Patagualino, what exactly makes these ships "top-heavy"?

Marce
of course also crews efficiency/training plays a big part. Same what I said,a whole bunch of factors plying into it.
But one thing never should forgotten, crews are only as good as they are trained and maintained (the training)
Cruises are affordable because of rather cheap crews and when you ask cheap you get cheap. If crews would be reallt top quality, cruises would cost the double and the whole industrie would not blown up to such proportions. Beside that does really someone believe that a 15-30 min boats drill before departure in a port will be sufficient to evacuate and rescue 4000 passengers in case of emergency. I had an emergency (severe smoke from the engine room) and you know who paniced ? the Chief officer !!!! Now back to the 4000,, and crews who have to handle them. I think I don,t need to elaborate further. The Costa paxer disaster in Italy, in that sense, what a luck that the ship was stuck on the rock, if she would have slid down and capesized we would have a few hundred or more death and not only 36 or so. Everbody who nowadays goes on a cruise should realise that it is not only pleasure, but also danger. Like in an airplane . when you ever flew or do a lot flying, you noticed also perhaps that 50% plus does not pay attention to the stewardess when the safeties are run through,, and 15-30 min for 4000 passenger are enough ???
Whoever believs that is if not dumb at least ignorant

Cheers, Captain Ted.....some sense when sense was needed.

What about maintenance policies applied by shipping companies ? Is the ISM code a useful tool to prevent this incidents ? What about the "qualified technicians" who performs the services of the life saving appliances according to IMO regulations ? I don't say crewmembers are not responsible part of these kind of accidents, but for sure, the crew is the weakest link of the chain.
And regarding a serious contingency at sea, I think is time to question if these modern cruise ships with hundreds of passengers and crewmembers on board may really be abandoned without fatal casualties, even if a perfect operation is carried out.

Pata ,
to a certain degree you are right, but keep in mind one thing, in the merchant marine every day happens exactly this. For a certain type life boat (the fully enclosed ones on the sides of the accomodation, not Free Fall on the stern) exists and are type approved 84 !!! different release hook systems/models !!!
As long the total incompetent IMO is not willing or able to regulate sufficiently for their members such things, accidents like this happen. Now it is bigger news because a paxer is involved, but daily sailors wind up in hopitals or worst because of that.
There is no simple answer, a whole bunch af factors playing into it. Oficial language is most of the time english, unless it is for example a french ship with a french crew all in french.
English is then choosen when crew consists of various nations, which of course is the norm nowadays.
I would not say without knowing it that the language or the "experienced" crew as you call it is at fault. The fault is most of the time various factors at once. What is most probably the worst of all factors : who cares !!!

This accident happened in flat calm waters, in a port, in broad daylight:
No Fire, No Collision, No Emergency....whatsoever..
The fatalities were experienced crew members.
Experienced? Debatable.

Put the same scenario on the high seas...under duress....say a fire...how many of these 'experienced' crew members will die along with how many passengers?....launching lifeboats?
These ships are already top heavy, any on-board fire-fighting (by amateurs) will only endanger the ship further.
Crew members trying to fight a fire: In various languages? It's not really a 'reality' is it?
Launching lifeboats will be a pathetic waste of time.

The industry knows it. And. In my opinion: It will happen. Pretty soon.

I know I will be criticised here..But answer the question!......