Larger ships 'safer', says Royal Caribbean boss
- 2012-03-19 14:42:15
- Source:The Daily Telegraph
- View original article
The chief executive of Royal Caribbean has dismissed fears about the safety of large cruise ships, claiming they are “as safe, or safer” than smaller vessels.
Richard Fain, whose company operates some of the world’s biggest cruise ships, was responding to concerns raised following the Costa Concordia disaster in January, in which 32 passengers died.
He said: "The truth is the newer, bigger ships are as safe or safer than any comparable smaller ships."
More than 4,250 passengers and crew were on board the Concordia when it hit a reef off the island of Giglio in Tuscany.
Although the actions of Francesco Schettino, the Concordia’s captain, have been called into question, doubts have also been raised about the safety of evacuation procedures on board larger cruise ships.
Royal Caribbean’s largest vessels – the giant Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas – carry more than 7,500 passengers and crew.
But Mr Fain, speaking to the Financial Times, claimed that the evacuation of larger ships was actually faster because of the greater number of exits on board.
He also claimed that the ships offered a more comfortable experience for passengers.
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