Princess Cruises confirms that it is putting in place the recommendations contained in the safety notices recently given to cruise lines by the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the International Council of Cruise Lines. The line notes that immediately after the recent fire aboard the Star Princess, it took precautions fleet-wide to enable it to detect and extinguish any future fire quickly. Princess has implemented a 24-hour fire watch of balconies, begun specific training and fire-response procedures for crew members handling balcony fires, changed some housekeeping procedures on balconies, and enhanced communication to guests about fire safety. The line says it also has moved quickly to identify and develop permanent fire-protection solutions to replace the recently introduced precautionary measures. Permanent measures will include the removal of combustible materials from balconies, as well as the introduction of fire-detection and suppression systems. Visit [www.princess.com].
