Port Arthur chaplain comments on “criminalization of seafarers” following M/V Costa Concordia disaster

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have died and the 50-60 passengers and crew missing following the capsizing of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia.

The vessel’s captain and first officer have been detained for questioning on manslaughter, failure to render assistance and abandoning ship, reports the New York Times.

However, in this event, as with any maritime accident, the subject of “criminalization of seafarers” becomes the primary focus, says Father Sinclair Oubre, President of the Port Arthur, Tx-based Apostleship of the Sea.

“The tendency to criminally charge ship personnel immediately after an incident continues to be a great concern for me personally as a mariner,” says Father Sinclair. “It is as if the mob wants a head, and the mariner will do just fine. Never mind, how company, governmental or industry policies may have brought about the incident.

Immediately tarring-and feathering individual crewmembers following a vessel accident applies not just to cruise ships but to any type of vessel. If a tanker runs aground in Mobile Bay and triggers an oil spill or a Boston Whaler is smashed by a bulker off of the Mississippi Sound, the captain or pilot is automatically under suspicion.

“If the captain or first officer are found criminally negligent, then they will need to be prosecuted for their actions,” says Father Sinclair.  “However, the scapegoating of mariners because an accident has occurred must be stopped.”