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ICCL News Release Archives
ICCL Statement: Cruise Ship Safety
ARLINGTON, Va. (March 23, 2006) - In wake of the accidental fire that occurred on board the Star Princess and the tragic bus crash in Chile involving passengers from the Celebrity Millennium, the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) today released information regarding cruise ship safety. The ICCL and its member lines send condolences and sympathies to those involved and their loved ones affected by these tragedies.
The cruise industry's highest priority is to ensure the safety and security of our passengers, crew and vessels. During the past two decades, ICCL member cruise lines have maintained the best safety record in the travel industry while transporting more than
90 million people throughout the world.
FIRE SAFETY AND PREVENTION
* All crew are trained in basic firefighting procedures. Crewmembers specifically assigned to the ship's firefighting teams receive additional specialized training.
* The average response time for an emergency is within a matter of minutes - fire teams and trained emergency and medical crews are only a few hundred feet away from possible fires.
* ICCL cruise ships have sufficient lifeboats and life rafts for everyone on board, plus additional capacity in reserve.
* At the beginning of each voyage, all cruise passengers go through a mandatory abandon-ship drill for familiarization in the event of an emergency.
* In 2001, ICCL cruise members adopted mandatory safety standards for their cruise ships that exceed existing U.S. and international standards which are integrated into its internationally mandated Safety Management System (SMS) to ensure compliance through internal audits and third party audits.
* Cruise ships comply with the IMO's Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention which is adopted by countries worldwide, including the United States. SOLAS governs the design, construction and operation of all ships.
* To ensure compliance with SOLAS and other safety requirements, the Coast Guard conducts quarterly inspections on all vessels embarking passengers at U.S. ports. The examinations focus on fire safety systems and life saving equipment and their safety and environmental protection items. Additionally, the Coast Guard witnesses fire and abandon ship drills to ensure crew proficiency.
* The U.S. Coast Guard verifies the adequacy of crew training through observation of drills, examination of documentation and interviews with officers and crew.
* The average ICCL cruise ship (86,000 gross registered tons) has the following:
o Five fire teams on board
o Over 170 trained personnel on their fire fighting teams (the average town's fire department usually has an average of six firefighters per station)
o Approximately 20 crewmembers with advanced fire fighting training
o Over 6 miles of fire fighting hose
o Over 16 miles of sprinkler piping
o Over 5,000 sprinkler heads
o Over 500 fire extinguishers
o Over 4,000 smoke detectors
o Local sounding alarms in all cabins
o Over 400 fire stations or hydrants
SHORE EXCURSIONS
Approximately 98 percent of cruise passengers disembark a cruise ship to visit a port-of-call. Of those that leave the ship, 45-50 percent participates in organized shore excursions offered by the cruise line in conjunction with local operators. Cruising is one of the safest vacation options available with an excellent safety and security record and international oversight by regulatory agencies. When traveling, passengers must remember that they are on an international voyage and are visiting foreign ports-of-call.
Cruise lines rigorously evaluate local shore excursion operators and look at factors such as licensing, proper equipment, insurance and safety records. Cruise lines encourage their passengers to use their shore excursion providers, but cannot prevent them from booking with independent tour operators. Cruise lines do alert their guests on the risks of using companies that have not been vetted by the cruise line or are not properly licensed and insured.
Tragedies on shore excursions are rare. When incidents happen, the cruise line fully cooperates with local officials in their investigation and assists those affected and their families.
Adventure is part of travel and no matter the method of transportation, passengers should be aware of the risks while still enjoying activities in foreign countries. When choosing a cruise, passengers are encouraged to:
* Buy travel insurance
* Choose shore excursions recommended by the cruise line from reputable and established operators that have undergone a stringent evaluation
* Ensure any independent shore excursion providers they choose are properly licensed and insured
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