NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. ROBERTS: Captain John Konrad is a licensed master mariner and the editor of gcaptain, which is a daily maritime news blog.Ĭopyright © 2009 NPR. And I think that's what the Navy is hoping for, that during that period of time that the pirates give up. KONRAD: Some experts tell us that 10 - seven to 10 days is the max, you know, that anyone would volunteer for this type of situation. In theory, how long can they survive that way?Ĭapt. It's bobbing up and down on high seas to an incredibly nauseating degree. So you're not going to be able to stand up fully, with the exception of the driver. KONRAD: The lifeboat only is - inside is about four to five feet tall. ROBERTS: And are you able to stand up? What's your range of motion like inside?Ĭapt. It's packaged up to five years ago and put in Ziploc bags, and they are individual packets of water. ROBERTS: And how fresh is the water likely to be?Ĭapt. And there's enough water onboard to give three liters of water to each of those 50 people. The lifeboat has the ability to carry approximately 50 people. It's meant to give the maximum amount of calories in a very hearty package. KONRAD: They have lifeboat rations onboard, and if you imagined pressed cardboard with a little bit of a biscuit flavor, that's all you have to eat onboard. ROBERTS: In terms of food and water, what are the rations like? And how much fresh water do they have?Ĭapt. The heat gets trapped in there, and there is no way to escape. So this covered fiberglass enclosure really is like a baking oven. This incident occurred less than 400 miles from the equator. So these doors are your only means of relieving yourself. There are no toilets onboard these lifeboats. There are two large portholes on the sides, sliding doors, that provide the only means of both ventilation and ability for you to get seasick. ROBERTS: And if you do get seasick, where do you get seasick? It's totally enclosed, right?Ĭapt. This vessel is built to ride the waves but not provide a comfortable ride. And as you go in, the first thing that you're required to do is take seasickness pills because they fully expect you to get seasick. It's really plasticky and really overwhelms your senses. And when you go inside, the very first thing you're going to notice is the smell. KONRAD: Well, this is an enclosed lifeboat, meaning it's got a fiberglass cover. ROBERTS: So take me inside one of those lifeboats. Hello.Ĭaptain JOHN KONRAD (USCG Licensed Master Mariner, Unlimited Tonnage Editor-in-Chief, ): Hello. He's on the line with us now from Morro Bay, California. He's sailed a variety of ships from ports around the world, and he gives a detailed account of those lifeboats on his blog,. So, what's life like on that kind of craft? Captain John Konrad knows. Except for Captain Phillips' brief escape attempt, that's five people cooped up on the same lifeboat for four days. The pirates have been holding Captain Richard Phillips on that lifeboat since Wednesday.
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