[Ol' Dan Tucker]

When the captain said locked, they asked again if it was locked. He said yes. they told him to drive back and unlock it. I wanna believe it was not locked. Am I mistaken?

In a word, yes. You are mistaken.

I posted the transcript from the mayday call above. The 'locked' part came from the dispatcher, not the captain.

A poster, who has been on this boat, wrote on another thread that not only is there no locks on the doors leading to the berths, but there isn't a door.

The stairway (ladder in nautical terms) leads from the forward part of the berthing section to the forward part of the galley.

There is an emergency escape hatch at the aft section of the berths, but that many times the passengers will pile their gear onto the hatch, rendering it impossible to use.

[McGavin999]

Thank you Dan. I was looking at the picture of the boat. If the galley caught fire it would be impossible for the crew to get to them. Wood boats built in the 80s did not anticipate the phone and camera batteries being recharged.

Maybe the future will find some kind of fireproof recharging stations.

[BunnySlippers]

Sooo very glad to be informed of that. thanks!