Cruise Council Unanimously Adopts New Safety Policies

The 17-member cruise lines of the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) three new policies addressing onboard safety requirements and procedures. These policies were ratified unanimously at ICCL's biannual board of directors meeting in Miami on March 10.

The three policies include: identification of a helicopter pick-up area onboard each of the vessels, for use during a medical emergency (recommended but not required by U.S. or international law); provision and storage of additional lifejackets equivalent to the number of passengers in the cabins of the largest designated safety area onboard each ship (exceeds current U.S. and international law for the total number of lifejackets provided for passengers and crew); and provision of Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) specifically developed for infants (currently not addressed in either U.S. or international law).

"The cruise industry has always placed its highest priority on the safety of its passengers and crew,'' said John A. Bastek, ICCL acting president. "The adoption of these three policies by ICCL member lines represents a level of commitment to safety unmatched in the industry,'' he added.