Regal Princess Diverts to Save Four People Adrift in Makeshift Sailboat
Key Aspects:
Regal Princess rescued five refugees roughly 150 miles north of the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday, February 23.
The refugees’ makeshift boat was heavily rusted and taking on water when they were brought aboard the cruise ship.
Regal Princess is on a 7-night cruise with an overnight Cozumel visit and a call to Roatan, with no changes expected.
An uneventful day at sea quickly became a compassionate rescue incident for Regal Princess when a rowboat with a makeshift sail was spotted north of the Yucatan Peninsula. The occupants, believed to be four adult males, were bailing water when the cruise ship was able to take them aboard.
Regal Princess departed Galveston, Texas, on Sunday, February 22, and was enjoying a day at sea when the small boat was noticed. As is customary, the 142,700-gross-ton, Royal Class ship immediately reversed course to offer aid, as any cruise ship would do for those in distress.
The small boat, which appeared to be made of metal on a wooden frame and was showing significant rust, was able to come alongside the cruise ship. Even as the rescue got underway, the refugees were bailing out their boat, and what looked to be a sail made from a sheet, tarp, or canvas had collapsed.
According to satellite tracking that shows the ship’s route, the incident happened approximately 150 miles north-northeast of Progreso, Mexico.
This particular region between Cuba and Mexico is particularly common for refugee encounters. Cruise Hive has previously reported on numerous similar rescues, most recently just one week ago, with Carnival Celebration.
While there are no reports of injuries among those rescued and now aboard Regal Princess, they would have been provided with emergency medical care if necessary. Food and water is also provided to refugees.
Despite the misgivings of some travelers, refugees – no matter where or when they may be brought aboard a cruise ship – are not permitted free access to public areas. They are kept in crew areas with a security presence until they can be released to the appropriate authorities.
In this case, it is likely that Regal Princess will drop the refugees off with authorities in Mexico when she reaches her first port of call, which is scheduled to be an overnight stay in Cozumel from 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24 until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25.
Read Also: Cozumel Cruise Port – Terminals, Piers, and Getting Around
In some incidents, refugees might be transferred to military or police boats if the cruise ship will not be able to drop them off appropriately, but each case is handled differently to be as efficient as possible.
Were They Fleeing Mexico?
At this time, there is no confirmation of where the refugees originated from, nor any information about why they set to sea in such a less-than-seaworthy craft. No identifying information has been released.
With the onset of increased violence in different areas of Mexico following the death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera over the weekend, some speculation is whether or not the refugees might be fleeing those conditions.
While the reasoning why the individuals left their home country is not available, their location when meeting Regal Princess so far north of the Yucatan peninsula makes it very unlikely that they only set sail in the last couple of days.
More than likely, they have been at sea for several days, long before the current tensions escalated.
Cruise Hive has already reported on various ships cancelling calls to Puerto Vallarta and mainland shore tours being cancelled from Cozumel. Other Mexican cruise ports continue to operate normally, however.
All cruise ships keep a constant lookout for any other vessels in distress, and aid is always offered without question. Regal Princess has continued on her 7-night sailing and there should not be any need for itinerary adjustments due to this successful rescue operation.
Regal Princess Diverts to Save Four People Adrift in Makeshift Sailboat