Carnival horizon rendered aid to a small boat north of Cuba, securing provisions for the inhabitants and allowing the vessel to continue on her way, as was the choice of the passengers.
The meeting took place on Monday, September 12, 2022, with five refugees affected by the actions of the cruise ship.
Meeting of refugees near Cuba
Tracking data shows that Carnival horizon was sailing slowly east along the north coast of Cuba when the small vessel was sighted.
Reports from passengers aboard the cruise ship indicated that there were five individuals on the boat, which appeared to be drifting. Carnival horizon provided aid, providing food and water to the refugees before they continued their journey.
The cruise ship could have brought the individuals on board and they would have been turned over to the appropriate authorities, likely the United States Coast Guard. The individuals instead chose to stick with their craft and continue their planned journey.
The captain of the cruise ship reported to the guests that the rescue was a success, as help had been adequately provided and the small boat was deemed safe for the refugees to continue.
The collision happened around 8 am on September 12, while Carnival horizon was enjoying a day at sea on her current 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary. After a short delay to render aid, the cruise ship continued on its way.
There was no change in Carnival horizon‘s schedule, and the ship is sailing on Wednesday, September 13, at Ocho Rios, Jamaica as planned. The ship departed Miami on Sunday, September 11 and will visit Grand Cayman and Cozumel later this week before returning to Miami on Saturday, September 17.
Carnival horizon is a Vista-class ship, weighing 133,500 gross tons and having the capacity to host 3,960 guests on a double frequency basis, and up to 4,977 passengers when fully booked with all berths filled.
Growing Salvation
Carnival cruise ships have been involved in a number of refugee rescues near Cuba in recent weeks.
Carnival Paradise rescued six Cuban migrants from a makeshift raft in late Augustjust three weeks after the same ship rescued 20 refugees from an overcrowded ship on 31 July.
Dawn of the Carnival performed a similar rescue on July 29while the flag of the cruise line, Mardi Grashas carried out three such rescues this year – two in June and one in January – helping a total of more than 30 refugees.
Other cruise ships are also involved in similar encounters with refugees in 2022, including Famous Apex AND Norwegian partition.
According to maritime law and tradition, cruise ships are obliged to assist anyone in distress at sea, regardless of the circumstances of those to be assisted. The Agreements for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea states:
“Each State shall require the master of a ship flying its flag, so far as he can do so without serious injury to the ship, crew or passengers… to render assistance to any person at sea in risk of getting lost. [and] proceed with all possible speed to the rescue of persons in distress, if informed of the need for assistance, so far as such action can reasonably be expected of him.”
During these meetings, the captain and officers of the cruise ship will determine if a small moving vessel is in danger and provide assistance. This assistance may be the provision of food, water or other supplies, or may include fueling a small vessel.
If a vessel is not considered seaworthy or the water conditions are too rough or unsafe, refugees may be taken aboard the cruise ship. At that time, they would be provided with food, water, shelter and medical care as needed.
With each collision, the relevant authorities are notified. If refugees are brought aboard the cruise, they will be handed over to authorities at the first available opportunity, which may mean meeting a Coast Guard ship, or authorities will meet the refugees when the ship docks.
With political and economic unrest increasing in many areas, it is sadly not surprising that encounters with refugees are becoming more common in recent months.