This is a question that has been on the minds of many in the past few months. It seems that more and more cruise ships are getting into accidents, and the resulting injuries and deaths have been devastating.
On October 29th, 2018, a Viking Sky cruise ship was sailing off the coast of Norway when it experienced engine failure and had to be evacuated by helicopter. The ship had nearly 1,400 passengers on board, and hundreds were left stranded in freezing temperatures as they waited for rescue. Four people died during this incident, and many others were injured.
More recently, on July 4th of this year, a luxury cruise ship called The Emerald Star ran aground off the coast of South Korea near Jeju Island. The 590-foot vessel was carrying 739 passengers and crew members at the time of the accident. Fortunately, no one was injured or killed in this incident.
In August 2019 a riverboat owned by Missouri-based company Duck Boat Tours capsized in a severe storm on Table Rock Lake near Branson Missouri killing 17 people including nine members of one family. This tragedy occurred despite warnings from local meteorologists that severe weather was coming due to an incoming storm system.
These recent cases show that cruise ships are not always safe from accidents even when operated with caution by their captains and crews. Injuries can occur on any type of vessel whether it be a luxury liner or a small riverboat tour vehicle. It is important for passengers to take safety precautions before boarding any type of boat as well as remain aware of their surroundings at all times while onboard to help reduce their risk for injury or death.
Conclusion: Recent cruise ship crashes demonstrate that no vessel is immune from accidents– regardless of size or type– even when operated with caution by its captain and crew members. Passengers should always take safety precautions before boarding any type of boat and remain aware while onboard to help reduce the risk for injury or death.