Each evacuation slide, when deflated, is small enough to fit at the bottom of an aircraft door, so the canisters should be small enough that you could carry multiple dozens of them in a C-130.
In other words, they have no confidence in the cruise industry, the Coast Guard itself, nor the Navy.
Look to nature for the answer. Ants have experience with this.
A porous but semi-rigid platform that is rolled up and dropped from say, a Sea Stallion, submerges roughly 20 feet below the surface and is propelled laterally to then lift/scoop multiple people from the sea. A variant of a deep sea fishing net.
I’m thinking large canisters of suitably composed spray foam insulation.
If the lifeboats aren’t working then how did that ship leave port?
Are there any inflatable life rafts on these ships?
Each evacuation slide, when deflated, is small enough to fit at the bottom of an aircraft door, so the canisters should be small enough that you could carry multiple dozens of them in a C-130.
We figured this out years ago in the North Sea. We all had survival suits. It is basically insulated waterproof coveralls with flotation and boots. It will keep you alive until rescued. You can put it on in a minute or less. If you go into the North Sea without this you lifespan is maybe 30 minutes in the summer about 5 minutes in the winter.
Cold water kills. You loose function of limbs and go to sleep and drown. It is actually painless but you are still dead.
Due to conditions, lifeboats are inoperable or infeasible.
I sincerely hope the Coast Guard isn’t going off on yet another not-invented-here goose chase.
There has been a few of those. And OTS is always a cost saver, especially considering the T&D and T&E phases are still ahead.
There is an entire industry devoted to this type of hardware. I’m thinking it would be more cost prohibitive than simply having waivers signed by passengers. Sign here, we’re not responsible... have a pleasent cruise.
Next in line please!
It won't be pretty...but it will be safe.
How about those big floating mats that people use on the lake? I see them all the time with quite a few people and even dogs on them around here. You will be wet but you won’t have to tread water.
Make a full auto device like a tee shirt gun to spread life jackets all around the ship. Have at least twice the amount of life jackets as passengers. The life boats at less than ship capacity did not work in the Titanic.
No cruise for me..
Terra Firma!
Give each passenger a can of “Great Stuff” to squirt in their pockets.
I was on the concordia, the week before it sank. Lucky for me. I’m met Captain Schitino and he said you need to get the hell off this boat. I did what I was told. I suppose I’m better for it.
How about life vests
“...Mass Casualty at Sea...”
Iranians, AlQaeda, Chicoms, or White Supremacists?