Low Standards (and wages) in the Cruise Industry
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Low Standards (and wages) in the Cruise Industry
Interesting article about the recent Italian cruise ship disaster. Emphasis on the last two paragraphs in particular. Not too difficult to see an analogy to our own industry:
This is not the first disaster that Carnival Cruise Lines, the owner of Costa, has been involved in, and I am sure not the last. Ted Arison founded Carnival and drove it to a position of market leadership in large part on the basis of one television series, "Love Boat", which showed the fun, carefree cruise life that everyone could afford especially those who could not afford any other sort of holiday nor had the imagination to think of something more creative, interesting and cost-effective to do with their hard earned cash and unused personal lines of credit.
Arison cared only about money and not about safety and passed the business on to his son Micky (now 62 years old), who cares even more about money and less about safety. Ted's fortune is estimated to be $6.1 billion, and you can be absolutely sure that he will not part with one penny of it as a result of this tragedy and will not return phone calls from his "palace" in Israel.
These mammoth cruise ships have been a disaster in the making. Food poisoning and microbes in the water can happen in any contained area with semi-skilled handlers and inadequate staff to do the work.... plus "energy saving" refrigeration that does not meet food safety standards. But this is an example of Carnival Cruise lines and the way it has let Costa and its ships be inadequately commanded and unprepared for serious incidents.... all to save money.Arison and Carnival/Costa may blame the captain, and I suspect it was his "fault" for carrying out this stupid and dangerous show-off stunt, but it's the culture of Carnival/Costa that allows this conduct and does not hire the best captains nor enforce the operating standards that are required as part of the responsibility for transporting huge groups of people.... or even small groups.
The Arisons were notorious over the years for hiring any captain and crew who would be willing to accept their wage offers, which were as much as 60% below the industry average. The captain quality has always been considered "below substandard" for the cruise boat and shipping industries.It's all part of "cutting corners and saving money" and that's all just fine with the owner/operators. And now people have died from an accident that certainly did not need to happen.
This is not the first disaster that Carnival Cruise Lines, the owner of Costa, has been involved in, and I am sure not the last. Ted Arison founded Carnival and drove it to a position of market leadership in large part on the basis of one television series, "Love Boat", which showed the fun, carefree cruise life that everyone could afford especially those who could not afford any other sort of holiday nor had the imagination to think of something more creative, interesting and cost-effective to do with their hard earned cash and unused personal lines of credit.
Arison cared only about money and not about safety and passed the business on to his son Micky (now 62 years old), who cares even more about money and less about safety. Ted's fortune is estimated to be $6.1 billion, and you can be absolutely sure that he will not part with one penny of it as a result of this tragedy and will not return phone calls from his "palace" in Israel.
These mammoth cruise ships have been a disaster in the making. Food poisoning and microbes in the water can happen in any contained area with semi-skilled handlers and inadequate staff to do the work.... plus "energy saving" refrigeration that does not meet food safety standards. But this is an example of Carnival Cruise lines and the way it has let Costa and its ships be inadequately commanded and unprepared for serious incidents.... all to save money.Arison and Carnival/Costa may blame the captain, and I suspect it was his "fault" for carrying out this stupid and dangerous show-off stunt, but it's the culture of Carnival/Costa that allows this conduct and does not hire the best captains nor enforce the operating standards that are required as part of the responsibility for transporting huge groups of people.... or even small groups.
The Arisons were notorious over the years for hiring any captain and crew who would be willing to accept their wage offers, which were as much as 60% below the industry average. The captain quality has always been considered "below substandard" for the cruise boat and shipping industries.It's all part of "cutting corners and saving money" and that's all just fine with the owner/operators. And now people have died from an accident that certainly did not need to happen.
Yep, it's all happening here in the Fragrant Harbour, folks! iCadets who will work for peanuts recruited from the Third World, continuous attacks on the experienced crews' contracts over the last two decades, chaotic rosters and lousy hotels. This is all despite the empty psychobabble about 'Visions and Missions' and 'Safety Reviews'; nothing's changed or is likely to.
Funnily enough, the Swire Group runs ships as well. And a few of us remember the oil spilt off Australia's east coast a few years ago when a Swire ship, under the command of a fatigued captain under pressure to maintain his schedule, wasn't where it should have been...
2009 southeast Queensland oil spill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Funnily enough, the Swire Group runs ships as well. And a few of us remember the oil spilt off Australia's east coast a few years ago when a Swire ship, under the command of a fatigued captain under pressure to maintain his schedule, wasn't where it should have been...
2009 southeast Queensland oil spill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Last edited by Captain Dart; 17th Jan 2012 at 00:59.
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And just like in this shipping tragedy, the company will be quick to lay the blame on you, even before the investigation is complete.
Be sure to play by the rules, cross your "i's" and dot your "t's" and keep your ass covered, cos you are the only scape goat they got
Be sure to play by the rules, cross your "i's" and dot your "t's" and keep your ass covered, cos you are the only scape goat they got
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Good point Ricfly, just look at the monthly pictures of Cadet courses. They are all gweilos from Oz, NAM, Euroland, or Sud Africa.
But then again, if they all went home, the planes would be grounded. But you are right, the salaries would definitely increase to what they used to be.
The only difference we have seen at Cathay with new recruits is the level of experience. Where are before they could pick and choose as they liked from all sorts, they are now restricted to whoever applies, or at least picking the best of the lowest.
It is the lower paying jobs that are scouring the third world for pilots. Some of the LO-COs in India, Philippines, Indonesia, and the ME are really hurting for crews. That is where conditions are on the up and up as these carriers compete for the scraps, often descending on dead airlines like vultures on fresh roadkill.
But then again, if they all went home, the planes would be grounded. But you are right, the salaries would definitely increase to what they used to be.
The only difference we have seen at Cathay with new recruits is the level of experience. Where are before they could pick and choose as they liked from all sorts, they are now restricted to whoever applies, or at least picking the best of the lowest.
It is the lower paying jobs that are scouring the third world for pilots. Some of the LO-COs in India, Philippines, Indonesia, and the ME are really hurting for crews. That is where conditions are on the up and up as these carriers compete for the scraps, often descending on dead airlines like vultures on fresh roadkill.
I take your points ric and Sqwak, but the scuttlebutt is that CX have been interviewing in India; iCadets from the subcontinent must surely be the accountants' and FOPS Management bonus-seekers' wet dream.
These kids don't need much housing allowance, they can live four to a room in Chungking Mansions.
Also from a very recent post on the Wannabes forum (sic):
'well the goodnews is now CX is in Pakistan trying to recruit cadets there, the business class pax will love it when these guys pray to mecca infront of them at 5 am
'
And it can be argued that Australia is becoming a Third World country anyway.
As an aside, have a read of the 'Star Letter' in the 10-16 January edition of 'Flight' magazine.
These kids don't need much housing allowance, they can live four to a room in Chungking Mansions.
Also from a very recent post on the Wannabes forum (sic):
'well the goodnews is now CX is in Pakistan trying to recruit cadets there, the business class pax will love it when these guys pray to mecca infront of them at 5 am
'And it can be argued that Australia is becoming a Third World country anyway.
As an aside, have a read of the 'Star Letter' in the 10-16 January edition of 'Flight' magazine.
Last edited by Captain Dart; 19th Jan 2012 at 23:07.
