Maritime Regulation

CLIA's Global Maritime Policy Team coordinates the collaborative work of the oceangoing cruise industry on key maritime policy matters, engaging with professionals across the industry as well as international regulatory bodies and non-governmental organizations. The Team leads efforts to develop and update industry-level policies which go above and beyond international regulatory requirements to ensure operational safety and environmental stewardship.

Each new cruise ship brings extraordinary advances in technology, including alternative fuels, advanced wastewater treatment systems, exhaust gas cleaning systems and reliability features, among others. With over $30 billion currently committed to building the most exceptional passenger ships ever envisioned, CLIA Cruise Line Members and our Executive Partners continue to raise the bar on shipboard innovation.

No matter how innovative cruise ships become, the first priority of the industry is always the safety and security of passengers and crew. CLIA's Cruise Line Members are committed to safety culture and operational excellence. The Maritime Policy Team is proud to play a role in helping our members succeed by advocating, educating and promoting the common interests of the cruise community.

Cruise Industry Policies

CLIA is the world's largest cruise industry trade association with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. Dedicated to the promotion of a safe and secure cruise ship environment, CLIA Members have no higher priority than the safety of guests and crew. With the advice and consent of its membership, CLIA advances policies intended to enhance shipboard safety, security, and environmental stewardship, in some cases calling for best practices in excess of existing legal requirements. Annually, the chief executive of every CLIA oceangoing Cruise Line Member specifically verifies his or her line's implementation of every CLIA policy.

International Maritime Organization

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that addresses maritime affairs. The IMO is mainly focused on improving the safety of life at sea, enhancing maritime security and preventing pollution into the sea by ships. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented. CLIA holds consultative status for non-governmental organizations at the IMO, and participates in deliberations on behalf of the cruise industry when international regulations and guidelines are under development.

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