Carnival Responds to Yet More Ship Trouble

Are all of Carnival Cruise's recent ship problems unrelated? That's what the company would like the public to believe. Carnival's Triumph-which was stranded in Alabama last month-broke free from its moorings. Hurricane-link winds blew the ship from its anchors and threw two shipyard employees into the Mobile River. Although one man was found, another is still missing.

Although the crises are mounting for the cruise company, it's getting better at responding via social media. The company quickly tweeted about the situation and posted several updates throughout the day:

 Carnival also posted this statement to its Facebook page:

April 3, 2013, 7PM ET

Earlier this afternoon, due to strong winds that reached speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour during a severe storm in Mobile, Ala., Carnival Triumph, which was in wet dock at a Mobile shipyard, broke away from its moorings. The ship drifted, and was secured.

With the assistance of tugboats on site, the ship has been moved to the Mobile Cruise Terminal. Lines have moored the ship, and, as a precaution, tugboats will remain alongside the vessel as well.

All of the approximately 600 crew and 200 contractors who were onboard the vessel are safe and have been accounted for through a roll call. There are no reports of injuries. While assessment of damage to the ship is ongoing, initial indications suggest the damage is limited.

According to reports, two shipyard employees on an adjacent pier fell into the water. One has reportedly been rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and the search continues for the second. Our thoughts and prayers are with the missing shipyard employee and the family.

Discussion Starters:

• Assess Carnival's response on social media. How else is the company using Facebook and Twitter to communicate during this crisis?
• How can Carnival rebuild the brand and explain the recent incidents as separate and distinct from one another?