Is Cruising Really Safe?

Anyone who hasn't heard of the tragic events of the coast of Italy concerning the Costa cruise ship Concordia must be living in a cave. The cause of the accident is still under investigation and so we will reserve judgment as to where the blame for this terrible event lies. Our heart goes out to all those affected by the Costa Concordia tragedy this weekend - passengers, crew and their loved ones.

However, I do want to point out that the kind of tragic accident such as the one involving Costa's Concordia is rare. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, cruising is one of the safest modes of transportation and they are continually working to improve safety for its passengers.

So, as tragic as the Concordia accident is, we need to view it in its proper perspective. Last year nearly 20 million people worldwide enjoyed a wonderful and safe cruise experience. According to CLIA (Cruise Line International Association) more than 90 million people have enjoyed a cruise vacation since 1991. Couple this with the fact that on any given week nearly a half million people are sailing on one of the world’s 456 cruise ships.

According to the CLIA the cruise industry places the highest priority on the safety and security of its passengers and crew and has an excellent safety record. Cruise lines go to great length to ensure that both passengers and crew are safe. The last thing they want is for an accident like the one the Concordia experienced to occur.

The cruise industry complies with all International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards governing the operation of cruise vessels worldwide. These regulations are closely monitored by both flag and port states. These internationally mandated standards, treaties adopted by the United States government, govern the design, construction and operation of ocean-going vessels and are codified in the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention and its amendments. (Source: CLIA)

Other IMO safety standards which have been adopted internationally include: Convention on the Standards of Training; Certification and Watch keeping (STCW), which deals with crew training as it relates to safety; The International Convention in Load Lines; and the IMO's International Safety Management (ISM) Code, which relates to mandatory codes of practice. (Source: CLIA)

To ensure compliance all these rules the Coast Guard examines each new cruise vessel when it first enters service at a U.S. port. After that these vessels are subject to quarterly Coast Guard inspections. These examinations stress structural, fire safety and proper life-saving equipment. They also, observe the crew conduct fire and abandon ship drills. Close attention is given such key equipment as steering systems, fire pumps and bilge pumps.

The Coast Guard also closely examines the vessels and their operation for compliance with both international and U.S. environmental laws and regulations and has the authority to require correction of any deficiencies before allowing a ship to take on passengers at any U.S. port.

It should also be noted that the Center for Disease Control conducts regular inspections of all cruise ships that visit U.S. ports.

Our travel business is largely sustained by repeat clients and so we too have as a high priority our client’s safety (not to mention our own when we cruise). We want to be sure our cruise clients experience a safe and satisfying cruise experience and that everything about their cruise goes off without a hitch. We strongly advise our clients to heed all passenger preparedness drills in the event of an emergency.