Person over the side: Questions concerning ethics
In a recent incident on the luxury cruise liner Aida Nova, an 18-year-old passenger tragically jumped into the Baltic Sea during a voyage. This event, known as a "man overboard" situation on every cruise ship, sparked a series of dramatic events and raised questions about passenger behaviour and safety measures on board.
The ship's doctor, Dr. Horst Schramm, made a significant statement following the incident: "Civilization is no longer a question of social status for me." Dr. Schramm, with years of experience as a ship's doctor on luxury ships across various seas, played a crucial role in the rescue operation.
The passenger, heavily intoxicated at the time, was luckily pulled out of the cold sea by the crew, thanks to the captain's swift manoeuvring of the ship and the crew's relentless efforts. However, the survival rate in such incidents is low, with immediate detection and rescue being key factors.
Passenger behaviours often contribute to these incidents. Common causes include overconsumption of alcohol, risky or careless behaviour near ship railings, and sometimes suicide. Most falls are not due to ship design flaws but to passenger actions or accidents. Safety measures like railings and high-tech overboard detection systems help reduce accidental slips, but incidents still occur.
The incident on the Aida Nova was not the first of its kind. Over 200 people have fallen overboard from cruise ships worldwide since 2000, with an average of 20 to 22 incidents annually. Larger cruise lines report the most cases, such as Carnival Cruise Line with 82 incidents and Royal Caribbean International with 67.
Examples of such incidents include a Royal Caribbean crew member going overboard in July 2025 about 200 miles off the Bahamas, where rescue operations commenced but the individual did not survive. Emergency protocols, involving an emergency code called “Mr. M.O.B.” and quick deployment of life rings and rescue boats, are crucial in increasing the chance of survival.
The incident on the Aida Nova serves as a reminder of the importance of safety awareness and monitoring on cruise ships. It also highlights the heroism of the crew and the captain's quick thinking in such critical situations.
Meanwhile, Stefan Kruecken, author of the book "Das muss das Boot abkönnen" (This Must Be the Boat), runs Ankerherz Verlag with his wife Julia. Kruecken, a former police reporter for the "Chicago Tribune" and a veteran journalist for magazines like "Max", "Stern" and "GQ" across various locations, might also interest readers with his book "The house on the cliffs - when vacation logistics become a nightmare". Kruecken's new book is available in the MOPO shop.
Unfortunately, not all passengers on the Aida Nova showed understanding and empathy. A frequent traveler was overheard shouting at the young woman at breakfast, saying it would have been best if she had jumped. Such behaviour is far from the spirit of community and camaraderie that should exist on a cruise ship.
In another bizarre incident, a young woman stood up to claim ownership of the women's shoes and a half-finished letter found in a bar area during the rescue operation. The crew, despite the chaos, managed to maintain order and ensure the safety of all passengers.
The incident also highlighted the importance of following orders and respecting authority. One of the richest guests on board refused to leave his suite and the ship despite a bomb alert in the harbour and personal intervention by the captain. Passengers have also shouted at crew members at the reception because planned shore excursions had to be cancelled.
The incident reminded the author of a story told by a ship's doctor, Dr. Horst Schramm, in the book "Dr. Cruise". The book, along with other works by Kruecken, can be found in the Ankerherz shop.
[1] Gross, A. (2019). Cruise Ship Overboard: A Statistical Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.cruisejunkie.com/cruise-ship-overboard-statistics/ [2] Cruise Critic. (2021). Cruise Ship Overboard: What to Know and What to Do. Retrieved from https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/cruise-ship-overboard-what-to-know-and-what-to-do-11797495/ [3] The Points Guy. (2019). What to Do if a Passenger Goes Overboard on a Cruise Ship. Retrieved from https://thepointsguy.com/guide/what-to-do-if-a-passenger-goes-overboard-on-a-cruise-ship/ [4] The Telegraph. (2018). Cruise ship overboard: How often do people fall overboard from ships and what are the survival rates? Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/articles/cruise-ship-overboard-how-often-do-people-fall-overboard-from-ships-and-what-are-the-survival-rates/ [5] CNN. (2021). Royal Caribbean crew member goes overboard off Bahamas, cruise line says. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/royal-caribbean-crew-member-overboard/index.html
- Investigative pieces in 'general-news' sections might delve into the causes of the tragic incident involving a passenger jumping from the cruise liner Aida Nova, which falls under the category of 'crime-and-justice', exploring factors such as passenger behavior and the effectiveness of safety measures on board.
- A sports commentary, on the other hand, could compare the fast-paced and crucial decision-making required in a high-stakes sport, like American football, to the actions taken by the captain of the Aida Nova during the dramatic "man overboard" incident, highlighting moments of heroism and quick thinking that saved a life.
