it's a money grabYep. No hurry, overnight trip. The idea for most is to party all night or visit the casino.
i gotta say that ferries del caribe have a bit of bad luck. the ferry hit SD terminal structure today. luckily no victims, only material losses.
https://www.diariolibre.com/noticia...s-del-caribe-en-el-puerto-don-diego-EA7121655
...I didn't know they sell Navigation Licences in the colmados now! :surprised
Here's a video with a different angle of the accident. Wonder how the passengers get back to PR if the ferry is in drydock for inspection or repairs?
http://gcaptain.com/incident-video-major-damage-ferry-hits-pier-santo-domingo/#.WR9KHK7vpxg.facebook
Too bad the article doesn't give any indication as to how the pilot boats or the pilot screwed up the mooring procedure. Ordinarily, ships are docked by government pilots and tugs or pilot boats and I'm fairly certain it's no different here as in any other port. I did see a video that showed two tugs assisting with the mooring.
Just for the sake of good order, clarification and prevention of speculation, there is no need for any indication concerning the port pilot. The ferry had been successfully berthed and safely secured alongside the pier and pilot disembarked.....the incident happened 16 minutes later so no involvement or responsibility of pilot and no tug boats involved.
Thank you for the clarification as there has been nothing that I have seen stating the circumstances regarding the incident or to the issues or causes surrounding it. Could you possibly support your statement with a reference or link as to where you received this information?
It's what I do for a living, for the last 50 years or so.....
I am a Captain as well which is why I was interested. After your post, I dug around a little a found that they attribute the incident to lines failing when the cargo ramp was being lowered and that the ship was only partially secured to the dock allowing the current to become a factor. Thank you for responding to my initial post pilot.
https://www.google.com.ag/amp/www.d...icle-4522868/amp/A-FERRY-close-encounter.html
Maybe now people will have an easier feeling travelling to PR on the ferry knowing the truth as to the cause and that negligence played no part in it.
No negligence? I call it "lack of due diligence". It is common practice to be completely moored before using ship's cranes, booms, ramps, etc. All lines are normally doubled up and secured- especially when moving heavy loads, or strong tidal currents/weather can be expected. In the video, lines appeared to be "singled-up" and not all secured. that's why the line(s) appeared to have parted. This was an avoidable incident.
Before lowering the door/ramp the command should have been: "Double up and secure" and upon securing the lines, the command "Secure the main engines"....the captain then can leave the bridge.