The cruise industry’s commitment to the safety of passengers and crew remains our number one priority, said Christine Duffy, president and CEO of CLIA in a briefing on the Global Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review and CLIA's focus on operational safety improvements and best practices.
The review was launched last January, immediately following the Concordia incident. "The Operational Safety Review (OSR) was part of our industry’s longstanding and ongoing mission of continuous improvement and innovation in shipboard operations and safety," Duffy said.
"It also was a rededication of our commitment to safety on behalf of the victims and all those affected by the Concordia incident, and the millions of other passengers and crew that sail on cruise ships every year," Duffy said.
The global cruise industry, with input from an independent panel of experts with extensive experience in maritime, regulatory and accident investigation fields, introduced ten new safety policies during the Review, CLIA noted. Each policy exceeds current international regulatory requirements and has been adopted by members of CLIA, the association said.
CLIA said policies resulting from the Review address muster drills, bridge access and procedures, life jacket availability and location, lifeboat loading drills, recording of passenger nationalities for on-shore emergency services personnel and securing of heavy objects.
CLIA also said the International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently approved incorporation of the cruise industry’s recommendation for the mandatory muster of passengers prior to departure from port in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), which provides comprehensive mandates on safety equipment and procedures for ships, CLIA noted.
CLIA's Duffy said the independent panel of experts will continue to assist the industry and will be actively engaged through CLIA’s many Technical and Regulatory Committees. "We will continue to collaborate with IMO and other stakeholders to create a culture of safety that fosters a safe and secure environment for all who sail with us.”
Among the experts are Mark Rosenker, the Former Chairman of the United States National Transportation Safety Board and William De Ruiter, Former Head and Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency. Other members of the independent panel of experts are Stephen Meyer, Former Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy and Head of the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch and Dr. Jack Spencer, Former Director, Office of Marine Safety, United States National Transportation Safety Board.
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