Post Costa Concordia Disaster, Cruise Lines Change Safety Drill Policies

Spurred by the deadly Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster, cruise lines belonging to three industry groups have announced new requirements for implementation of emergency muster drills for passengers before a cruise begins.

The policy was announced by the Cruise Lines International Association, the European Cruise Council, and the Passenger Shipping Association. Some of the biggest Cruise lines in the industry including Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Costa are members of the Cruise Lines International Association.

The new policy comes after the cruise industry was forced to reevaluate its safety standards post the Costa Concordia accident. The Costa Concordia ran aground on the 13th of January, and partially sank. Seventeen people have been confirmed dead in the tragedy, and many remain missing. The tragedy has been blamed on the decision by the captain to deviate from the ship’s original computer-programmed route.

Now, the three cruise industry organizations have pledged to conduct mandatory drills for passengers before the beginning of the cruise. Muster drills are conducted to inform passengers about the proper safety and evacuation procedures in case of an emergency. Under the new policy, if a passenger misses a drill, he must be immediately subjected to an individual or group safety briefing that meets the requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

The cruise ship injury lawyers at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers represent cruise ship crewmembers and passengers injured in maritime accidents across the globe.