Cruise Lines Seek to Allay Public Safety Fears
Cruise ship safety measures enhanced states Cruise Lines International Association
In an open letter to the travel industry CLIA president Christine Duffy seeks to reassure the public in the wake of the Costa Concordia accident outlining the following key focus areas
- Operational Safety Review: As part of the cruise industry’s continuous improvement efforts to review safety measures, CLIA recently announced the launch of a Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review to respond to maritime safety issues that will be learned from the Concordia incident. The Review will include a comprehensive assessment of the critical human factors and operational aspects of maritime safety. It will allow for cruise lines to share best practices and procedures for operational safety, consult with independent external experts, and collaborate closely with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), governments and regulatory bodies to efficiently implement necessary changes. All CLIA members along with the Passenger Shipping Association in the UK and the European Cruise Council in Brussels are engaged in this effort.
- New Muster Policy: The industry has instituted a new emergency drill policy requiring mandatory musters for embarking passengers prior to departure from port. This new muster drill policy, voluntarily initiated by the associations’ members, exceeds current legal requirements, which mandate a muster of passengers occur within 24 hours of passenger embarkation. This is the first best practice to emerge from the industry’s Operational Safety Review, and recommendations will be made on an ongoing basis.
- Public Communications: Public interest and concern about the Concordia incident has been understandably high. People seek better understanding about how and why the accident happened and reassurance that cruising is still safe. From day one, we have made communication a high priority – making information and technical experts available to the media, public officials, industry partners and the public generally. We have responded to literally hundreds of inquiries so far, and will continue to do so.