Originally Posted by
Lonewolf_50
OK, there is a fire on board ship, and the crew abandoned the ship. Do not merchant ships have firefighting procedures? Is this a side effect of minimum manning?
(For context: I spent a career in the Navy where shipboard firefighting was a core competency everyone had to have...perhaps the Merchant Navy has different requirements).
They're not paid enough to risk their lives - they take to the boats because that's what's wisest for them - they know the owners will just claim on insurance.