United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
PSA seeks to reassure cruise passengers over ship safety
The Passenger Shipping Association has offered reassurance to cruise passengers following the Costa tragedy.
At least six people have been confirmed dead and others remain missing after the Costa Concordia ran aground off the coast of Italy on Friday night (see earlier story).
As images of the ship lying on its side are beamed around the world, PSA director Bill Gibbons reassured passengers that incidents like this are isolated and very rare.
"Ships’ crews undertake rigorous training, drills and scenarios for emergency situations including the evacuation of a vessel," he said.
"The ships themselves comply with stringent regulations and procedures from the governing maritime authorities covering every aspect of their build and operation."
He said Costa and the wider cruise industry would fully cooperate in a full and thorough investigation into the causes of this event.
"We would like to reassure other cruise ship passengers that PSA member cruise companies operate to the highest safety standards around the world and according to international maritime requirements," he added.
"During the past two decades, cruise lines have maintained the best safety record in the travel industry while transporting more than 90 million people throughout the world."
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Sustainable Tourism: Don Welsh on Community Values and Global Collaboration
Jane Cunningham: Enhancing European Engagement in Tourism
Kristin Dunne: Navigating Destination Strategy
Revolutionizing Mobile Connectivity: Boris Bijlstra on HUBBY eSIM
Capturing Glasgow’s Vibrancy: An Interview with Susan Deighan, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life
Lebua Hotel & Resorts: Rajan Khurana on Hospitality and Bangkok’s Charms
Sustainable Tourism and Growth: Insights from Chiravadee Khunsub from Tourism Authority of Thailand
Revolutionizing Travel: SmartSIM USA’s Dale Takio Unveils the Power of E Sims
TravelMole Interview with Hishan Singhawansa, Deputy CEO of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka
Unveiling the Essence of Magari Tours: A Dive into Authentic Italian Experiences
EU airports bring back 100ml liquid rule
British Airways passengers endure 11-hour 'flight to nowhere'
CLIA: Anti-cruise demos could cause itinerary changes in Europe
Co-pilot faints, easyJet flight issues ‘red alert’
Gatwick braces for strike