Rough seas & high winds

[Doc Vernon]

Attachment 24100


Fierce storm ahead: On Wed Sep 6^th,Eastern Caribbean routed cruise ships were scrambling in fear of ferociousHurricane Irma – the worst recorded hurricane in history with the likes ofwinds of near 200 mph. The Port of Miami was closed as of Friday,the 8^th and so cruise line operations busily changed and cancelledall sorts of voyages. MSC's Divina returned to Miami twodays early, offloaded her 3,000 passengers and then fled (empty) toCozumel. Disney axed three cruises, Carnival at least two and RoyalCaribbean three. The three biggest liners afloat – Oasis of theSeas, Allure of the Seas & Harmony of the Seas – with a over 15,000combined passengers onboard were kept at sea and away from the huge storm's path. Some other cruise lines allowed passengers to remain aboard, at Miami and PortEverglades, since many homeward flights were canceled. Passengers wereoffered partial refunds, full refunds on canceled cruises and up to $300 perperson toward flight change fees. Northward flights were all butoverwhelmed by mid-week, some extra flights were added, but one-way tickets toNew York City surged to a staggering $1,400.

[Derek Overton]

Talk of high winds reminds me of unloading scrap from Miami in Tokyo bay when we were ordered out to sea because of an impending Hurricane, I was on board The Harpalicus, Harrisons of London. It was around about 1960, I was a young 18 year old ass,.steward & it arrived during the night.