Costa Concordia tragedy Spawns New Cruise Industry Policy On Muster Drills.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Coral Springs, Florida, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) February 12, 2012 -- The global cruise industry today announced new emergency drill policy requirements for a mandatory muster for embarking passengers prior to departure from port. The new policy follows the cruise industry announcement on January 27 of a Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review in response to the Concordia incident and as part of the industry’s continuous efforts to review and improve safety measures. The Cruise Lines International Association, European Cruise Council, and the Passenger Shipping Association put forward the new policy with the support of their member cruise lines.

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Costa Concordia tragedy Spawns New Cruise Industry Policy On Muster Drills.

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The new muster policy, which has been voluntarily initiated by the associations’ members and is effective immediately, exceeds existing legal requirements by calling for the mandatory muster of all embarking passengers prior to departure from port. On rare occasions when passengers arrive after the muster has been completed, passengers will be promptly provided with individual or group safety briefings that meet the requirements for musters applicable under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The formal policy is designed to help ensure that any mandatory musters or briefings are conducted for the benefit of all newly embarked passengers at the earliest practical opportunity.

Musters are mandatory exercises conducted on cruise ships to ensure passengers are informed of safety protocols while onboard the ship, including emergency evacuation procedures. Current legal requirements for conducting a muster of passengers can be found in SOLAS and mandate that a muster occur within 24 hours of passenger embarkation.

The Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review includes a comprehensive assessment of the critical human factors and operational aspects of maritime safety. As best practices are identified, they will be shared among cruise industry association members and any appropriate recommendations and requirements will be shared with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), European Union and other governmental authorities as appropriate. The industry’s efforts also are consistent with the framework and spirit of the International Safety Management Code. Recommendations resulting from the Review will be made on an ongoing basis.

While this change in policy is an appropriate response to the Costa tragedy, a few things must be remembered:

(1) The cruise industry has a commendable safety record and previous safety procedures also exceeded legal requirements. We have been on sixty three cruises, and on each we participated in a muster drill within half an hour to an hour of leaving our mooring. Had that been done on the Concordia, the drills would have been completed before tragedy struck.

(2) While a reaction by the cruise industry to a tragedy such as this is inevitable, the muster procedure was not the cause of this disaster. Human error and poor judgment were. I pray that no-one in the future will have to face ordeals such as those suffered by the Costa Concordia passengers, crew members, and their families, and I pray for those directly effected by the tragedy.

(3) Cruising is my passion, and I will not allow the actions of one ignominious fool to dampen that passion. There are too many adventures, too many remarkable journeys, and too many fascinating cultures yet to be experienced to allow that to happen.

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