Carnival Corporation has
ordered a full safety audit
across its nine brands, while
other companies have made
immediate changes.
THE parent company of Costa Cruises,
Carnival Corporation, has announced a
comprehensive review of all safety and
emergency procedures across its brands, also
including P&O, Princess, Seabourn, Cunard,
Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Lines.
In a prepared statement, Carnival Chairman
and CEO Micky Arison conceded that the
capsizing of Costa Concordia “has called into
question” the company’s safety and
emergency response procedures.
“While I have every confidence in the safety
of our vessels and the professionalism of our
crews, this review will evaluate all practices
and procedures to make sure that this kind of
accident doesn’t happen again,” he said.
The review and audit will be conducted by
two groups: an internal team of executives
representing each of Carnival’s cruise lines, as
well as external industry experts.
The in-house review will be led by James
Hunn, a retired US Navy Captain and currently
the company’s Senior Vice President of
maritime policy and compliance.
Hunn and senior health and safety managers
will examine all safety and emergency
response policies and procedures, officer and
crew training and evaluation, bridge
management and company-wide response and
support efforts.
Carnival is also contracting independent
experts in the fields of emergency response
organisation, training and implementation to
conduct a separate audit and a thorough
analysis of the Costa Concordia accident.
MEANWHILE, Oceania Cruises and Regent
Seven Seas Cruises have announced that all
ships will now hold muster drills on the day of
a cruise’s departure.
“On just a handful of occasions the drill is
held the following morning, primarily to
accommodate late-arriving guests,” said Robin
Lindsay, Executive Vice President of Vessel
Operations for Prestige Cruise Holdings, parent
company of the two luxury lines.
“However, in light of the recent tragic event,
Oceania and Regent have adopted a new
policy that requires all muster drills to take
place on day of departure.”
This change for Prestige Cruise Holdings is
effective immediately, Lindsay said.
The United Nations-backed International
Maritime Organization has also called for
industry-wide action, but it would likely take
several years before any new safety measures
that it introduced would take effect.
