ICCL Member Lines Set New Mandatory Safety Standards

The International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) has reported that its member lines have unanimously agreed to set mandatory policies for cruise ship passenger and crew safety, security, environment, operational procedures, health safety and sanitation. These new policies mark the first time and association of international maritime operators has adopted mandatory standards on such a vast set of topics.

The new mandatory industry standards will require each ICCL member vessel to have smoke alarms that sound in all passenger and crew staterooms and adjacent corridors as well as on the bridge. For most of the existing guidelines, each member line will integrate these industry standards into its Safety Management System (SMS), which will ensure compliance through internal audits and external audits.

Examples of current ICCL policy guidelines, which will become mandatory industry standards as a result of this decision, include the following areas: safety, locally-sounding fire alarms, security, environment and medical.