The International Council of Cruise Lines has drawn up a series of recommendations to members about fire safety following the fire onboard Princess Cruises’ Star Princess last month.
The fire originated on a balcony, which is typically an area not protected by sprinklers on any cruise ship.
Although the cause of the Princess Cruises fire has not yet been determined, it is widely believed to have been caused by a smoldering cigarette.
Based on a plan put together by Princess Cruises itself, the ICCL’s directive urges other operators to increase vigilance on all vessels with balconies where there might be a presence of combustible materials and a lack of detectors or sprinkler systems.
Cruise companies have been given three months to carry out a fire risk assessment of all external areas, particularly balconies, and in conjunction with regulatory authorities, replace all inappropriate materials with acceptable ones. These might include balcony dividers, furniture, deck or floor mats, and handrails.
Passenger Shipping Association director Bill Gibbons said the PSA fully supported the recommendations and members were taking immediate precautionary measures. He said it was too early to say what the cost implications would be.
Under the new recommendations, cruise operators are also being urged to consider dedicated lookouts and additional fire patrols, review the crew’s onboard training in relation to the balcony area, and to advise passengers and crew not to leave towels and personal belongings on balconies when they are not in their rooms.
Housekeeping staff should be advised to place any personal items left on balconies by passengers back in the room during their last visit of the day and to keep an eye on balconies during other visits to the room.
Information leaflets should be handed out to passengers about fire safety and to remind them of the hazards of not properly extinguishing cigarettes where smoking is authorized and using unauthorized heating elements such as electrical heating coils used in cups or candles.
