NTSB Issues Five Safety Recommendations
On May 2nd 2008, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended action by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Cruise Lines International Association, Sperry Marine and SAM Electronics. All five safety recommendations referred to the July 18, 2006, heeling accident on the cruise vessel Crown Princess. According to the e-mail announcements released by the NTSB, "The Safety Board is vitally interested in the recommendation(s) because they are designed to prevent accidents and save lives." The five recommendations and links to NTSB correspondence are listed below:
http://www.ntsb.gov/recs/letters/2008/M08_1_2.pdf
•Safety Recommendation M-08-1 through M-08-2
2 May 2008: The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the U.S. Coast Guard take the following action: Propose to the International Maritime Organization that, in conjunction with the upcoming revisions to the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, it make training in integrated navigation systems and integrated bridge systems mandatory for watchkeepers on vessels equipped with such systems. (M-08-1) Propose to the International Maritime Organization that it mandate the recording on voyage data recorders of heel angles through the complete range of possible values. (M-08-2)
The complete recommendation letter is available on the Web at the URL indicated below:
•Safety Recommendation M-08-3 through M-08-4
The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the Cruise Lines International Association take the following action: Until the International Maritime Organization makes training in integrated navigation systems mandatory, recommend to your members that they voluntarily provide initial and recurrent training in integrated navigation system operation to crewmembers having watchkeeping responsibilities on vessels equipped with such systems, and include in that training a requirement for a demonstrated level of proficiency. (M-08-3)
Through your website, publications, and conferences, inform your members about the circumstances of this accident and urge them to incorporate into their safety management systems and training programs for officers in charge of the navigational watch (1) information about the effects on vessel performance of high-speed vessel operations in shallow water and (2) initial and recurrent training for emergency ship-handling scenarios based on the lessons learned from serious marine incidents and accidents. (M-08-4)
The complete recommendation letter is available on the Web at the URL indicated below:
www.ntsb.gov/recs/letters/2008/M08_3_4.pdf
•Safety Recommendation M-08-5
The NTSB recommends that Sperry Marine and SAM Electronics take the following action: Work with cruise lines and other vessel operators to develop a system that provides them with
critical information regarding errors or potential problems in the use of integrated navigation systems or integrated bridge systems and apply the lessons learned to system design and crew training. (M-08-5)
The complete recommendation letter is available on the Web at the URL indicated below:
www.ntsb.gov/recs/letters/2008/M08_5.pdf
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