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Former crew member João Franco recently talked about how he would have handled Hannah Ferrier’s firing on Below Deck Mediterranean. Franco is now a yacht captain and has seized his future with both hands. He also has opinions on ethical dilemmas and maintaining morale while on the open sea.
Franco left the show during season four, amid tearful goodbyes from a crew that had once been family. He received an offer to become a yacht captain, and he couldn’t turn it down. Franco has also gotten sober and hasn’t had a single drink, even during a stressful quarantine in South Africa. The lack of hangovers has been amazing, according to him.
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During a recent Instagram Live, Franco shared his opinions on the Below Deck crew, particularly how he would have handled it on his own ship if a crew member brought drugs aboard without declaring them (via Cheat Sheet). The conversation was in reference to Malia White busting Hannah for stashing drugs on board. Franco said he would first ascertain if the member is not doing their job while under the influence. He would talk to them first, and only escalate the situation when it became necessary. Safety and the captain knowing about the substances would be his priority. A captain needs a reliable crew to handle spats on deck and rough conflict on shore. Franco pointed out that Hannah, who was caught with drugs, had to be fired after Captain Sandy received the evidence. It was a difficult situation.
Franco also noted that every situation differs, depending on if a violation endangers the guests. Sneaking drugs onboard without notifying the safety officer or the captain can potentially lead to bigger disasters, especially if the crew member cannot perform their regular duties. It can also break morale if people do not know if the drugs are legal. You have to reassure your central command that the drugs are legal and check them with the safety officer on deck. Franco was quite philosophical about what happened. He said that Sandy had no choice but to take legal action, otherwise she would lose her license and her yacht. Then again, becoming captain has made him aware of the difficult choices and responsibilities that Sandy faces on a regular basis. Franco has grown up after his stint with Captain Sandy, and after gaining his own ship and license.
We can all agree that Hannah Ferrier has been a contentious character on the show. Captain Sandy had very good reasons for firing her, including that she failed to register and declare her Valium and vape pen. Sandy pointed out that such discretions ruin the integrity of the yacht and potentially endanger the passengers. If Ferrier came clean about the vape pen and Valium in the first place, there would be no problem. The issue is she lied about it, which makes Sandy question what else she lied about.
Source: CheatSheet