Unusually
loud crashing and banging from the ship’s innards was interrupted by the ping
of the PA system and ‘the Captain speaking from the bridge’ at the
unprecedented time of 6am. He wanted all deckhands for a ‘rescue’ and the doctor
to stand by in the hospital. Guests assumed that something had happened to a
crew member or guest and everybody worried about what was happening and if
everybody was OK.
The
captain spoke on the PA system several times over the next hour. The noises had
been caused by the manoeuvring of the Silver Spirit. The ship’s crew had
spotted a small fishing boat – the Invader - with two occupants on board, drifting
without power. Attempts were made to cast a rope to it, to tow it to safety and
then to take the two people onto the Silver Spirit. During this process, the
boat scraped along the side of Silver Spirit – more painting for the crew!! But
the fishermen were understandably reluctant to abandon the means of their
livelihood, so the captain called the coastguard to attend the situation. They
were slow to attend but ‘in the interests of human safety at sea’ Captain Arma
refused to move until they did arrive. So it all ended well, with the
professionalism of the Silversea crew demonstrated once again.
TSH and
Diva walked along the shore at Bequia, St Vincent and Grenadine. This is a
holiday resort which offers water sports and little else. But a very pretty bay
for Silver Spirit to anchor in.
Silver
Spirit is full for this leg of the cruise. The Circlers are overwhelmed by
strangers. There are also lots of new waiters and service is slower.
Invader
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