An overhaul of global cruise
safety will see all passengers
attending muster drills before
their cruise departs.
THE worldwide cruise industry has
announced a stricter emergency drill policy
requiring mandatory muster for embarking
passengers prior to departure from port.
The voluntary move follows the industry’s
announcement last month of a Cruise Industry
Operational Safety Review in response to the
Costa Concordia accident on 13 January.
Effective immediately, the new policy
exceeds existing legal requirements by calling
for the mandatory muster of all embarking
passengers before the ship sets sail.
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.
Current legal requirements for conducting a
muster of passengers requires that a muster
occur within 24 hours of embarkation.
The Cruise Lines International Association,
European Cruise Council, and the Passenger
Shipping Association have put forward the new
policy with the support of their members.
Further changes to onboard operations are
expected under the global cruise safety review.
A copy of the new muster policy can be
viewed at www.cruising.org.
