Fiji Siren - Lost at Sea

[KathyV]

Legal liability reasons. Being registered in an obscure country makes legal claims against the vessel so much harder.

That’s why most cruise ships except one that I know of (Norwegian’s Pride of America) are registered not in the US.

I wonder if there are reasons related to safety inspections as well? I seem to recall reading, but I don't remember where, that any cruise ships that regularly call at any American port are required to comply with specific safety regulations and inspections - but I don't know what is required by other countries.

 

[Dogbowl]

There are actually a number of them that are US flagged. Any of the Hawaii vessels as well as the Alaska vessels. I'm not too sure about the new cruise ship routes that leave New York, Philly, etc. and go North to Maine and the maritime provinces.

My understanding, for cruise ships at least, is that if they are departing and arriving back at a US port of entry, then they need to be US flagged. That’s why many cruise lines (except the Norwegian I mentioned) must depart from Vancouver or LA and head to Honolulu. They cannot do Honolulu round trip, for example. That’s my understanding.

Correction: Norwegian Dawn does Boston round trip and it’s Bahamas flagged, so I’m incorrect???

 

[Wookie]

My understanding, for cruise ships at least, is that if they are departing and arriving back at a US port of entry, then they need to be US flagged. That’s why many cruise lines (except the Norwegian I mentioned) must depart from Vancouver or LA and head to Honolulu. They cannot do Honolulu round trip, for example. That’s my understanding.

Your understanding is correct. A foreign flag passenger vessel may not make a coastwise voyage with passengers except for one port, and that is Key West. I expect that the Key West exemption is made for ships making the eastern or western Caribbean cruise that can't go to Havana. When that restriction is lifted, I expect that the exemption will expire.

Cargo vessels have a little different rule.

 

[Wookie]

I wonder if there are reasons related to safety inspections as well? I seem to recall reading, but I don't remember where, that any cruise ships that regularly call at any American port are required to comply with specific safety regulations and inspections - but I don't know what is required by other countries.

Depends on the country. You may or not remember Panama as a flag of convenience for passenger vessels. After the Wave Dancer, and other incidents (the Phantome during Mitch), Panama severely tightened down their passenger vessel requirements. It's harder to get a Panama flag than a US flag now.

 

[Dogbowl]

Depends on the country. You may or not remember Panama as a flag of convenience for passenger vessels. After the Wave Dancer, and other incidents (the Phantome during Mitch), Panama severely tightened down their passenger vessel requirements. It's harder to get a Panama flag than a US flag now.

Since you mentioned the Wave Dancer, do you know what happened to that ship after the disaster? Was it destroyed? Or did they put it back into service? I’m going on the Belize Aggressor IV soon. I hope it’s not the same ship!

 

[Damselfish]

Since you mentioned the Wave Dancer, do you know what happened to that ship after the disaster? Was it destroyed? Or did they put it back into service? I’m going on the Belize Aggressor IV soon. I hope it’s not the same ship!

The Belize Aggressor IV was the Sun Dancer II before they renamed it, and before that was the Palau Aggressor. (When I was on the Sun Dancer the first time in Belize, it was still decorated with Palau artwork and images and they were selling off their Palau Aggressor swag cheap.)

 

[Dogbowl]

The Belize Aggressor IV was the Sun Dancer II before they renamed it, and before that was the Palau Aggressor. (When I was on the Sun Dancer the first time in Belize, it was still decorated with Palau artwork and images and they were selling off their Palau Aggressor swag cheap.)

Thanks! Good to know.

 

[KathyV]

Since you mentioned the Wave Dancer, do you know what happened to that ship after the disaster? Was it destroyed? Or did they put it back into service? I’m going on the Belize Aggressor IV soon. I hope it’s not the same ship!

According to these links, it was salvaged and sold, but I don't know the new name or where it operates.

http://wavedancerremembered.com/Boat/sale.html

http://www.salvagesale.com/general/LotDetail/LotNumber/S11132-144

 

[Wookie]

Since you mentioned the Wave Dancer, do you know what happened to that ship after the disaster? Was it destroyed? Or did they put it back into service? I’m going on the Belize Aggressor IV soon. I hope it’s not the same ship!

It is not the same ship, but it is back in service.

 

[Dogbowl]

According to these links, it was salvaged and sold, but I don't know the new name or where it operates.

http://wavedancerremembered.com/Boat/sale.html

http://www.salvagesale.com/general/LotDetail/LotNumber/S11132-144

Thanks! I suppose the new owners aren’t going to advertise that they own the boat.