New Policy Requires Cruise Passengers to Complete Safety Drill Before Leaving Port
February 10, 2012 - The reported chaos that ensued during the emergency evacuation of the Costa Concordia on January 13 has led to a new policy that was announced today by the global cruise line industry. One of the several factors that allegedly led to that chaos aboard the Concordia was the fact that the scheduled muster drill to familiarize the passengers with emergency evacuation proceedings was not planned for the day of departure. Instead it was scheduled for the following morning, the morning after the Concordia capsized, leaving a lot of passengers without critical information about safety gear or evacuation procedures as they attempted to escape from the sinking ship that evening.
To ensure that passengers are informed about safety measures and emergency procedures before they even set sail, three cruise industry associations have joined forces to incorporate a new muster policy, effective immediately. The old policy required a muster drill within the first 24 hours aboard. The new requirements call for all embarking passengers to participate in a safety drill before leaving port. Any passengers who arrive on the ship after the safety drill has been completed will promptly be provided with safety briefings that meet the requirements of the international convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). It is expected that these briefings will either slightly delay departures or require earlier passenger boarding in order for the safety drills to be completed.
In his popular book, Unsafe on the High Seas, Maritime Attorney Charles Lipcon provides additional need-to-know safety information to help passengers prepare in advance for their cruise. In Chapter 7, for example, Lipcon reviews a variety of safety precautions cruise line passengers content should take, including tips about what to pay attention to during a muster drill, what to look for in the event of a fire, and how to prepare yourself and your family for the unexpected while you are at sea. Unsafe on the High Seas is now available as an eBook, making it an ideal reference for cruise ship passengers.
