Peace Boat Stuck in New York
Posted on 17. Jul, 2008 @ 11:08 am by harvey in About, Travel
Remember the drama when I went through the interpretation exam to become a Peace Boat volunteer? If you remember, my wife ended up joining the around-the-world tour as a volunteer translator, and I ended up leaving Japan ahead of her to get ready to start graduate school. Peace Boat recently made a stop in New York City so I went up to see her for the first time in months. They were scheduled to be in New York for just a couple of days… But they’re still there. Now they’re all over the news.
The ship, the Clipper Pacific, was detained at the New York Port due the Coast Guard’s New York unit discovering significant damage to the hull (a one-inch gash that existed before arriving in NYC), and numerous safety violations during a routine safety check. A scuba team was dispatched to make temporary repairs to the hull, but the ship will not be allowed to leave the United States until it has undergone full repairs. Due to this, the Peace Boat will apparently be making a detour and spending time in Florida for permanent repairs instead of heading to Venezuela as planned.
The recklessness upsets me.
You can read about the boat damage and safety violations in these articles.
New York Times – Stuck in New York, a Round-the-World Cruise Gets Even More Leisurely
International Herald Tribune – Cruise ship with hull damage detained in NY Harbor
Coast Guard News – Detained Cruise Ship Moved to Brooklyn Cruise Ship Terminal for Repairs
JapanProbe links to a piece from a Japanese media source interviewing a Peace Boat passenger.
Web News Asahi – 世界一周のピースボート船 NYで亀裂見つかり足止め
My wife was telling me all along that the trip was fun, but she was appalled at how unprofessional they were.
When they first boarded the boat in Yokohama, crew were still tearing up the carpet and replacing it with older-looking carpet. Keys to passengers rooms were not all immediately available, and check-in was chaotic. Some of the volunteers were forced to give up their rooms and move down into the lower levels due to an unanticipated room shortage for the passengers. The Peace Boat had engine trouble before they reached Oman, which delayed the tour by a few days and shortened their time in the country. It was never clear whether the engine trouble was completely repaired or not. The vast majority of the passengers on Peace Boat Japanese, but there are non-Japanese passengers as well. Upon arriving in Singapore, it was discovered that some of the non-Japanese citizens required visas to enter the country Malaysia on an additional tour. The Peace Boat staff had not prepared for this, so the non-Japanese passengers who required visas were forced to stay on the boat while everyone else took pictures with Merlion in Singapore while everyone else went to Malaysia… Of course visas are needed for many of the countries on the tour, and Peace Boat provided for those, but for some reason Singapore just got missed. Lastly, the extremely liberal and one-sided position that most of the on-board lectures take seemed to irk my wife and some of the other passengers.
All of these little mishaps caused the passengers to be come upset and voice their concerns with the Peace Boat staff. And rightfully so, most passengers pay an upwards of $15,000 USD to join this 3-month journey. The haphazardness of the programming and “lefty” nature of the lectures is to be expected from an NGO… but safety is where I draw the line.
Looks fun though… A great way to see the world if you can make English teacher or volunteer translator and ride for free! Just watch out for leaking ships…
Peace Boat Trouble in the News Around the Web
19 Responses to “Peace Boat Stuck in New York”
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Alec
Jul 18th, 2008
at 09:48
I was thinking about aiming to be a peace boat volunteer interpreter, but I don’t know if I could stand 3 months of left-wing indoctrination on a leaky ship (>_<)
Joe
Jul 19th, 2008
at 21:39
Wow, the most scathingly angry piece I can recall reading on JapanNewbie! Maybe the stress of America is starting to get to Harvey?
Seriously, what can I say? In my experience, people that work for an NGO are not usually the brightest bulbs in the socket.
Ivan Plapp
Jul 21st, 2008
at 08:29
The Recklessness upsets you ?
Why ? nothing to do with failing the interpreting exam no doubt
Harvey
Jul 21st, 2008
at 09:21
The recklessness upsets me because it is needlessly putting people in danger. Safety violations on a cruise ship… Not informing the passengers… The media had the full story before the crew informed the passengers. That’s ridiculous. The boat was told not to leave the port in Greenland due to it’s poor condition, but they left anyway. I know they have a schedule to keep, but safety first! That’s reckless.
ts
Jul 21st, 2008
at 11:22
Not that I want to defend them, but the ship itself seems to be run by a different company – so blame the ship company itself for anything to do with the crew and the maintenance. an ngo would hardly be responsible for the actual engineering side of the ship – rather, the ship is run by a company in the usa it seems.
and as for the “left-wing” ness – they make their stand about their ideological viewpoint quite clearly on their website as far as i can see just looking at it now – if you dont agree with that why would you even apply for a job with them in the first place?!
Harvey
Jul 21st, 2008
at 11:43
About the left-wingness, yeah we knew about that before applying, and my wife was fully aware of it. We have attended many NGO sponsored events and lectures and what not in Japan in the past. However even given all that, for some reason it still put some people off… Maybe it’s actually not anymore lefty than the usual socially conscious organization, but the extended contact with them (months on a boat) just makes it feel like a little much? Not sure about that as I didn’t ride it myself.
And you’re right about the boat maintenance and the NGO. The only link would be that the NGO was responsible for selecting and hiring the boat company and crew.
In fact, my wife told me that the captain of the ship was changed 3 times since this cruise began. Once after they had engine trouble on the way to Oman, and again later for reasons of “poor performance”. This was told to my wife who was working as a translator by the PeaceBoat staff. The other passengers were not informed.
All said and done though, the PeaceBoat cruise completely changes every single voyage. There is almost no continuity between trips. The peaceboat staff responsible changes, the ship changes, the route changes, the guest speakers change… So I would by no means discourage anyone from joining PeaceBoat as a volunteer. A free, around the world cruise, while gaining valuable skills, in an educational environment? What more could you ask for? (well, I guess you could ask for a boat with working life vests and no holes, but hey, just sayin’)
Satoko
Jul 21st, 2008
at 23:47
don’t knock Peace Boat – it’s trying to do good !
They have been unlucky with minor problems this time round. Don’t kick drowning dog !
smart
Jul 30th, 2008
at 14:28
If the dog is no good let’em drown. It’s up to PB to get their ducks in a row.
I appreciate your blogging this. Captain has changed three times? Hmm.. not good..
For ts— and others..
Japan Grace is in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It’s a business. They run Peace Boat, they run the GET English school, same floor, separated by paper thin walls. For anyone in Takadonobaba I’d suggest going for a visit.
They had been leasing the aging Topaz until just this year. Now it seems they’ve got this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_of_Norway_(ship)
My question is:
When are we going to see their books? How much of all this gratis PB volunteerism is funneled to the bottom line of Japan Grace (a private company)? It is a touchy issue with them. It becomes a hornets nest!
Nothing is free. You’re trapped on a boat. You work, and you don’t get any money.
Shoko
Aug 16th, 2008
at 07:00
Hi, I’m a former Peace Boat volunteer English Teacher. I went on the 33rd southern hemisphere voyage way back in 2001… well, the M/V Olvia broke down en route to Africa(left engine totally disabled),which resulted in a 3 week delay and stop in Mombasa as they frantically searched for another ship. The M/V Rus – a Baltic ferry, if I’m not mistaken – was eventually found. Many passengers had to leave because they did not anticipate 3 additional weeks off work, etc. The Rus did not seem like a very safe ship. In retrospect, it was a risky situation to cross the Atlantic in that thing. (Also, the ship director was later charged with embezzlement or something and fired.) I was 24 and adventurous, though. I had a once-in a lifetime experience and my views were 100% in line with PB’s. Despite the problems, I still believe it’s a good organization.
Cheers!
Shark
Mar 3rd, 2010
at 22:30
I was in the same travel as you as volunteer … and was really great !!! The best was the 3 additional weeks in Africa!!! PEACE BOAT IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!
Sarfitos Chandra
Jan 31st, 2009
at 08:58
I feel glad when read and see all advertising in everything about the Peace Boat (The Topaz),because some my friend have been working on this ship and great all is good company and now some of them still is there to working.
I am by the some cruise ship experience and hotel operation want to apply working on this ship,but I don’t know whit the ways and what should I do,Please by your arrange to give me all the information for applying working on this ship operation and I am very like to do round the world to get and find many experience in my life.
Thank you for your cooperation,I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Sarfitos Chandra
Charles
Aug 2nd, 2009
at 06:34
The article and comments are very informative. I’m thinking about applying to PB, but the last thing I would want is to be disapointed. I did SAS (semester at sea) which was a wonderful experience, but there were also things that were unacceptable. I’m sure PB would be well-worth it in the end, regardless of it’s flaws and the price. $15 thousand though? Are some people making ridiculous profits off this? This seems pretty tough to get accepted into for free (considering my friends were all rejected and they are smarter than me haha). I’m still considering.. They seem a little unorganized.
harvey
Aug 3rd, 2009
at 14:50
Yes, they are very unorganized – they try though, and they mean well.
And yes, 15,000 USD is a ton. But I don’t think they’re making money off of it. It’s just that hard to rent the ship, provide food, and care for all those passengers it seems.
However you’re also right in that if you can get on for free, a trip around the world and the experiences would really be worth it. If you’re a student of Japanese all the better. What better Japanese environment than to be trapped on a boat with hundreds of Japanese people who only speak a little bit of English? If you can keep away from the other English teachers you should be able to improve your Japanese skills a lot on that trip.
Too bad Peace Boat isn’t better managed. If it were it would be great!
Imelda S.
Jan 12th, 2010
at 06:19
Hello everyone!
I have never cruised onboard Peace Boat in my life but I wish I could afford. Ironic you might say with all the things written here.
Well, with the organization’s purpose one should understand that PB is not owned and operated by private and government shipping companies. That is why they do not have much fund for everything that is needed to be done with the ships maintenance, crew training and other else. Nevertheless, I agree that safety of all onboard must be put on top priority. I hope that PB could get help getting a better ship, better yet get a donation of a new cruise ship…not a bad idea huh?
Volunteers are expected to act as one putting enjoyment the least priority. But being a volunteer on an organization that sails around the world to reach out for help is actually priceless and rewarding.
With the money passengers are paying, a big portion of it is actually donated to the countries that they sail to. These are put on projects be it building schools, hospitals, mangrove planting etc… all these cruise fare are put in good deeds. I don’t think that is a bad idea is it?
I myself worked onboard a top cruise line and none of our cruise or tours engaged passengers in this kind of outlook on travelling. I thought to myself I could learn more working on an NGO than on a cruise liner that offers nothing but pleasure, fun and debts after trip.
I bet they have much fullfilment thatn I do
Marty P
Mar 1st, 2010
at 02:03
What happened to all the other comments ?
There is nothing worse than editing the comments section of a blog !! That is totally undemocratic and defeats the whole point of having a public blog.
You are a (‘#”$&(“‘ idiot
harvey
Mar 1st, 2010
at 02:24
The comments that were deleted were deleted by the poster themselves. Not me.
I edited your foul language.
Chandra
Mar 1st, 2010
at 10:11
Good morning
Hi..Harvey,
I was read and see this Peace Boat picture whit Stuck in New York also I knowing a little story about this the Peace Boat ship operation by many many people or my friend while they have been work on a your ship operation on Topaz..so they is happy and enjoy and this make me to interest want to join work in a your team work operation on a your ship sailing,but I don’t know how to proceed and get it chance from the Peace boat company…and Can you help me..? or give arrange and confirmation to me when the make open jobs position and how whit they recruiting process for the crew to join work with them.
Thank you very much for your cooperation,I am looking forward to hearing from you and I have been work experience by some cruise ship line operation in world wide also complete for all document to join work on the ship.
Yours truly
Chandra
Marty P
Mar 2nd, 2010
at 01:18
how do you delete your own comments ?
I’m onto you
harvey
Mar 2nd, 2010
at 01:56
To be honest I’m not sure. This was a long time ago and on a previous version of WordPress, maybe it’s a feature that was removed? All the comments were from a famous Japanese guy who runs an anti-peaceboat site though. He was criticizing peaceboat mostly agreeing with what I said. One day, all his comments were GONE.
Trust me, I’m very democratic and never censor anything of value.