living" spaces, intolerable heat, widespread looting, and chaos. So please, if you haven't done so already, go to www.redcross.com to make a donation for the victims of Katrina. It is only the goodwill of Americans that will bring us through this disaster.
