Just days after Carnival Paradise rescued 27 people adrift off the coast of Mexico, another Carnival Cruise Line ship has stepped in to help. This time, it was Carnival Splendor, sailing in the South Pacific, that came to the aid of a disabled catamaran carrying four people and three dogs.
The ship was en route to Vanuatu and New Caledonia when the crew received word from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Noumea about the vessel in distress. Without hesitation, Carnival Splendor changed course and traveled five hours to reach the stranded catamaran.
The two couples and their pets were brought safely onboard early Thursday morning. All are reported to be in good health and are receiving food, water, and medical attention as needed.
Carnival Splendor departed from Sydney earlier this week on an 8-day roundtrip cruise with planned stops at Mystery Island and Noumea. The rescue did not impact the itinerary, and the ship is expected to continue its journey as scheduled, bringing 3,300 guests to Mystery Island on Friday and Noumea on Saturday.
Under international law, ships are required to assist those in distress at sea, provided it doesn’t put their own passengers or crew at undue risk. This duty is outlined in major conventions such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), which require ships to render aid to anyone in danger on the ocean.
