International Maritime Organization (IMO) Adopts Additional Measures from Global Cruise Industry to Enhance Passenger Ship Safety

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) today announced that the IMO has implemented three additional safety-related policies from the 2012 Global Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review at the recently completed IMO Maritime Safety Committee meeting.  All ten policies from the Review have now been included in formal IMO standards specific to Passenger Ship Safety. 

"As a result of our relentless focus on passenger safety and comfort and our ongoing mission of continuous improvement in shipboard operations, cruising remains one of the safest vacation experiences available today," said Christine Duffy, president and CEO of CLIA.  "We look forward to working closely with the IMO, its Secretary-General, the Maritime Safety Committee and the 170 IMO Member States around the world to make a safe industry even safer for the over 20 million global passengers that cruise each year." 

The global cruise industry launched the Review, a comprehensive assessment of the critical human factors and operational aspects of maritime safety as part of its longstanding efforts to continuously raise the bar on safety matters. The global cruise industry introduced ten new safety policies during the Review and each policy exceeded current international regulatory requirements upon their announcement.  All policies have been adopted by members of CLIA.  Throughout the Review, CLIA and its members received input from an independent Panel of Experts with extensive experience in maritime, regulatory and accident investigation fields.  This Panel continues to assist the industry in providing ideas, guidance and impartial analysis and is actively engaged through CLIA's many Technical and Regulatory Committees. 

A full list of the policies adopted during the Review is online at http://www.cruising.org/regulatory/cruise-industry-policies/cruise-industry-operational-safety-review. An executive summary of the Review is online at http://www.cruising.org/regulatory/cruise-industry-policies/cruise-industry-operational-safety-review.

About CLIA 
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world's largest cruise industry trade association with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA represents the interests of cruise lines, travel agents, port authorities and destinations, and various industry business partners before regulatory and legislative policy makers. CLIA is also engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the value and desirability of cruise holiday vacations with thousands of travel agency and travel agent members. CLIA's Associate Member and Executive Partner programs include the industry's leading providers of supplies and services that help cruise lines provide a safe, environmentally-friendly and enjoyable holiday vacation experience for millions of passengers every year. For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruising.org. CLIA can also be followed on the Cruise Lines International Association's Facebook and Twitter fan pages, and CEO Christine Duffy can be followed @CLIACEO and cruising.org/ceoblog. 

SOURCE Cruise Lines International Association