THE vexing question of Zodiac operations is one of the most-asked
questions by prospective expedition cruise passengers and
one of the common hand-wringing reasons some travellers decide
against expedition cruising. What am I talking about? Read on.
What is a Zodiac? The trade-marked, patented Zodiac tender
is an inflatable rubber runabout powered by an outboard motor
and skippered by a single crewmember who steers by a ‘tiller’ (a
throttle/handle attached to the motor). These aren’t something
you blow up and play with in the backyard pool. They are military-grade
boats used by commandos in the worst conditions. They are
designed for seriously heavy duty operations, are remarkably stable
and virtually unsinkable. For ferrying camera-toting tourists on
shore excursions, they are way over-specified.
Almost without exception, any ship you select for your expedition
cruise will be equipped with several of these boats to land guests
on beaches, rocky outcrops or tiny jetties too small for the ship to
tie-up. It’s a fact you have to face if you intend to go ashore during
your cruise.
I’ve been in and out of more Zodiacs than I can remember over the
last 15 years of adventure cruising and most problems are due to
passengers not following instructions or doing something stupid.
Operator skill and experience is another factor, although Zodiacs
are pretty easy to operate in calm conditions. It’s only when things
get rough and windy that the best operators are required.
Your selected cruise operator will give all passengers a detailed
Zodiac briefing in advance of the first landing, so make sure you are
present for that – and pay attention! You’ll get detailed instructions
on what clothing to wear, use of the special life jacket (which you
must wear) and how the specific ship’s boarding process works. It
could be a step-type gangway from the deck or a platform.
There isn’t room here to go through the whole operation, but if
you are considering an expedition cruise, particularly in the polar
regions, you need to be comfortable with this process or you will be
a hazard to yourself and the other passengers. Unfortunately not all
cruise consultants are able to accurately assess your suitability for
Zodiac operations. They are sales people after all and may not have
ever been in a Zodiac themselves.
In general terms, and taking into account the worst possible
conditions, passengers with mobility issues should think carefully
about their suitability for Zodiac travel. In many cases, you’ll need
to climb a narrow gangway that could be wet and slippery and
moving about slightly, then step onto the pontoon of the Zodiac
which could also be moving up and down slightly (or a lot!). There
are always staff and/or ship’s sailors on hand to assist you and you
should never attempt this without assistance. Even you, tough guy.
When seated around the pontoon (edge) of the Zodiac, you’ll be
snug against your fellow passengers facing inward. Spray, bumps
and splashes are common and depending on your operator, the
prevailing conditions and the size of the motor, you could be going
fast or slow.
That said, I did witness one determined ship’s crew land a
wheelchair passenger onto a tiny jetty in Greenland to much
applause, so it is possible under the right circumstances for almost
any person to get in and out. In the end, only you can decide.
