Key takeaways:
-
Increased Risk of Falling Overboard: Passengers aboard a cruise ship have a higher risk of falling overboard.
-
Low Survival Rates: Someone who falls overboard has a 25% chance of survival.
-
Causes of Death: Impact with the water causes major injuries, and predators in the water may be present.
-
Passenger Inattention: The environment of a cruise ship can lead to someone making a mistake and stepping through a gap in the railing.
-
Modern Safety Equipment Minimizes Risk: Cruise ships are equipped with monitors that detect a fall. This reduces the risk of a fall, but doesn't eliminate it.
Cruise ships are designed to be as safe as possible. The chances of someone falling overboard are slim, but these incidents still happen. Risk awareness is key to prevent a fall. That means being vigilant, staying away from the edge of the deck, and watching your alcohol intake. Here’s a look at how someone can fall off a cruise ship.
Man Overboard Incidents
Hearing the words man overboard come over the loudspeaker means someone fell off the ship. The call tells staff to start looking for the person in the water and begin a rescue attempt.
How Does Someone Fall Off a Cruise Ship?
Someone can fall off a cruise ship for many reasons. Alcohol is a common factor, as is inattention. Poor weather conditions contribute to someone falling off a ship. Here’s a look at the common reasons why people fall off a cruise ship.
Common Causes of Falls:
The most common causes of falls include alcohol and impairment. Also, people may not be attentive as they feel relaxed on cruise ships. Next up, accidental slip and falls are the major reasons for falls in cruise ships.
Alcohol and Impairment:
Alcohol causes people to lose their body control. The impairment makes it harder to walk and judge the surroundings. This makes it easy for someone to walk through a gap in a railing, or become convinced they’re capable of doing impossible movements.
Lack of Attention:
People often feel more relaxed on cruise ships. So, they won’t be as attentive on cruise ships as on the roads and in their everyday life. There are a few causes of a lack of attention. They include:
-
Distractions due to noise, music and surroundings of the cruise ship.
-
Casual or unfocused behavior.
-
Not paying attention near ship railings.
Accidental Slips and Trips:
The decks of a cruise ship are more likely to be slippery than not. Obstacles left on the decks make it harder to move easily. One or both of these hazards can lead to a fall. Also, there might be inadequate signs and safety measures for slippery floors. If so, you can sue the cruise company for failing to maintain their duty of care.
Reckless Behavior:
Reckless behavior includes taking risks such as trying to get a photo from a precarious vantage point. Horseplay is another form of reckless behavior. And attempting to grab something that’s just out of reach can lead to a loss of balance and a fall.
Ship Design and Railings:
Railing heights may not be high enough to prevent someone from going overboard. Gaps in the railing also contribute to someone falling off the ship.
Risk Factors that Increase the Chance of Falling:
Various factors make it more likely that someone will fall off the ship. Vigilance is necessary when these factors are present.
Weather Conditions:
Rough weather can happen during a cruise and make the ship rock. This motion makes it harder to walk on the decks and can lead to a fall. Also, heavy rain and cyclones can make the ship deck wet where people can slip easily.
Nighttime or Low Visibility:
Low visibility makes it more difficult to see in front of you at night. A lack of lighting makes it more likely that someone will fall off due to a miscalculation.
Passenger Health and Mobility:
Older passengers are more likely to have a mobility issue or an impairment. A sudden movement can affect their balance negatively.
Safety Measures to Prevent Falls:
Cruise ship operators provide safety education, signs throughout the ship, and ship design that prevents people from falling. International law also requires operators to educate passengers in safety procedures.
Passenger Education:
Passenger education begins before the ship has left port. Ship staff take groups of passengers and teach them the safety protocols and procedures.
Cruise Safety Briefings:
Staff muster passengers together and explain what they should do to keep safe during the trip. That includes what actions to take when someone falls off a ship.
Awareness Programs:
The crew should show passengers how to get around the ship. They’ll also talk about the actions passengers should and shouldn’t take. Also, cruise ships include signs and suggestions throughout their ship for different conditions, including alert for fall and slip. Passengers need to follow these signs and alerts.
Ship Design and Features:
Modern cruise ships are designed to prevent people from falling overboard. These features include the following.
Safety Railings and Barriers:
Railings go from floor to ceiling and have bars set close together. The space between these bars is too narrow for someone to slip through.
Surveillance and Monitoring:
Cruise ships have equipment that looks for unusual movement and alerts the crew if someone goes overboard.
Personal Behavior and Precautions:
Your personal behavior influences the risk of a fall. Good behavior means you won’t be at risk. It includes, following the alerts, signs of dangers and wet floor on the deck. Also, be careful around the poolside as it is often too slippery.
Staying Away from the Edge:
Don’t go near the edge of the deck. Head to an area designated for viewing as it’s the safest place to be.
Avoiding Alcohol Near Dangerous Areas:
Don’t drink in an area that looks dangerous. Instead, drink in a place that keeps you safe.
How Often Does Someone Fall Off A Cruise Ship?
It’s very rare for someone to fall off a cruise ship. However, it still happens even with modern ship design.
Statistics on Overboard Incidents:
Over time, certain trends have shown common causes of people falling off a cruise ship. It’s estimated that 19 to 25 people fall off ships on an annual basis. The causes of a fall are mostly intentional, but alcohol is the most common factor. That’s followed by getting pushed and suicide.
Comparison with Other Safety Incidents on Cruise Ships:
Slip and fall accidents are the most common accidents. This is because the cruise ship is a slippery environment and unexpected motions can knock someone off their feet. This accident is estimated to happen hundreds of time every year.
How to Survive If You Fall Overboard?
The actions you take after you fall overboard can increase your chances of survival.
Immediate Steps After Falling Overboard:
Start treading water as soon as you reach the surface.
Stay Calm:
Try not to panic and work on relaxing. Resisting the urge to panic helps you conserve energy.
Signal for Help:
Wave and shout, and splash the water to create a distinctive movement. This will attract the attention of the rescue crew.
Survival Techniques:
If you fall from the cruise ship, stay calm and follow our instructions. Remember that, your survival chance will depend on how well you apply these techniques.
Treading Water:
Tread water instead of trying to swim after the ship.
Floating Strategies:
Floating on your back helps you keep your head above water and conserves energy.
The Role of the Crew in a Rescue:
The crew of the ship is trained to rescue people that go overboard. Their training can save your life.
Lifeboats and rescue teams:
Rescue teams are scrambled as soon as they know someone has gone overboard. They need a little time to organize and get rescue craft into the water. Their job is to save you quickly.
What Should You Do If You Witness Someone Falling Overboard?
Remember your safety training and yell “person overboard”. Meanwhile, here are the steps to take if you see someone fall off the ship.
Immediate Actions to Take:
Alerting the Crew:
After shouting “person overboard”, look for a ship’s phone. You can also look for a crew member to let them know.
Remain Calm and Wait for Instructions:
Try to stay calm and don’t panic. You’ll hear shortly what actions you should take, if any.
Assisting in the Rescue Process:
Let the crew know what you saw, and where it happened. They’ll take over the situation from there and seek to rescue the passenger.
The Legal and Criminal Aspects of a Fall Overboard:
Cruise operators are responsible for the safety of their passengers. When someone falls off a ship, they can be held liable in court for the incident.
Criminal Investigation:
If there’s a suspicion of murderous intent, the nearest authority will begin an investigation into the fall.
When Does an Investigation Happen?
The investigation happens as soon as someone realizes there’s a person overboard. The scene has to be preserved for evidence of what happened, even if there’s no suspicion of criminal activity.
Legal Consequences:
The cruise ship operator can be held liable for the fall. In the event the person who fell was an employee, they or their family should contact a Jones Act Maritime Law Firm for legal help. This act covers employees who work at sea and suffer injuries while working.
Bottom Line:
Cruise ships offer a wonderful time. They also come with risks that you don’t normally see. Follow the safety training and take note of the safety equipment on the ship. Putting safety first means you get to have a great time and return home to talk about it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The ship's crew begin rescue efforts. Also, if you are injured, the cruise ship must provide you with necessary medical assistance. You can file a compensation claim lawsuit against them if you think the fall happened for their negligence.
It's very likely that you will die if you fall off a cruise ship. Modern-day cruise ships have CCTV cameras, 24-hour surveillance and excellent safety measures. So, even if you fall, they should detect and rescue you, within minutes.
Anywhere between 19 and 25 people fall off cruise ships every year. The number shows the rarity of falls from cruise ships. Especially, when you compare it to road or airplane accidents, cruise ships are way too safer.
There are no numbers as to how often someone falls off a cruise ship. However, it happens once in a blue moon. Minor falls on the deck aren’t uncommon but it won’t cause any severe injuries.
It's possible to survive falling off a cruise ship, but the odds are not in your favor. Even if you survive, there will be most likely broken ribs or bones. So, you will need long-term medical care.
The crew starts a search and rescue operation. Every cruise ship has their rescue team who will dive into the ocean and rescue you. Also, after that, they will provide you with much needed medical assistance.
There are no legal consequences for the passenger. The cruise ship can face a liability lawsuit for creating the condition that led to the fall.
