A cruise ship safety review announced in the wake of the Costa Concordia disaster has been welcomed by the Passenger Shipping Association.
The industry-wide operational safety initiative has been ordered by the US-based Cruise Lines International Association.
It will include a “comprehensive assessment of the critical human factors and operational aspects of maritime safety”.
The association said: “As best practices are identified, they will be shared among CLIA members and any appropriate recommendations will be shared with the International Maritime Organisation. Recommendations will be made on an ongoing basis.
“While the cruise industry has an outstanding safety record, CLIA is fully committed to understanding the factors that contributed to the Concordia incident and is proactively responding to all maritime safety issues.
“The cruise industry operational safety review will enable the industry to do so in a meaningful and expedited manner.”
Aspects to be covered include an internal review by CLIA members of their own operational safety practices and procedures concerning issues of navigation, evacuation, emergency training, and related practices and procedures.
There will be consultation with independent external experts, identification and sharing of industry best practices and policies and collaboration with the IMO, governments and regulatory bodies to implement any necessary regulatory changes.
The PSA said it was “fully committed “ to working with the European Cruise Council and CLIA to work with the IMO, governments and regulators, including Parliament and the European Commission, to implement any necessary regulatory changes.