> And it's not clear that being able to swim would necessarily save many of the people who have died in major ferry, etc. accidents. The ability to get off the

> And it's not clear that being able to swim would necessarily save many of the people who have died in major ferry, etc. accidents. The ability to get off the ship and into the water seems like the trickiest bit to me, particularly if you're below deck sleeping when the accident occurs. Once you're in the water, I think the temperature of the water is likely the biggest factor. If the water is cold then you likely have minutes to survive no matter how strong a swimmer you are. If the water is warm, people could float for days before succumbing to the elements. The USS Indianapolis survivors were in the water for four days and were in pretty bad shape, but I think in the modern era a more timely rescue is likely.