A frightening incident occurred on Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas cruise ship recently when a fire broke out, causing a brief loss of power. While no injuries were reported, the event undoubtedly left passengers and crew members shaken. This leaves many people wondering about what they should do—and what their rights would be—if they were injured in a cruise ship fire or other type of accident. At BoatLaw, LLP, our team of cruise ship injury attorneys is committed to helping people fight for compensation after accidents. Call our injury law firm at 360-671-6711 to set up a consultation now.
This is not the first time a cruise ship has experienced a fire, and it certainly won’t be the last. While the Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world, and therefore has caught the most attention, many other ships have had similar experiences. The Carnival Freedom ship, owned by Carnival Cruise Line, had a fire occur in the ship’s exhaust funnel. Flames shot from the ship’s tail, closing pools, restaurants, and sports venues. Some of those attractions closed for the duration of the cruise, and others ran at a lower capacity, leaving some waiting for hours on end for food. Many passengers later turned to cruise ship injury lawyers for help recovering the cost of their trip.
What Happened on the Icon of the Seas?
The Icon of the Seas, the biggest cruise ship in the world, experienced a sudden and alarming turn of events. A fire ignited in a crew area, and by sheer luck, the fire started when the ship was docked. This means that travelers were largely off the boat and exploring excursions at their stop, which limited the damage and the amount of damage control that the crew had to do. The crew working was able to quickly find and extinguish the fire.
The ship did lose power for a brief period of time, but thanks to a backup generator, power quickly came back on the boat. Although gangways were temporarily closed, the ship was able to set sail as normal, limiting the impact to travelers.
Crew Training and How the Situation Was Handled
The adept handling of the fire aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas shows the critical importance of thorough crew training and emergency preparedness. The incident, contained solely within a crew area and extinguished with remarkable speed, highlights not only the crew’s readiness but also their ability to implement safety protocols efficiently.
A shocking amount of maritime injuries are the direct result of inadequate training or a lack of safety protocols. Consider what that might mean for a massive ship like the Icon of the Seas—imagine what the situation would have looked like if the crew had panicked and lost precious minutes trying to figure out what to do. The small fire could have spread quickly, causing serious injuries to crew members, damaging property on the boat, and causing the cruise to come to an end. The difference between subpar and adequate training could not be more clear in this situation.
What Options Do Victims Have?
In this situation, the cruise ship fire was handled swiftly and with full attention to safety precautions and protocols. But what happens when the situation doesn’t go exactly as planned and the losses are greater?
Cruise ship injury attorneys will tell you that accidents happen far more often than we know, and it can be difficult for victims to receive compensation. Injured crew members may be denied maintenance and cure, as well as other benefits they are legally entitled to, simply because of company greed. Those who suffer injuries, the loss of a loved one, or even just an expensive vacation are often left uncertain of their next steps.
However, maritime law does cover cruise ships, and companies that fall short of their duty to crew members and travelers can be held accountable with the help of a cruise ship injury lawyer. The compensation you may be entitled to depends on the extent of your losses and the role of negligence in your injuries.
Discuss Your Maritime Injury With BoatLaw, LLP
If you’ve been injured while aboard a cruise ship, you have legal options—let’s talk about them. Schedule a free consultation by contacting us online or calling our cruise ship injury law firm at 360-671-6711.
