Lifeboat Drill for Training

Updated Policy Life Boat Loading for Training Purposes

On behalf of the global cruise industry, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the European Cruise Council (ECC) announced that the cruise industry has adopted an additional safety policy. This policy, which exceeds current international regulatory requirements, addresses issues related to the loading of lifeboats by crewmembers for training purposes. It is an outcome of the Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review, which was launched in January 2012 following the Costa Concordia accident.

Life Boat Loading for Training Purposes Policy

• full loading of a lifeboat at least once every six months for crew training purposes
• the lifeboat must be filled to capacity with crew members
• maneuvered in the water to facilitate familiarization with lifeboat operations
• mandatory attendance for all crew members involved in operating or loading of lifeboats 

The new policy is for all oceangoing members of CLIA and ECC, and is effective immediately. Smaller ships with less than 300 crew members will conduct similar training as appropriate.

“The cruise industry continues to work on a global level to improve the safety of passengers and crew, which is our number one priority,” said Christine Duffy, president and CEO of CLIA.

“Since January of this year, and in keeping with our efforts to continuously improve operational excellence, the global cruise industry has voluntarily adopted seven wide-ranging safety policies. We remain fully committed to exploring further enhancements in a number of areas that will add to the industry’s excellent safety record.”

Commenting on the new policy Manfredi Lefebvre, ECC Chairman said:

“The Cruise industry’s Operational Safety Review demonstrates our on-going determination to ensure that cruise ships remain the safest vacation option and the safest part of the shipping industry. This policy, like all the policies that have already been developed by the Operational Safety Review, exceeds current international regulatory requirements and has been externally verified by world renowned independent experts.”

He added: “Our industry is committed to improving our safety performance in the short, the medium and the long term I believe our approach supports the goal of European Commission of re-launching their ‘Quality Shipping Campaign’ as set out in its Maritime Policy 2009-2018.”

Related Posts & Information:

Cruise Industry Adopts New Muster Policy  

Carnival Corp Taking Steps to Address Safety Concerns
Cruise Industry Safety Standards Changes

Life Boat Loading for Training Purposes policy (full version)
All CLIA Cruise Industry Policies

Two New Safety Policies Announced

GLOBAL CRUISE INDUSTRY ANNOUNCES TWO NEW SAFETY POLICIES Latest Safety Measures Reflect Ongoing Commitment to Continuous Improvement

On behalf of the global cruise industry, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the European Cruise Council (ECC) announced that the cruise industry has adopted two new safety policies. These new policies were adopted in the wake of the Costa Concordia disaster in January of this year.

The policies address issues related to the recording of passenger nationality and the common elements of musters and emergency instructions, result from the Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review launched in January 2012.

Passenger Nationality

The Nationality of Passengers policy was developed in response to the request of governments at the May meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee meeting.  This policy prescribes that the nationality of each passenger onboard is to be recorded and made readily available to search and rescue personnel as appropriate.

Muster Drill 

The 12 common elements mandated by the Common Elements of Musters and Emergency Instructions policy are:

• When and how to don a lifejacket
  
• Description of emergency signals and appropriate responses in the event of an emergency
  
• Location of lifejackets
  
• Where to muster when the emergency signal is sounded
  
• Method of accounting for passenger attendance at musters both for training and in the event of an actual emergency
  
• How information will be provided in an emergency
  
• What to expect if the Captain orders an evacuation of the ship
  
• What additional safety information is available
  
• Instructions on whether passengers should return to cabins prior to mustering, including specifics regarding medication, clothing and lifejackets
  
• Description of key safety systems and features
  
• Emergency routing systems and recognizing emergency exits
  
• Who to seek out for additional information

References for Further Reading:

A full version of the Nationality of Passengers policy 

The Common Elements of Musters and Emergency Instructions policy 

All CLIA policies

 Blog Posts:

Cruise Industry Safety Standards Changes

Cruise Industry Adopts New Muster Policy

Carnival Corp Taking Steps to Address Safety Concerns 

Cruise Industry Safety Standards Changes

Concordia Disaster

Brings More Changes

In the wake of the Costa Concordia accident, the cruise industry has examined the current safety standards and made modifications.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and European Cruise Council (ECC), have jointly announced new recommendations.  The new policies address issues related to personnel access to the bridge, passage planning and life jackets - all of which came under scrutiny during the Costa Concordia investigation.

Bridge Access

The new policy announced by CLIA states "bridge access will now be limited to those with operational functions during any period of restricted maneuvering or when increased vigilance is required." 

The period for increased vigilance is defined  as "any time a vessel is constrained in its ability to freely navigate, such as in a restricted waterway/channel, entering a port, or an area where there is an unusually high volume or compression of vessel traffic." 

The policy changes will most likely impact bridge tours, which are often part of "behind-the-scenes" activities offered to certain passengers, such as those with higher loyalty status with the cruise line.

Passage Planning

Voyage plans have always been a requirement under the International Maritime Organization's SOLAS conventions, however consistency and level of detail in the plans was previously not detailed in the formal polices.  The new language, adopted by CLIA and ECC, explicitly requires for the plan to be "drafted by a designated officer and approved by the master" well in advance of the sailing,  Recall that the master of Costa Concordia claims that he was authorized to do the "sail by salute".

Life Jackets 

The change in life jacket policy calls for ships to carry more life jackets than are currently legally required.   SOLAS currently dictates that ships carry life jackets for every berth, which may be higher than the number of persons onboard, plus five percent. In practice, the majority of cruise ships carry many more life jackets than is required, but the new policy will raise the official mandatory minimum. 


Some Concordia passengers indicated that they had to return to the cabins in the dark in order to retrieve their life jackets.   The new limits will mean the muster stations will be required to increase the quantities available for passengers unable to return to their cabins in an emergency to retrieve their life jackets.

Related Posts:

Cruise Industry Adopts New Muster Policy  

Carnival Corp Taking Steps to Address Safety Concerns