CLIA to Conduct Global Cruise Safety Review across All Lines

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), in response to the Costa Concordia incident and as part of the industry’s continuous efforts to review and improve safety measures, said it is launching a Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review.

CLIA said the review will include a comprehensive assessment of the critical human factors and operational aspects of maritime safety. As best practices are identified, according to CLIA, they will be shared among CLIA members and any appropriate recommendations will be shared with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which sets worldwide safety standards.

Key components of the review will include: An internal review by CLIA cruise line members of their own operational safety practices and procedures concerning issues of navigation, evacuation, emergency training, and related practices and procedures; consultation with independent external experts; identification and sharing of industry best practices and policies, as well as possible recommendations to the IMO for substantive regulatory changes to further improve the industry’s operational safety; collaboration with the IMO, governments and regulatory bodies to implement any necessary regulatory changes.

CLIA said that while the cruise industry has an outstanding safety record, it is fully committed to understanding the factors that contributed to the Costa Concordia incident and is proactively responding to all maritime safety issues. CLIA said the Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review will enable the industry to do so in a meaningful and expedited manner. CLIA's review comes after the organization called on the IMO to conduct a full review of the Concordia disaster.