On Sun, 31 May 2009 23:52:14 -0400, Gene
wrote:

Sad. There were 120 Irish folks aboard as 3rd class. Only one, Anna
Kelly, made it out alive

Cruise ships can certainly sink if t-boned like the Andrea Doria, but
there is only one class, and they all have an equal chance at a
lifeboat. As for the Andrea Doria, more people have died while diving
the wreck than died in the sinking, more than sixty.

They tell you they have lifeboats enough for twice the number, they
don't tell you that if the ship lists they will only launch the half
on the low side. The crew doesn't exactly abandon. They wait on the
uppermost deck, and if the ship sinks out from under them, they board
liferafts. Freighters have two lifeboats, one on each side, in case
of a list. Or the single freefall boat at the stern. They don't lower
those, they drop them. A shoulder harness on every seat. On the Panama
Canal webcam, I have only seen one open lifeboat [ two, one visible ]
You have to have a Diesel and 300 miles fuel, or sails, only possible
with an open boat. Bligh covered 4000 miles in an open boat with
sails. His book is available in paperback. Lifeboats have a radio
beacon that satellites are listening for, and you don't really need
the engine or sails to go anywhere. To stay off the rocks perhaps.

Casady