Before Fatal Boat Crash in Budapest, Safety Warnings Went Unheeded

It is great for those of us waiting for the “Revolution” to read the complaints of you wealthy Times reading cruisers. Now if I could just get Viking to stop sending the monthly brochure they have been sending for 20 years.

I was on a Viking Danube cruise at the time of this awful accident. It's difficult to see clearly in the video that was published, but it sure looked like the smaller boat cut in front of the Viking ship. If indeed that was the case, there was not much the larger ship could do; it's not like stepping on the brake of a car. Perhaps one of the bigger questions is why these two ships were so close together to begin with. Also, much has been written about the Viking captain, but I've yet to read a word about the captain of the smaller ship. Seems to me more information is needed before any judgments can be made.

In 2015 we were at the bow of our cruise ship (not Viking) during the impressive night time loop in Budapest. Suddenly full reverse because a small floating restaurant had pulled in front of our ship. Luckily we were a few meters short of a collision. The next day the captain talked to the passengers about the incident, which was captured on his radar. He chose to not report this incident to the authorities.

Check your facts. The Viking "longships" carry about 200 passengers. This is more than most river ships but certainly far from 1,000.

Well, I guess I won't be taking that European river cruise after all. It sounds like the authorities have no solution for preventing this type of accident in the future. Thanks to the NY Times for the reporting.

This tragic collision reminds me of the one in Philadelphia in which a sightseeing duck boat was plowed under by a barge. The Sigyn is built like a barge with a plow-shaped bow protruding above the waterline that will push a small vessel colliding head on under instead of aside. In my mind, the design of the cruise ship may have contributed instrumentally to this tragedy.

The role of corruption and oligarchy can't be overlooked. The Danube has been a major water thoroughfare for millenia. I would suspect that during the time of the Hapsburgs it was even busier than today. What's different now is that the world level of mayhem is growing exponentially. Counterintuitive, you may think, but the anonymity of the Internet and the growth of affordable travel seems to be contributing to increasingly selfish and outrageous behavior. Maybe it's that technology is making us lazy - when there were no radios, skippers and crew were more vigilant about rules of the road and keeping watch. Whatever the cause of these disasters, it's clear that Orban and Company are making a bundle on tourism. This shouldn't be mutually exclusive with safety, traffic quotas and stricter governance of licensing and qualifications. Thank you, New York Times, for helping to publicize this tragedy. Let's hope that it puts pressure on the Orban regime to clean up the river traffic. Let's also hope that this accident encourages the European Union to up their insufficient pressure on Orban to reduce the grifting and stop chipping away at Hungary's fading democracy.

Profit is everything, lives are cheap. It's the American way. Well at least Boeing would agree with me, huh?

Whether it's too many boats clogging a beautiful scenic area, helicopters providing aerial views of the Manhattan skyline, or people being so involved with their selfies as to fall off a mountainside, it's clear that we need to stop focusing on checklists and get back to basics. And that includes considering the effect that all of this has on our planet, and how we can enjoy responsible travel and experiences.

My husband and I were in Budapest just a few weeks before the accident. We took a short day cruise on one of the many boats lining the river. I am ashamed to admit that not once did we think of our safety, nor did the cruise company. No mention of life jackets, exits or what to do in an emergency. Obviously, we will never get on a boat again without first reviewing safety procedures.

Sailing rules are as strict as flying rules (a lot of them came from sailing, by the way). It works extremely well, but the trick is, you have to follow them. Sadly, the Viking cruiser didn't keep them, nor intended to communicate with the traffic around the ship. Accelerated while approaching the Margaret Bridge, where, between the pillars of the bridge, the water flow faster, increasing the suction effect between two ships close by, effectively sucked the Mermaid in front of itself, then steamrolled it. On the footage it's clearly visible, the small ship had no chance. I watched the wreck shipped further down to investigated from the side of the Danube today, it was a sad view, but, i'm glad to the special forces who made the rescue possible. At the tragic day, cold, heavy rain, then the cold, very heavy flow, at practically 0 visibility, then the heat for the last few days, it was a hell of a job in itself, but mother nature provided some. I can only hope, everybody following the rules and never again i have too see something like this.

Before the Times or its readers disparage Viking they may want to take into account that thousands of people have enjoyed these cruises for many years. My wife and I cruised with Viking from Budapest to Amsterdam four years ago and had a great safe journey. Viking long ships on the Danube carry approximately 200 passengers, not 1,000 as reported.

Wherever in the world you find tourists and water there will likely be tour boat mayhem. We just stepped off a tour boat here in Russia where there are many dozens flying in all directions on the canals and bays. Concern for our safety was never far from my mind.

As a 25 year U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain (100 ton Ocean Operator) I can say that from the poor quality video of the accident, both vessels were at fault. The circumstances were exacerbated by the strong current behind the vessels and the looming choke point of the bridge. In open water the burden would have been on the Viking ship to stay clear of the Mermaid it was attempting to overtake. However with the Viking committed to the narrow bridge opening and greatly reduced maneuverability due to the rushing current astern, Mermaid should have prudently stayed out of the way, if possible. We may never know if the captain of Mermaid was even aware of the Viking's close approach, at that point in the video the Viking captain was incapable of avoiding colliding with the Mermaid, or the bridge. What transpired in the five minutes leading up to the collision will be decisive.

If you want a cheap Danube boat ride in Budapest, take the municipal water taxi. I imagine it is also a particularly safe option, because the captains are among the most experienced on that stretch of the river. They sail up and down the same stretch multiple times per day in all types of weather, currents, and boat traffic.

It's the old refrain ... somebody oughtta do something. And when that is said it's likely we are talking about a place that either has no rules, the rules are not being enforced, or the rules are inadequate. In any event, boat traffic in the Danube is effectively subject to a "no property condition" neither private property or public property - only when there are too many boats to fit in the water will people come to their senses. It's like the crazy people waiting in line to reach the summit at Mt. Everest - "no property condition" - keep giving out passes until too many people die.

I'm absolutely amazed by the lack of accountability by the global cruise industry. These massive boats generate incredible amounts of pollution, waste, and carbon emissions. The passengers don't contribute nearly as much to tourism spending as other visitors as they eat most of their meals on the boats. Look what just happened in Venice, now Budapest. What's next? These boats are packed with lazy, uninformed travelers who travel the world for mindless selfies and instagram posts without ever actually learning about the places they visit. They've already ruined many parts of the Caribbean. Sadly, Europe is next.

The article mentions a capacity of 1000 guests on the "longships". Viking ships hold only slightly more than 200.

I had the privilege of living in Budapest in the late 1990s. Sad to see the Mermaid rising from the bottom of the Danube. In my mind's eye, I can still see the ticket kiosk, dock, and accommodation ladder to the little vessel. Not only did my wife and I take that tour, but we encouraged visitors to take it as well. Orban's government does not offer much comfort, but I hope officials take action to enforce the inland rules of the road to prevent recurrence of this tragedy.

Profound condolences to those who lost their lives, needlessly, and to their loved ones. Tragic beyond words. A few years back, my husband and I explored the world of these types of cruise ships and I must be honest, what happened on the Danube is NOT the first fatal accident involving Viking. The best and only attractive quality about Viking is their advertising. Whoever choreographs that music, that splendid footage, and that voice is brilliant because that is what sells people. The cruise line we took was smaller, more intimate, and safety was ALWAYS their number one concern and priority. The captain and crew members would greet each passenger when they left the ship in the morning for various excursions, and then would greet us, individually, when we returned in the afternoon and always say with such warmth and sincerity, "Welcome home." They would never leave the port until EVERYONE was accounted for. Certain cruise lines are so focused on profits rather than safety and common sense. Perhaps the way to get their attention and hopefully prevent any future tragedies like this one is to levy huge fines, revoke licenses for a while, and implement rigid, concrete safety policies and procedures NOW rather than down the river. This kind of common sense approach to safety begins with the Captain and then the crew. The fact that the cruise lines tolerates or continued to turn a blind eye is despicable and criminal.

A nice example of the "benefits" of de-regulation. Perhaps they are following the Boeing model.

If everyone knows what they're doing, you can put a lot of boat traffic in one place. If you are a captain involved in a collision, you are no longer a captain. Let's not blame the traffic, let's blame Viking for breaking one of the most basic rules of the sea.