American Provincialism for all to see

[nadinbrzezinski]

So here is a small story... a cruise ship stuck at sea.

So who reached that ship first? The Mexican Navy, they chopped in emergency teams and food, while sending out ships to assist... read that again... (And for the record they did not have those capabilities even ten years ago, but the Navy has gotten a mandate similar to the USCG.)

But like a pattern that is common, wether this is Haiti, or the Tsumani, or for that matter Katrina... it is like they never showed... and only OUR assets can do this.

Now why is that thing being towed to the US... against the CURRENT? No, it is not security, it is cost. My hubby used to "run" the port of San Diego, and that ship stopping at Ensenada would mean the company would have to PAY for an unscheduled port stop... and if they do any emergency repairs... so they are moving north because of THAT cost... as he put it... they can go straight to the yard, avoiding the EMERGENCY USE FEES in the Port of San Diego.

That is what I call CHEAP BASTARDS. KEEP people at sea far longer (They may still have to go to Ensenada anyway) to save upwards of 10K bucks, average fee in the US... per day.

But here is the critical point... things happen outside the US... and our MEDIA goes out of it's way to present to you a VERY US Centric story... and then we elect people who don't know where China is but want to go to war with them? That's one reason. And what is funny is... people are NOT travelling to the Mexican Rivera due to the security concerns... you think this will help?

There are times I need to laugh.

[niyad]

1. thank you for bringing this up--only heard a little about the ship--but, sadly, not surprised at the

kind of slanted coverage. still outraged about the coverage of the chilean mine disaster, as if ONLY the US was engaged in the rescue attempt.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. I forgot that one...

thanks for the reminder.

I went on the mexican news and I learned who arrived first. Once they issued the SOS, Mexican Navy Choppers took off, 55 miles is well within range, with medical and first response teams...

Then they air lifted SPAM, and essentially started to use the Disaster Protocols for the Armed Forces. I am sure the passengers were like shocked to see Mexican Flag Vessels

This is one of the toys I am guessing responded... (as in Type of helicopter)



When the reagan arrived on scene a Mexican patrol Boat (I have to track the name down) was already on scene and the tug boats from Ensenada were already half way there.

Found it...



Called the Cuatro Vientos, and it is assigned to the Baja California Sector

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Last I heard they are indeed headed to San Diego, directly to the yard

Its not clear how much longer that adds to the tow time.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. To save some bucks

And now they have Three tow vessels. The first (from Ensenada,) arrived right after the Navy...

Hubby and I were kind of going... if we were stuck on board that vessel, since he is USN retired and did a few transfers at sea that were like not done for forty years, he has the kind of experience that be useful.

I know the DN-III-E (as in I was a medic in Tijuana) so being stuck in procedures and translations... unique skill package actually...

Would not shock me if they asked if anybody had any useful experience. Yes they drill but...

Now on a short thing... I HATE the US media though... they do this EVERY FUCKING TIME.

[kctim]

4. That's messed up

US news reporting we were the first to arrive and saying the Mexican government did nothing to help our fellow Americans.
Shame.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. They are lying

The Ensenada Station deployed both ships and choppers.

The bus convoy is an uptick of the same procedure used fifteen years ago.

Now here is the question... you are surprised?

Let me find the links AGAIN to the Mexican Role in this.

Oh and I forgot one of the TUGs is the Mexican Ship Chihuahua... so if they didn't help how did that thing get there?

[kctim]

8. I only care about the people on the ship

not about any roles or who got there first.

Was just saying that the US media reporting that the US was there first and that the Mexican govt did nothing, was messed up.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. As usual they are lying

and one has to question why?

I still remember, on a very personal case, a missing kids case. Well we went to do the Search and Rescue near Tecate.

Well the kids, who were american, were taken by the Sheriffs to the US Side of the Trauma Center.

It was the same story.

To put it mildly we were PISSED. So in my capacity as a PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER I called the stations and gave them a piece of my mind.

The local Sherifs came to bat as well... and the story changed to a binational operation. I am going to be writing a few nasty grams to the AP...

But the press conference yesterday from OUR USCG and Navy also discounted the Mexican side of the story. It is something that needs to change. Mostly it really hurts cooperation. You and I know very well that if this was OFF Victoria the USN would not be discounting the Canadian Coast Guard.

As to the passengers... I am sure they were scratching heads when they saw the first vessels to show up with a different flag and guys coming on board wearing a foreign uniform. Them lying eyes, hopefully, will correct some of this. Then again, SPAM is a good EMRAT, but all but tasty/

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Here you go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9525441

Post of mine last night after trolling the mexican press

[Dappleganger]

10. Where is this ship's home port?

I know most here on the east coast are based in another country to avoid a lot of things.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Panamanian Flagged

but I know you knew that.

That is the reason.

US Coast Guard, and the Mexican Admiralty want to run hearings and do an investigation...

[Dappleganger]

12. I didn't know....

just an educated guess based on doing a little bit of cruising ourselves that it wasn't US flagged.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. They haven't been for decades

it is cheaper and all requirements are not that high, why the US does not really have a Merchant Marine anymore.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Well COMPLAINING WORKED

The U.S. Coast Guard and Mexican Navy also sent resources to the ship.

The tugboats were originally set to take the Splendor to Ensenada, Mexico, but the cruise line changed its plans and will attempt to have it towed to San Diego, where hotel and flight arrangements would await the passengers, Carnival said.

If the process moves too slowly, it may still be taken to Ensenada, the statement said.

As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Splendor was about 190 miles south of San Diego, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The ship was being towed by one Mexican tugboat while a smaller counterpart helped the ship maneuver. A third tug boat, the U.S.-based Monterey Bay, was scheduled to arrive late Tuesday night, the paper said.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9JDC9D03.htm

And all is well for future cooperation, since this will not be the LAST time an emergency arises at sea.

By the way, just knowing a little of this.. I am sure those tug boats have been granted a blessing to enter US waters...