The Director of the Great Lakes International Marine Training and Research Centre at Georgian College in Owen Sound says cruise liners are still safe.
Peter Buell admits he was dumbfounded at hearing the news that a cruise ship could be grounded with all the technology available to Captains.
12 Canadians survived the disaster aboard the Costa Concordia after it ran aground off the coast of Tuscany last Friday — including Alan and Laurie Willits of Wingham.
Buell tells Bayshore Broadcasting News their simulator can view the same coastline aboard similar cruise ships — but they need more information before trying to re-create last Friday’s disaster.
Buell tells us he would still go on a cruise today because a crash is very rare — and the industry is very safe when you consider how many people take a cruise annually.
There are reports the Captain of the Costa Concordia was showing off — and Buell says if that happened, it would be unforgivable.
He says the Captain always needs to be a safe distance from the shoreline.
Buell notes it’s also rare for a Captain to be navigating and not the first mate.
Buell adds the Captain is responsible for the ship, the crew and its passengers — and the Captain can not do that if they are not onboard the ship.
Buell admits something else might have been wrong with the Costa Concordia since it sank ‘very quickly.’
He says the pending investigation will look long and hard into the ship, the Captain’s navigation and the reactions of the crew.
