US Navy To The Rescue

The USS Ronald Reagan, one of the US Navy's newest aircraft carriers was in the news the last couple of days for coming to the rescue of the cruise ship Carnival Splendor who it seems had an engine fire and became stranded off the coast of Mexico. All in a days work for the USS Ronald Regan's crew, a horror story for the passengers who paid big bucks to make what was suppose to be a pleasure cruise.

OK first let me say, most of you who may be reading my blog (if there is anyone) know from reading my profile that I spent 20 years in the navy, and no I've never had the honor of being on a naval vessel that came to the rescue of a cruise ship, although I have been on board for rescues of aircraft in the water and merchant ships but those could make for other interesting stories. What I want to assure everyone is the passengers where never in any danger, the only ones who may have been in danger where the first responders of the crew.

The media is making a big deal out of the fire and you hear passenger's like, Leticia Lewis who told CNN "I'm just thankful to be alive". CNN's not pointing out those people who said "oh I wasn't worried at all". First of all the technology used in all types of newer vessels can control and put out a fire in a ships engine room in a matter of seconds before it can get out of hand, most of that technology are inventions pioneered by the US Navy and other navy's of the world. A good example is a chemical agent called Bromochlorodifluoromethane or the trade name Halon 1211.

Back in the mid 80's about the time I was serving on the aircraft carrier USS Constellation, engine rooms and many other spaces on board US Navy ships began replacing the old CO2 fire extinguishing systems most of us may be familiar with with the new Halon 1211 systems, which while on board was put to the real test when we had a engine room fire on board, and worked pretty good considering it was a new system, the fire did end up burning 42 Spaces (rooms) on board, however that was about 25 years ago and the Halon systems of today are a million times more reliable.

Briefly to tell you how this works with out getting technical is when there is a fire, Halon 1211 is automatically actuated and it destroys all the oxygen in the room, and as we know it takes three things for a fire to start or continue burning, Fuel, Air and an Ignition source. So the way Halon works is by getting rid of the air. As a side note to that I remember a terrible tragedy back in the mid 80's when a marine stationed at Marine Corp Base Camp Pendelton, Ca was looking for a quick high and breathed in some Halon 1211, needless to say it sucked all the Oxygen out of his body and killed him instantly, I tell you this just to show you how effective it could be.

So despite all the media hype about the possible danger the passengers where in, it's just that hype, it was a small fire and was out almost instantly. Now the fact that they spent that much money to go on a seven day cruise and ended up floating helpless of the coast of Mexico is a tragedy. Someone who may not normally get sea sick can get violently ill when your ship has no power and floating around like a fishing bobber, you add the smell of rotting food and sewage it makes for a horrible four days.

Yet Carnival being in the business of taking people on cruises have stood up and said everyone is invited to come back for a free cruise on them, (of course they did, don't want to loose the business right?) so the passengers got an experience of a life time, something they can tell their grand children about, I mean how many people have actually gotten the chance to see an actual aircraft carrier in action and still get to go on a cruise when the are ready.

You hear allot lately with people wondering if cruises are safe, and they are very safe, probably one of the safest and different vacation you can take, unless their is a major explosion on board a ship which to is highly unlikely barring a terrorist attack. So sit back in your patio chair and enjoy the cruise.

One thing I do want to say is that Carnival owes the US Navy and Coast Guard a big thank you, not only did they come too their rescue, the defense department announced today that they will not send Carnival a bill for their services.

Picture Courtesy of USA Today