City: Passenger safety top priority

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The City of Mobile is preparing to accommodate passengers and crews of the stranded Carnival Triumph cruise line.

Ahead of the ship's expected arrival on Thursday, the city will clear the ship channel of Navy ships that were here for Mardi Gras by Wednesday afternoon.

“The seating, the counters, all of that needs to be put in place,” said Alabama Cruise Terminal GM Sheila Gurganus. “We'll be pulling all of our security people in place as well.”

The city has not talked about any monetary gain as of yet. Officials said their first concern is to get passengers off safely.

A weekend engine fire knocked out the ship’s primary power source, leaving it adrift in the Gulf of Mexico.

Onboard are more than 4,000 people with no air conditioning and some pretty long lines for food.

 “There is only food on the very top of the ship so that's kind of inconvenient but they're trying to keep it stocked,” said passenger Ann Barlow over the phone. “There’s really only a couple of lines. I takes three and a half hours to get food.”

To make matters worse some passengers are having to use plastic bags to do 'their business.'

“When you walk in the hallways you have to cover your face,” said Barlow. “We don't have any masks for breathing. It's disgusting. It's the worse thing ever. We’re sleeping on foam mattresses, our room is so horrible.”

Carnival officials said they have already booked more than 1,500 rooms and arranged cars between Mobile and New Orleans as they work to get the passengers back to Texas.

The ship is expected Thursday afternoon.

Mobile Infirmary Health Systems will be on hand to triage passengers and crew. Mobile Fire-Rescue and emergency technicians will also be onsite if their services are needed.