Safety Notice (April 2006) | Smoke Alarms |
Infant Lifejackets | Helicopter Pick-up Area | Tender Operators
The cruise industry maintains an excellent safety record. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, cruising today is one of the safest modes of transportation, and the industry is constantly striving to improve its safety procedures. Over the past two decades, an estimated 90 million passengers safely enjoyed a cruise vacation. In 1996, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a comprehensive safety study that concluded the cruise industry is the safest form of commercial transportation and that international safety initiatives being undertaken should further improve its safety record.
Safety is our number one priority. CLIA cruise industry members are committed to the safe operation of all cruise vessels in their fleets. The cruise industry complies with all International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards governing the operation of cruise vessels worldwide. These regulations are closely monitored by both flag and port states. These internationally mandated standards — treaties adopted by the United States government — govern the design, construction and operation of ocean-going vessels and are codified in the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention and its amendments. Other IMO safety standards which have been adopted internationally include: Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), which deals with crew training as it relates to safety, The International Convention in Load Lines, and the IMO’s International Safety Management (ISM) Code, which relates to mandatory codes of practice.
Further, the cruise industry cooperates with the U.S. Coast Guard and other maritime nations to assure the safe passage of passengers. To ensure compliance with SOLAS, the Coast Guard examines each new cruise vessel when it first enters service at a U.S. port. Thereafter, these vessels are subject to quarterly Coast Guard inspections. The examinations emphasize structural fire safety and proper life saving equipment. Additionally, the Coast Guard witnesses fire and abandon ship drills conducted by the ships’ crew and operational tests are made on key equipment such as steering systems, fire pumps and bilge pumps. The Coast Guard also closely examines the vessels and their operation for compliance with both international and U.S. environmental laws and regulations. The Coast Guard maintains the authority to require correction of any deficiencies before allowing a ship to take on passengers at any U.S. port.
CLIA member companies worked closely with the Coast Guard and other maritime nation representatives at IMO toward implementation of the most comprehensive new international regulations in the history of the maritime industry. Stringent SOLAS amendments have required significant fire safety upgrades for new and existing vessels and established regulations for comprehensive safety management systems. The 1992 SOLAS amendments required passenger ships to upgrade fire protection and fire extinguishing equipment such as installing low-location lighting, smoke detectors and automatic sprinklers.
Recently effective amendments to the STCW Convention are comprehensive and detailed. These regulations require advanced new safety training and set high standards for demonstrated crew competency. Additionally, on July 1, 1998 compliance with the ISM Code became mandatory for cruise ships and for the first time, the role of shipboard and shoreside management is specified by international regulation. The ISM Code, which requires all vessels and operators to clearly delineate responsibilities, will have a profoundly positive effect on the continuous improvement of ship safety.
