Cruise LInes Respond to Typhoon Haiyan Disaster

Karen L. Nyberg, an astronaut aboard the International 
Space Station captured this photo of Super-Typhoon Haiyan 
from space on Nov. 9, 2013. Credit: NASA/ISS/Karen Nyberg

Super-typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane on the U.S. Saffir-Simpson scale, struck central Philippines early last Friday morning with sustained winds estimated at 195 mph (315 kph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

Initial reports estimated that as many as 10,000 people were killed and thousands injured by the powerful storm.  Philippines President Benigno Aquino III is now quoted as saying the initial estimate was "too much".

Many governments and organizations are coming to the aide of the people of Philippines in the wake of the storm.   Among them are several cruise lines who employee many Filipinos on their staffs, many of whom have been away from their families and friends for many months.  This is a hard time for those separated from their loved ones.


Footage of Super Typhoon Haiyan from the International Space Station      

At the time of this writing, we are aware of the following cruise lines that have made statements and offered support.  The lines have all pledged financial support and are setting up means for passengers to contribute onboard the ships as well. 

ROYAL CARIBBEAN  

MIAMI – November 11, 2013 – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) will join humanitarian relief efforts in response to the catastrophic damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the company announced.

Our thoughts go out to those affected by the typhoon in the Philippines. We are working with World Vision to provide humanitarian relief. Learn more and find out how you can help: http://bit.ly/16Z6xiZ

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara passengers can contribute online at worldvision.org/royalcaribbean and www.worldvision.org/azamaraclubcruises. The company said its efforts to help the people of the Philippines would total $1 million.
 
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

November 11

Everyone at Norwegian Cruise Line is truly saddened to hear of the significant devastation in the Philippines caused by Typhoon Haiyan. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of our crew members from the Philippines who have been impacted.

We have been in constant contact with our partners in Manila, who are actively reaching out to contact crew members and their families ..See More

Norwegians Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund

All of us at Norwegian Cruise Line are truly saddened to hear of the significant devastation in the Philippines caused by Typhoon Haiyan.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of our crew...Continue Reading ...

CARNIVAL CORPORATION

MIAMI, Nov. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Carnival Corporation & plc, its 10 cruise brands and the Carnival Foundation will team up with the two-time defending NBA Champion Miami HEAT in making a pledge to donate at least $1 million to support relief efforts in communities affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.  Miami HEAT owner Micky Arison is also the chairman of Carnival Corporation & plc. 

"All of us at Carnival and the Miami HEAT extend our deepest sympathy to the Philippines and its people," Arison said. "The typhoon in the Philippines has caused massive destruction, and is having a tragic impact on people and families, including those members of our extended Carnival family who reside in the region. We are in the process of evaluating a variety of worthy organizations that are doing fantastic work in the Philippines. In addition to providing financial support for relief efforts, our collective thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been impacted."

Continue Reading...

COSTA CRUISES

November 11

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Many members of the Costa family are from the Philippines, and to support them during this difficult time we will be donating $100,000 to help our Filipino crew members, their families and friends.

CRYSTAL CRUISES

November 11

All of our crew continue to appreciate your heartfelt messages regarding Typhoon Haiyan concerns. To date, we don’t have any verified info re damages, injuries or fatalities related to our crew, but admittedly communication is still difficult in some areas. NYK-FIL, our Philippines manning & recruiting agency, is helping crew with communications and locating family members, as well as reaching ...See More

     

More Links:

Philippines Government Gazette


Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Filipino community currently in the country, on cruise ships, or elsewhere across the globe. 

Earthquake & Tsunami Warning in Philippines

Tsunami Warning issued after 7.9 Earthquake 

Strikes Off Philippines

An earthquake with a 7.9 magnitude has struck off the coast of the Philippines which at a depth of 34.9km east of the Philippines. 

Click here for More Links

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the quake prompted a tsunami warning for parts of Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Guam and other islands in the Pacific including the U.S. state of Hawaii. 

  

If a tsunami is generated it could cause significant damage to coastal areas even distant from the epicenter of the earthquake. 

• U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center
• Real-time Earthquake Map
• Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

Tsunami Information	Earthquake Information
Message Time: 31 Aug 2012 14:25 UTC Message Num: 3 Message Text: click to read Message Type: Fixed Regional Tsunami Warning Supplement Warning: Indonesia, Philippines, Belau Watch: none ETAs / Obs: ETAs / measurements	Preliminary (PTWC) Official (USGS) Origin Time: 31 Aug 2012 12:48 UTC 31 Aug 2012 12:47 UTC Magnitude: 7.6 Mwp (reviewed by PTWC) 7.6 Latitude: 10.9° N 10.8° N Longitude: 127.1° E 126.7° E Depth: 33 km (20.5 mi) 34.9 km (21.7 mi) Location: Philippine Islands Region More Info.: updated earthquake information from the USGS NEIC

Source: PTWC

Mag 6.7 Quake Hits Philippines - Tsunami Warning

Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake 

in Philippines

Prompts Tsunami Warning

The 6.7-magnitude quake hit in a narrow strait just off Negros Island. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued the local tsunami alert for central islands, saying the quake could trigger a 3ft wave along the island's eastern coast as well as west of the country's second-largest city, Cebu.

Note: the PTWC did not expect a Pacific-wide tsunami as a result of the quake and no warning was issued.

The epicentere was closest to Tayasan, a coastal town of about 32,000 people flanked by mountains in Negros Oriental province.

According to Benito Ramos, head of the Office of Civil Defense, a child there died when a concrete fence of a house collapsed.  Due to the aftershocks, it was too dangerous for authorities to search buildings, so the number is expected to rise.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology: PHIVOLCS

UPDATE:  At least 43 people killed, 40 missing and 100 injured, many buildings damaged or destroyed, at least 9 bridges damaged and some landslides occurred in Negros Oriental.

Magnitude	6.7
Date-Time	Monday, February 06, 2012 at 03:49:16 UTC Monday, February 06, 2012 at 11:49:16 AM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	9.964°N, 123.246°E
Depth	20 km (12.4 miles)
Region	NEGROS - CEBU REGION, PHILIPPINES
Distances	72 km (44 miles) N of Dumaguete, Negros, Philippines 74 km (45 miles) WNW of Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines 80 km (49 miles) WSW of Cebu, Cebu, Philippines 569 km (353 miles) SSE of MANILA, Philippines
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 13.5 km (8.4 miles); depth +/- 11.5 km (7.1 miles)
Parameters	NST= 72, Nph= 75, Dmin=744.7 km, Rmss=1.03 sec, Gp= 43°, M-type=regional moment magnitude (Mw), Version=8
Source	Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	usb0007wgq