Last night the cruise industry announced new emergency drill policies in wake of the Costa Concordia tragedy. All cruise ships will now carry out a mandatory muster drill prior to departure as agreed with the cruise industry's main bodies, the Cruise Lines International Association, European Cruise Council, and the Passenger Shipping Association.
The new muster policy has been voluntarily initiated by the associations’ members and is effective immediately — exceeding existing legal requirements by calling for the mandatory muster of all embarking passengers prior to departure from port. On rare occasions when passengers arrive after the muster has been completed, passengers will be promptly provided with individual or group safety briefings. The formal policy is designed to help ensure that any mandatory musters or briefings are conducted for the benefit of all newly embarked passengers at the earliest practical opportunity.
Muster drills are conducted onboard cruise ships to ensure all passengers know what to do in an emergency. The drill includes how to put on your lift jacket, where to go during an emergency and what procedures will be taking place. They are also ran so all the crew, whether new to cruising of life-time veterans, know where they are expected to be and what to do. Each individual crew member has a set role to play in the drill, whether it be directing passengers in stairwells and public spaces, supervising a davit station (the huge inflatable lift-rafts inside the large white pods), operating the davit or lifeboats cranes, or demonstrating how to put on your life jacket.
Muster drills are an important part of cruise safety and the decision from the cruise industry as a whole to comply with mandatory pre-departure drills is a positive move. Muster drills also come under the scrutiny of the local coast guard, from my own experience the US Coast Guard will expect ships to operate drill spot checks, to ensure ships are fully prepared for an emergency. This was a regular occurrence during my cruise season in Alaska — for obvious reasons.
There are more new safety initiatives expected over the coming months, as the industry as whole moves to make sure there is never a repeat of the Costa Concordia. Cruising may already be one of the safest modes of long distance transport, but improvements to safety will always be welcome.
Written by Stephen Adam
© Iglucruise