Agency Urges Action to Prevent Cruise Ship Balcony Fires

According to Cruise Ship Report, lead British agency investigating the March 2006 Star Princess blaze has urged cruise lines to take action to prevent fires from starting on balconies of cruse ships. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) on April 26 said the fire erupted on the balcony of a cabin on deck 10 of the Star Princess and spread within 10 minutes to three decks, ultimately damaging more than 280 cabins. The agency said current safety regulations do not take into account the enormous increase in balconies on cruise ships built over the past decade. The agency recommended that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) extend fire-prevention regulations covering the interior of cruise ships to balconies and other exterior areas. The agency's preliminary report did not address the cause of the blaze. Source: Cruise Ship Report