International Maritime Organization (IMO) To Incorporate Recommendation From Global Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review In Key Maritime Safety Treaty

Other Cruise Industry-Initiated Policies Incorporated by the IMO Maritime Safety Committee

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the European Cruise Council (ECC) are pleased with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) decision to approve 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).  This anticipated regulatory change would be incorporated in SOLAS, which provides comprehensive mandates on safety equipment and procedures for ships.  The global cruise industry announced this measure with immediate effect on February 9, 2012, as part of the Global Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review that was launched in January. 

Additionally, the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) incorporated three other policies from the Global Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review during its meetings in London, held November 26 to 30.  The three policies address the loading of lifeboats by crewmembers for training purposes, the recording of passenger nationality, and the common elements of musters and emergency instructions.  They are now included in IMO guidance specific to Passenger Ship Safety and have been implemented via industry-wide policies. 

"The global cruise industry appreciates and shares the unyielding commitment of the IMO, its Secretary-General, the Maritime Safety Committee and the 170 IMO member States around the world to continuously enhance the safety of passengers and crew — our industry's number one priority," said Christine Duffy, president and CEO of CLIA.  "Ongoing innovation in safety has been a hallmark of the cruise industry for decades.  We remain fully committed as an industry to building on our rich heritage of leadership in improvement of shipboard operations and safety."

"We welcome the decision by the IMO to incorporate key recommendations from the Global Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review into the SOLAS," said Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, ECC Chairman.  "The IMO's decision to incorporate our recommendations into SOLAS, including our February 2012 decision to introduce on a voluntary basis the mandatory muster of passengers prior to departure from port, is an endorsement of the cruise industry's approach to continuous safety improvement. It demonstrates how we as an industry are proactively achieving concrete, practical and significant safety dividends in the shortest possible time.  We look forward to continuing to work with the IMO to secure further safety improvements in the future wherever there is scope to do so."

At the meeting, the IMO put forth immediate actions to enhance passenger ship safety, with the Global Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review the source of many of the items.  The Review includes a comprehensive assessment of the critical human factors and operational aspects of maritime safety and the development of comprehensive best practices for industry-wide implementation. 

To date, the Review has resulted in ten wide-ranging policies, all of which exceed current international regulatory requirements.  All policies adopted by the Review are available online at http://www.cruising.org/regulatory/cruise-industry-policies/cruise-industry-operational-safety-review.

About CLIA
The nonprofit Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is North America's largest global cruise industry organization. CLIA represents the interests of 26 member lines, 15,000 travel agents, and 120 executive partners before regulatory and legislative policy makers, supporting measures that foster a safe, secure and healthy cruise ship environment. CLIA is also engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the value and desirability of cruise vacations with thousands of travel agency and travel agent members across North America. 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. 

About the European Cruise Council
The European Cruise Council (ECC) represents the leading cruise companies operating in Europe and has 30 cruise members and 34 associate members. The ECC promotes the interests of cruise ship operators within Europe, liaising closely with the EU Institutions: the Commission, the Parliament, the Council of Ministers and their Permanent Representatives as well as with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The ECC also looks to protect the interests of its Members through close liaison with other European bodies such as the European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA), he European Sea Ports Association (ESPO) and the European Travel Agents & Tour Operators Association (ECTAA).The ECC also promotes cruising to a wider public audience to encourage expansion of the European cruise market and works closely with a number of regional bodies such as Cruise Baltic, Cruise Europe, Cruise Norway and MedCruise. The European cruise industry continues to increase its share of the global cruise market with 27.8 million passengers visiting a European port in 2011; 6.2 million Europeans cruised worldwide – 30% of market - of whom 4.8 million embarked in a European port, and a total of 5.6 million passengers joined their cruise in Europe. The industry generated €36.7 billion of goods and services and providing more than 300,000 jobs. In 2011 there were at least 171 cruise ships active in the Mediterranean and 102 in Northern Europe, ranging in size from 4,200 passengers to less than 100. For more information please visit www.europeancruisecouncil.com.

SOURCE Cruise Lines International Association