Coast Guard keeping busy during cruise season
It’s not rescue missions, but the Coast Guard is keeping busy during cruise season.
Members are conducting safety inspections on every cruise ship at port in Seattle to help keep every voyage safe.
Before a cruise can take off from Seattle, they need to check off all the safety boxes for the Coast Guard.
Just like flight attendants, cruise crews also need to know what to do in case of emergency.
“Large vessels are legally required to be inspected yearly. That’s exactly what happened on Thursday, when members from the sector Puget Sound inspection team put crew members to the test,” said Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier.
Inspectors assess whether crews are able to respond to major emergencies, like fire.
The Coast Guard watches how the crew responds to a mock fire drill, following international standards.
The fire must be isolated, electrical power and ventilation must be secured, and the crew must determine how far the fire goes before abandoning ship.
The Coast Guard will also look over every part of the ship, including the emergency systems, alarms and lifeboats.
“If these vessels weren’t inspected, the safety gear could just kind of rot away, or the crews might lose their skills to actually respond in case of emergencies,” Strohmaier said.
The Coast Guard also says boats of all sizes should go through the same process, making sure every part of your boat is good to go before you head out on the water.
