In what is now the 19 th cruise ship death this year, a Queen Elizabeth passenger recently passed away after complications while boarding the cruise ship from a tender. The tender, a small boat designed to carry passengers from ship to shore or port, is prone to becoming detached from the gangway ramp and cause those boarding to fall into the water.
The passenger fell into the sea and despite the crew members’ attempts to save her, passed away after being transported to the medical center. The cruise ship staff released a statement expressing their condolences for loved ones of the passenger. They also arranged for support for those who witnessed the accident.
Weather Conditions Can Lead to Dangerous Circumstances
Tenders are especially dangerous when weather conditions result in volatile seas. Just recently, a P&O cruise ship was forced to remain at sea due to high wings. This set them significantly behind schedule. When passengers returned after an outing, rocky waves delayed tender operations for over 90 minutes.
When passengers were finally able to board the tender boats, the waves made it difficult to do so safely. The small boats moved with the waves and frequently lost alignment with the gangway. The crewmembers had to carefully assist each passenger onto the tender boats.
Wrongful cruise ship deaths can occur for any number of reasons, but every incident is equally devastating. If you recently lost a loved one in a cruise ship accident, please reach out to our firm. As Miami cruise ship injury lawyers, we may be able to help you obtain deserved compensation.
Call us today to schedule your free and confidential consultation.