Experts Named to Evaluate Recommendations of Cruise Industry Safety Review
Washington, D.C. —The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced that it has appointed a panel of maritime and safety experts to provide an impartial assessment of the recommendations developed by the Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review, launched in January, 2012. This Panel of Experts will evaluate suggested policy improvements as part of continuous efforts to review and improve safety measures by developing comprehensive best practices for industry-wide implementation and. ultimately, formal submission to the International Maritime Organization, as appropriate. “Our number one priority is the safety of passengers and crew,” said Christine Duffy, President and CEO of CLIA.
NTSB Notes Action on Star Princess Investigation
National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Mark Rosenker applauded the United Kingdom's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) for the speedy publication of their investigative report on the fire aboard the Bermuda- registered cruise ship Star Princess, on March 23, 2006, en route from Grand Cayman to Jamaica. NTSB assisted the MAIB in their on-scene investigation and analysis of the accident, which resulted in the death of a U.S. citizen. "Cruise ships are a very large and important source of recreation for Americans. said Rosenker. The fire aboard the Star Princess uncovered a safety gap in the international regulations for passenger ships. A basic tenet of fire safety is to provide structural fire protection so that a fire is contained within a local area of the ship.
Nominations Approved
The Senate Commerce Committee has approved a number of nominations, including Ellen Engleman to be a Member and Chairman of the NTSB, Richard Healing and Mark Rosenker to be Members of the NTSB, Jeffrey Shane to be Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, and Emil Frankel to be Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy. Source: HK Law
NTSB: Transportation Fatalities Decrease
Washington, D.C. - Transportation fatalities in the United States decreased slightly in 2004, according to preliminary figures released today by the National Transportation Safety Board. Deaths from transportation accidents in the United States in 2004 totaled 44,870, down from the 45,158 fatalities in 2003. “Although it is always gratifying to see transportation fatalities decline,” NTSB Acting Chairman Mark Rosenker said, “the yearly toll, especially on our highways, continues to be unacceptable. Highway transportation, which accounts for the largest portion of fatalities, decreased from 42,884 in 2003 to 42,636 in 2004. The number of persons killed in all aviation accidents dropped from 710 in 2003 to 651 in 2004.
