Cruise ships to introduce new safety measures

Cruise ships worldwide are to carry extra lifejackets as part of a package of safety measures being adopted following sinking of the Costa Concordia which claimed 32 lives.

They will also restrict access to the bridge and adopt more careful planning of a ship’s passage.

The new safety measures, which come into effect immediately, were announced yesterday by the European Cruise Council and Cruise Lines International Association.

Every ship will now carry more than one lifejacket per passenger and passengers will no longer be allowed onto the bridge during tricky manoeuvres to avoid unnecessary distractions. However, bridge tours will still go ahead at other times.

Also, every ship’s passage plan will be drafted by a designated officer, approved by a master and briefed to every member of the bridge in advance.

The Concordia sank off the Tuscan coast in January after captain Francesco Schettino, sailed too close to rocks, which ripped a hole in its side, causing it to capsize. Following the crash, there were claims that he had changed the ship’s course at the last minute and invited a woman onto the bridge shortly before it slammed into the rocks.

Chairman of the ECC Manfredi Lefebvre said: "The cruise industry is highly regulated and it is this regulatory regime, complied with onboard by our professional and committed officers and crews, that has given the cruise industry a truly remarkable safety record. But as the Concordia incident demonstrates, there is no such thing as perfect safety."

An industry-wide safety review, announced in January, has been strengthened with the appointment of four independent experts, who were consulted on the above safety measures and will be consulted on all future proposals.

Lefebvre added: "By bringing forward voluntary initiatives such as these, we significantly and immediately improve safety standards. 

"Specifically, we very much hope that the results of the Operational Safety Review as they are delivered over the coming months will give us fertile ground to grow our partnership with the Commission"