Is This So Unusual?

**voldermort** · 15-01-12, 12:25

Captain left ship before passengers | News24

Definitely worth wondering in this day & age when chivalry is but a distant memory, how many captains would actually stay on their ship until all passengers & crew were off

**TS Ron** · 15-01-12, 14:45

Captain is the last to abandon ship. But I think today it is every one to fend for himself in a situation such this it is sink or swim. Italian men are very chauvinstic.Chilvalry is now read in romantic novels unfortunately very seldom put to pratice in the real world.

**lilythepink** · 15-01-12, 17:40

I think it's a captain's obligation (not merely an act of chivalry) to stay on board ship until every last member of passengers and crew has been safely removed!

Hope he gets a lengthy jail term!!

**Pathway** · 15-01-12, 21:45

Remember the Oceanos, off our coast? That Captain was off there first too.

**donovink** · 16-01-12, 07:53

As I understand it, it is international Maritime Law that a captain should be the last to leave the ship. Found this answer to the same quation elsewhere.

The Merchant Marine handbook (for commercial captains) and the US Navy regulations say that the captain is the last to leave the vessel. they are also charged with making every effort to safe personnel, the vessel, and cargo. Including the safety of the personnel after abandon ship and during rescue. These regulations have held up in Maritime courts.

The regulations does not expect the captain to die (going down with the ship is a fictional movie thing) but should be coordinating the abandon ship activities until it is unsafe to do so, being the last group to leave. The captain in Italy has a lot to answer for.

**voldermort** · 16-01-12, 11:29

Yes, it is an obligation on the part of the captain but as I said up top, if danger were real & near how many would wait at their post until everybody else were off? These days in just about every walk of life it seems to me that it is every man for him or herself......therefore I would imagine there would only be a handful of people who would be willing to adhere to these laws, sad as it may be.

**booksallsizes** · 16-01-12, 11:59

I, for one, have a very cynical view - it is every person for themselves (survival instincts etc) - altruism does simply not exist...
It's a subject that interests me greatly and much has been written on it... So, as Voldemort asks: Is this so unusual? No, not at all. If the captain adhered to the rules, this would also not be an act of altruism, a mere following of procedure or even ethics because he knows the repercussions should he not stay - whether they be in the form of a physical societal punishment or internal moral guilt.
But... I hope this man suffers because without our moral basis and ethical stances, which I think override survival instinct, we have no hope. The world is too full of people now and we need to help others, because THAT now means our survival...

A nice article on the subject:

Altruism: selfless or selfish?

**booksallsizes** · 20-01-12, 18:38

**voldermort** · 20-01-12, 18:44

now now Balls......the poor man has stated that he "accidentally slipped" right out of the ship & into a lifeboat

**TS Ron** · 20-01-12, 18:49

Originally Posted by voldermort

now now Balls......the poor man has stated that he "accidentally slipped" right out of the ship & into a lifeboat

Was he not having a meal with his lady friend while the rest of the passengers were not yet rescued from the wreck? Obiviously he slipped right out of the ship to meet his lady friend for a romantic dinner?

**voldermort** · 20-01-12, 18:53

Originally Posted by TS Ron

Was he not having a meal with his lady friend while the rest of the passengers were not yet rescued from the wreck? Obiviously he slipped right out of the ship to meet his lady friend for a romantic dinner?

He was calming himself down.....the fall out of the ship played havoc with his nerves

**mellowred** · 21-01-12, 10:38

Originally Posted by booksallsizes

I, for one, have a very cynical view - it is every person for themselves (survival instincts etc) - altruism does simply not exist...
It's a subject that interests me greatly and much has been written on it... So, as Voldemort asks: Is this so unusual? No, not at all. If the captain adhered to the rules, this would also not be an act of altruism, a mere following of procedure or even ethics because he knows the repercussions should he not stay - whether they be in the form of a physical societal punishment or internal moral guilt.
But... I hope this man suffers because without our moral basis and ethical stances, which I think override survival instinct, we have no hope. The world is too full of people now and we need to help others, because THAT now means our survival...

A nice article on the subject:

Altruism: selfless or selfish?

I love your words BallS, sums life up perfectly:

The world is too full of people now and we need to help others, because THAT now means our survival...