Factual Informati<strong>on</strong> 40 Marine Accident Report• A placard in each passenger cabin provides emergency instructi<strong>on</strong>s. (Seeappendix C.)According to passengers and shipboard pers<strong>on</strong>nel, passengers were not told during<strong>the</strong> drill how to determine which crewmembers would assist <strong>the</strong>m. They said that, during<strong>the</strong> drill and <strong>the</strong> actual emergency, <strong>the</strong> crewmembers having primary resp<strong>on</strong>sibility forassisting passengers and distributing lifejackets did not wear any type of identificati<strong>on</strong>.<strong>Passenger</strong> accountability. According to Carnival Cruise Lines’ officials,shoreside pers<strong>on</strong>nel prepared a manifest, which was provided to shipboard pers<strong>on</strong>nel, ofall passengers who booked a cruise <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ecstasy</strong>. As passengers boarded <strong>the</strong> vessel, <strong>the</strong>ywere asked to sign for a computerized “sign and sail” card that was used to makepurchases. <strong>Ship</strong>board pers<strong>on</strong>nel used <strong>the</strong> computer data to c<strong>on</strong>firm which bookedpassengers actually boarded <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ecstasy</strong>. Throughout <strong>the</strong> cruise, <strong>the</strong> crew used <strong>the</strong>computerized cards to determine which passengers debarked and boarded <strong>the</strong> vessel attravel stops.The lifejackets provided in each stateroom were imprinted with <strong>the</strong> letter of <strong>the</strong>muster stati<strong>on</strong> to which <strong>the</strong> occupants of that stateroom were to report during a drill or anemergency. Crewmembers in charge of <strong>the</strong> muster stati<strong>on</strong>s determined whe<strong>the</strong>r or notpassengers had reported to <strong>the</strong> correct stati<strong>on</strong> by <strong>the</strong> lettered lifejackets that <strong>the</strong>y wore. Alist of <strong>the</strong> passengers who were supposed to report to a given muster stati<strong>on</strong> was notmaintained at <strong>the</strong> muster stati<strong>on</strong> or provided to <strong>the</strong> muster stati<strong>on</strong> leader.During an emergency, crewmembers were assigned to search each stateroom tomake sure that it was vacant and were required to place a towel around <strong>the</strong> exteriordoorknob indicating that <strong>the</strong> stateroom had been searched.Lifesaving equipment. An LR “Record of Equipment for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Passenger</strong> <strong>Ship</strong>Safety Certificate,” issued May 2, 1997, indicates <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ecstasy</strong>’s lifesaving equipment met<strong>the</strong> requirements of SOLAS 74, as amended in 1998.The SOLAS 98 amendments stipulate <strong>the</strong> following requirements for pers<strong>on</strong>allifesaving appliances under regulati<strong>on</strong> 7.2, “Lifejackets”:2.1 A lifejacket complying with <strong>the</strong> requirements of paragraph 2.2.1 or 2.2.2 of<strong>the</strong> Code shall be provided for every pers<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> board <strong>the</strong> ship and, inadditi<strong>on</strong>:.1 a number of lifejackets suitable for children equal to at least 10 percent of<strong>the</strong> number of passengers <strong>on</strong> board shall be provided or such greaternumber as may be required to provide a lifejacket for each child; and.2 a sufficient number of lifejackets shall be carried for pers<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> watch andfor use at remotely located survival craft stati<strong>on</strong>s. The lifejackets carriedfor pers<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> watch should be stowed <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> bridge, in <strong>the</strong> engine c<strong>on</strong>trolroom and at any o<strong>the</strong>r manned watch stati<strong>on</strong>.
Factual Informati<strong>on</strong> 41 Marine Accident Report2.2 Lifejackets shall be so placed as to be readily accessible and <strong>the</strong>ir positi<strong>on</strong>shall be plainly indicated. Where, due to <strong>the</strong> particular arrangements of <strong>the</strong>ship, <strong>the</strong> lifejackets provided in compliance with <strong>the</strong> requirements ofparagraph 2.1 may become inaccessible, alternative provisi<strong>on</strong>s shall bemade to <strong>the</strong> satisfacti<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> Administrati<strong>on</strong> which may include anincrease in <strong>the</strong> number of lifejackets to be carried.The SOLAS 98 amendments c<strong>on</strong>tain additi<strong>on</strong>al requirements for pers<strong>on</strong>al lifesavingappliances at regulati<strong>on</strong> 22, which states, in part:2.1 In additi<strong>on</strong> to <strong>the</strong> lifejackets required by regulati<strong>on</strong> 7.2, every passengership shall carry lifejackets for not less than 5 percent of <strong>the</strong> total number ofpers<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> board. These lifejackets shall be stowed in c<strong>on</strong>spicuous places<strong>on</strong> deck or at muster stati<strong>on</strong>s.2.2 Where lifejackets for passengers are stowed in staterooms which arelocated remotely from direct routes between public spaces and musterstati<strong>on</strong>s, <strong>the</strong> additi<strong>on</strong>al lifejackets for <strong>the</strong>se passengers required under 7.2.2shall be stowed ei<strong>the</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> public spaces, <strong>the</strong> muster stati<strong>on</strong>s, or <strong>on</strong> directroutes between <strong>the</strong>m….The LR certificati<strong>on</strong> attachment indicates that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ecstasy</strong> carried <strong>the</strong> followinglife-saving appliances: 10 immersi<strong>on</strong> suits; 270 <strong>the</strong>rmal protecti<strong>on</strong> aids; 18 lifeboats;2 rescue boats, and 36 life rafts. The LR form indicates that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ecstasy</strong> had 3,738 adultlifejackets and 356 child lifejackets, or a total of 4,094 lifejackets, to accommodate amaximum load of 3,560 people.Carnival Cruise Lines’ records indicate that, <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> day of <strong>the</strong> accident, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ecstasy</strong>carried 4,368 adult-size lifejackets and 578 child-size lifejackets, or a total of4,946 lifejackets. (Appendix D shows <strong>the</strong> locati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> lifejackets.) As indicated earlierin this report, <strong>the</strong> ship did not sail with a maximum load. The passenger manifest listed2,342 adults and 223 children, and <strong>the</strong> crew manifest showed 916 crewmembers.Postaccident survey. The Safety <strong>Board</strong> mailed questi<strong>on</strong>naires to 300 passengerswho had been <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ecstasy</strong> asking about <strong>the</strong> muster drill and whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y encounteredany problems during <strong>the</strong> actual emergency. The <strong>Board</strong> received 126 resp<strong>on</strong>ses, which aresummarized below.All 126 resp<strong>on</strong>ders indicated that <strong>the</strong>y participated in <strong>the</strong> drill. Most passengersstated that <strong>the</strong> drill proved valuable during <strong>the</strong> actual emergency in that <strong>the</strong>y were able toidentify <strong>the</strong> general emergency alarm, d<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir lifejackets, and find <strong>the</strong>ir muster andlifeboat stati<strong>on</strong>s. They indicated that <strong>the</strong>y appreciated being told that <strong>the</strong> ship had a firesquad and extra lifejackets <strong>on</strong> board. Seventy-nine passengers indicated that, during <strong>the</strong>actual emergency, <strong>the</strong> ship’s crewmembers seemed well trained and organized and did agood job. All resp<strong>on</strong>ders said that <strong>the</strong>y heard <strong>the</strong> cruise director announce “a minor firesituati<strong>on</strong>,” which was under c<strong>on</strong>trol, and that <strong>the</strong>y were to report to <strong>the</strong>ir muster stati<strong>on</strong>s.<strong>Passenger</strong>s described <strong>the</strong> crewmembers as calm and helpful in directing passengers andaddressing <strong>the</strong>ir questi<strong>on</strong>s. Resp<strong>on</strong>ders stated that <strong>the</strong> cruise director made frequentannouncements, both in English and in Spanish, throughout <strong>the</strong> emergency. Some