Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Woman has assisted a ship of refugees close to Cuba, the cruise line’s second such encounter in lower than per week. Not like the primary encounter by Scarlet Woman on New Yr’s Eve, nevertheless, the refugees from the most recent incident selected to not board the cruise ship, however accepted provides and continued on their method.
Valiant Woman Responds to Boat in Misery
Valiant Woman is at present crusing a 4-night roundtrip crusing from Miami, with calls on Key West, Florida and Bimini, The Bahamas. The ship departed from Miami on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, with a day at sea to take pleasure in earlier than the decision on Key West.
It was on the afternoon of that day at sea on Thursday that the ship noticed a small boat within the Straits of Florida between Cuba and the Florida Keys, roughly 75 miles (120 kilometers) southeast of Key West and nearly immediately south of Duck Key.
The small boat or raft, which was low within the water, gave the impression to be utilizing a white piece of fabric to sign misery, although the fabric may even have been meant as a makeshift sail or shade for the boat’s a number of occupants.
Valiant Woman despatched out a rescue craft to test on the boat and the refugees selected to not come aboard the cruise ship, although they did settle for meals and water. After a short while, the rescue boat returned to the cruise ship, which then continued on its option to Key West.
The ship’s deliberate arrival to Key West at 8 a.m. on Friday, January 6, has not been impacted, and it’s unlikely that there shall be any want for arrival or departure time changes.
That is the second refugee rescue for a Virgin Voyages ship in lower than per week, as Scarlet Woman rescued 18 people from a makeshift boat on December 31, in the identical normal area. In that incident, the small boat was dangerously overcrowded and taking over water, so the refugees have been taken aboard Scarlet Woman till they may very well be transferred to a United States Coast Guard (USCG) vessel.
Why Not Carry the Refugees Aboard?
Cruise ships are obligated underneath maritime legislation to render help to any boat in misery, however there isn’t a requirement that people be introduced aboard the bigger ship in the event that they refuse that help, except their lives are in quick hazard. At no time are any refugees thought-about prisoners or fugitives, and they’re all the time accorded respect and humanitarian help as crucial.
Within the case of Valiant Woman, it seems that the refugees refused the provide to board the cruise ship, preferring as a substitute to remain aboard their small craft with the hope they might make it safely to Florida.
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Valiant Woman, the second “woman ship” of Virgin Voyages’ fleet, would have reported the placement and nature of the encounter to the USCG, and the authorities would have despatched a vessel to analyze and render extra help as wanted, or to take the refugees into custody in the event that they have been formally inside United States waters with out acceptable documentation.
Most often, such refugees are safely repatriated to their dwelling international locations.
Valiant Woman solely debuted with Virgin Voyages in March 2022, however is already honoring maritime traditions along with her swift help to this refugee boat. With rising numbers of refugees being encountered within the Straits of Florida, nevertheless, it’s unlikely to be her final encounter with such a makeshift craft.
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