“Abandon ship!” is an order we all hope to never give or hear. But recently there have been captains who had to make that call.
I’m talking about the infamous Mr. Schettino (I refuse to call him captain) who was at the helm of the sinking Costa Concordia, and the captain of the South Korean ferry that just went down with 475 passengers aboard.
It’s reported that the captain of the South Korean ferry made a hasty departure from his sinking ship, leaving hundreds of passengers to sink or swim. I wonder if he “slipped” like Mr. Schetttino, who claims to have fallen into the lifeboat early in the disaster to save his own behind. I guess neither of them attended the slips, trips and falls training.
There is no more precious cargo than people. Together, both of these lost ships had thousands of people onboard who trusted the captain to do the right thing. In the face of disaster, a captain rushing to the lifeboats and abandoning his crew and passengers is despicable.
I read in one news account from Reuters that “Koreans don’t have the view that they have to stay with their ship until the end. It is a different culture from the West.” This is outrageous and, for me, the highest form of professional insult. I refuse to believe it and I imagine that what other Korean masters would say about it probably wouldn’t be printable.
I believe that the time honored tradition of the captain who has more authority than anyone else on earth, great responsibility and brutal accountability does not vary between cultures. The tradition is with every captain around the world who sails with a ship or boat under his or her feet.
I believe in the requirement and centuries old tradition that a captain sticks with the vessel in peril until every last soul is safe. Only then does the captain go over the side. The captain is no longer expected to go down with the ship, but neither is it acceptable for the captain to be first to the lifeboat.
This ferry accident was a tremendous tragedy and the recovery of bodies is probably still ongoing. So far several dozen bodies, mostly high school children, have been recovered. A couple of hundred more are missing and many likely dead. One of the saddest news items I read was the report of the suicide of a high school vice principal who had accompanied hundreds of his pupils on what was to be a wonderful trip.
While I usually attempt to present some safety point in my blog, this time I must express my outrage at the misconduct of the South Korean master. I would never insult you by making it a training point to not abandon your crew or cargo at the head of the line.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the people in this tragedy. I guess even the captain too.
Sail safe!
