Cruise ship disappears

While Belize escaped Mitch without any casualties, others of course were not so fortunate. While the death toll climbs into the thousands in Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala, of particular concern to Belizeans is the fate of thirty-one crew members on the tall ship known as the “Phantome”. Viewers may recall that last Monday the vessel, operated by Windjammer Cruises of Miami, let off its anxious passengers in Belize City and headed out to sea to avoid being trapped in port by the storm. That’s the last anyone ever heard from the two hundred eighty foot ship and it is feared that, heeding forecasts that the storm would go north, she may have steamed south, directly into Mitch’s path. A U.S. coast guard cutter and aircraft have been combing the area but as each hour without contact passes, hope fades for a rescue. The “Phantome” operates between Belize and the Bay Islands. It is believed that all Belizean crew members were put ashore here on Monday.