Caribbean Cruisin stuck at sea, dozens frustrated

Turks and Caicos, May 27, 2017 – South Caicos – Stuck at Sea!  A boat full of islanders and tourists were twice stalled because Caribbean Cruisin has run out of fuel en route from South Caicos.  One of two returning vessels was moments ago waiting to be rescued after a chaotic cruise kept getting worse.

Arguments erupted on the Provo bound vessel due to fears of overcrowding at the onset.  The Captain was unable to get extra passengers off the commuter ship.   Passengers fussing with the Captain and Crew, passengers arguing with each other created an explosive scene several times which caused at least one child  to cry.

The boat took off and yet another argument broke out and soon after the boat stopped.  No fuel.  Passengers were told the fuel was stolen.  However many agreed that a Captain should have known before hand.

A barrell of fuel was already on board as cargo.  Using some old school method – physically sucking fuel mouth to hose – an attempt was made to refuel the vessel with the fuel.  That failed.

Men on board – including a tourist – next joined Captain and crew to try to fill by lifting and pouring into a makeshift funnel.   It was messy with fuel splashing onto the boat, onto the passengers, creating noxious fumes and falling into the water.

The effort worked and set the Caribbean Cruise boat back into motion… for a while. 

It stopped again.  Out of gas and rescued by another from the fleet.

Still no pump nor funnel.    Suck and pull and pump by another staffer.    Archaic indeed, but it was successful and the dozens of passengers were again on their way to Provo.

Concerns about water suddenly filling the main deck were dismissed as not serious.

Magnetic Media had front row seat to this fiasco.   We were on board returning from our coverage of the South Caicos 50th Regatta.

Magnetic Media hastens to add that usually our experiences in media and personally travelling with Caribbean Cruisin have been nothing but stellar; however  this situation was a clear indication that much needs to be done in the way of training and to ensure standards in the maritime sector are keeping pace and is especially important as we grow domestic and family island tourism.

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