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P&O Australia admits trouble at sea
Cruise operator P&O admitted yesterday that its ships were out of control and finally vowed to clean up the sleazy behaviour on board its vessels.
P&O Cruises Australia has noted the allegations made in today’s Daily Telegraph by a former employee, Mr Dobjeckie, and are taking them seriously,” managing director Gavin Smith said yesterday.
“The type of behaviour alleged is absolutely unacceptable and is not consistent with our company values and our policies on security, safety, referring illegal conduct to authorities and passenger welfare,” Mr Smith said.
Minister for Gaming and Racing Grant McBride yesterday vowed to investigate drunken behaviour on cruises.
“We are looking at a joint state-federal approach of cleaning up the service of alcohol on cruise ships,” a spokesman for Mr McBride said yesterday.
The comments come after former Pacific Sky security chief Jeff Dobjeckie exclusively told The Daily Telegraph that passengers were encouraged to drink to excess and that the ship was awash with illegal drugs.
Mr Smith expressed shock at Mr Dobjeckie’s claims and vowed the problem would be fixed.
“Excessive and illegal behaviour has no place on our cruises and we do not tolerate it,” he said.
“Our security staff are being provided with additional resources, training and support to ensure our policies are complied with.”
Mr Smith said security measures had been “stepped up” including drug sniffer dogs at the start of all cruises and upgrading surveillance procedures at island ports.
Responsible service of alcohol policies already have been changed, including increasing supervision and the closure of all bars between 4am and 10am.
The company also announced last week that anyone caught engaging in “excessive behaviour” would be kicked off the cruise at the next port and would not be refunded their fare.
Graham Muldoon
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