Merseyside tourists in cruise ship storm drama

Sep 30 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

Island Star cruise ship

DOZENS of tourists from Merseyside and Cheshire were among hundreds of passengers aboard a luxury cruise ship who had to be ferried to safety in lifeboats during a storm.

Pensioner Bruce Ikin last night told the Daily Post of his and fellow passengers’ ordeal after the engines failed on the Island Star Cruise Ship – plunging the 11-deck liner into darkness.

The 75-year-old was flown home on Thursday following the emergency evacuation.

He said many of the 1,473 passengers panicked when the ship’s captain gave the order to abandon ship off the coast of Nice.

He explained over the ship’s Tannoy system that he was not prepared to risk their or his crew’s safety.

Mr Ikin said during the evacuation, using the ship’s lifeboats, two people collapsed, while all passengers were left “soaked to the skin”, as they were transferred to shore.

He added: “People were naturally very anxious when the ship lost power.

“And many more were very disturbed by the perception of being shipped across the water in lifeboats that had to be lowered into the water. There was quite a lot of elderly people on board, so it was extremely daunting. “There were dozens of people from Liverpool and the surrounding areas.

“It all took place during a tropical storm and we were all soaked. I have been left with a terrible cough. As you can imagine, it was quite a task with so many passengers on board and over 1,000 pieces of luggage to get off the ship.

“People were really upset that their holiday was being cut short, too. It was just very disappointing.”

Mr Ikin, from Hartford, Northwich, Cheshire, said the ship had first experienced engine and power problems as it left Genoa – one of the stops on Island Cruises’ Mediterranean Explorer Cruise.

Passengers realised something was wrong when the power failed and all the lights went out.

During the power failure, the captain explained to passengers that technicians were being flown out to the stricken ship, and after emergency repairs the ship limped on towards Nice.

Mr Ikin said: “After eventually getting going, the power failed again and the captain said he couldn’t hazard the lives of the passengers or crew and would have to call an emergency evacuation.

“He reassured all passengers that there was no danger of the ship sinking, but still people were anxious about what may happen.

“They held a meeting in the ship’s theatre, and, after initially offering a 60% refund to all passengers, the captain said Island Cruises had agreed to issue a full refund.”

It is understood that Island Cruises’ managing director, Tim Ryan, was flown out to the Island Star to help oversee the evacuation and assist passengers.

Nobody from the Manchester-based company was available for comment last night.

carolineinnes