Cruise Industry Introduces New Mandatory Pre-Departure Safety Drills Following Concordia Incident

After a review of effective safety measures prompted by the grounding of the Costa Concordia, cruise passengers will now be obligated to attend a pre-departure safety drill before leaving the port. The industry’s governing bodies including the Cruise Lines International Association, the European Cruise Council and the Passenger Shipping Association announced the new policy.

Officials state that the new formal policy has been designed to ensure that any mandatory meetings or briefings are conducted for the benefit of all passengers at the earliest practical opportunity. It will make sure that everyone onboard the ship is aware of the proper emergency procedures and the usage of lifeboats before setting sail. This initiative also exceeds current legal requirements, which only requires a muster drill to take place within 24 hours of embarkation. A muster drill is when passengers gather at assigned lifeboat stations where crewmembers outline what they should do in the event of an emergency and demonstrate how to put on life jackets.

Any passenger arriving after the assembly has finished must participate in individual or group safety briefings. The new policy is effective immediately.

A copy of the rules can be viewed here: http://www.cruising.org/regulatory/cruise-industry-policies