A boat crew from Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale sits in the red, white and blue mist announcing the arrival of the World's newest and largest ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, to her first continental U.S. visit Jan. 26. The Coast Guard, along with several local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are providing security for the QM2 and the port during her high-profile visit. U.S. Coast Guard photo by PA3 Sandra Bartlett.
The cruise ship Queen Mary 2 received a Coast Guard Certificate of Compliance yesterday following a thorough inspection by U.S. Coast Guard marine safety inspectors from the Marine Safety Office here.
A Certificate of Compliance is required before a passenger vessel can embark passengers in a U.S. port. A certificate is issued only after the vessel passes a rigorous Control Verification Exam to ensure that it is in compliance with the International Maritime Organization's Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations.
Some of the items addressed by the SOLAS regs and examined by Coast Guard inspectors include life boats and rafts, fire fighting equipment, familiarity with emergency procedures and crew training and competency.
"Just like all other passenger vessels, the QM2 has to meet the rigorous safety of life at sea standards established by the International Maritime Organization and enforced through our Control Verification program," said Capt. James Watson, Captain of the Port. "The QM2 has gone through an intense examination process and is now formally certified to embark passengers in U.S. ports and entrusted with their safety and well-being."