Cruise Shipping Miami 2015: New aspects of passenger ship operational safety concerns
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 19 March 2015 19 March 2015
At Cruise Shipping Miami 2015, a panel of experts discussed new aspects of safety at sea, security and environmental issues confronting the cruise industry. Alan Lam reports from Miami.
Since the Costa Concordia accident, various safety-related rules and regulations have been tightened up and better implemented. While IMO seemed to be doing a good deal in introducing new rules, it was clear, from the cruise line’s perspective, the organisation was merely catching up with what cruise lines were already doing.
“What IMO is doing is not a novel idea,” said Bud Darr, SVP, Technical and Regulatory Affairs, CLIA. “The Concordia accident merely brought the issue to fore. We are not going to wait for the regulators to tell us how to operate ships safely. The industry is ahead of the regulatory bodies. Safety features are already built into the ships.”
The panel also highlighted the fact that cruise ships and ferries operated under different safety standards. Cruise ship operators have a more uniformed and generally much higher standard of safety, while ferry operators, especially on domestic routes, were often only subject to national safety requirements, which could be varied in standards.
With the Far East now representing 6% of the global cruise market and continues to grow rapidly, the passenger shipping safety issue in that part of the world was brought under focus. The panel agreed that the industry ought to ensure the safety standard in the Far East matched those of Europe and North America. Andrew Winbow, Assistant Secretary-General & Director, Maritime Safety Division, IMO, suggested that the developed countries should help the underdeveloped ones improving their safety practices, especially in terms of ferry operations,
As the expeditions segment of cruise business expands, cruise ship operational safety and environmental issues in Polar Regions become more pressing. Andrew Winbow confirmed that the Polar Code would enter into force in January 2017, as an extension of the existing SOLAS and MARPOL. The Code will contain both mandatory items and guidelines. “Concern for the environment underlines the Polar Code,” he said. “Global warming is opening up more of the Polar Regions for cruising. Polar Code will become more relevant.”
Cyber threat is another major new safety and security issue of cruise ship operations. Andrew Winbow told the audiance that two documents relating to this subject had been submitted by governments to his organisation and the IMO was already looking at the issue, assessing what could happen in the event of a breach and how to respond to it.
“Equipment on board has a lot of embedded software,” said Philippe Donche-Gay, Chairman, IACS & EVP, Marine & Offshore Division, Bureau Veritas. “We are looking at the safety aspects. You have to be very careful in segregating the networks. It is a very serious issue.”
Cruise ships usually use hardware that is more than five years old. It is therefore important to have the software regularly serviced. And this process itself requires security controls, as access to the ship’s system by an outside technician represents a security risk.
Passenger ship operational safety and security development is an ongoing process that also encompasses shore-side security measures.
UPDATE 3: Cruise passengers main victims of Tunis terrorist attacks
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 18 March 2015 18 March 2015
UPDATE 3: Costa Crociere confirms three of passengers murdered among touristsby terrorists in Tunis yesterday. Nine passngers of MSC Cruises had been confirmed to be among the dead already earlier.
Statement by Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Group: "With great sadness we regret to report that 3 passengers of the Costa Fascinosa are amongst the victims of this barbaric and horrific terror attack in Tunis, and further 8 guests are injured. In addition 2 remain unaccounted for. We strongly condemn the attack on democratic Tunisia. Our deepest sympathy and our condolences go to the victims and their families. We share their sorrow.
Our team in Tunis is currently taking care of the companions of the victims and the 8 guests who are being treated in hospitals. A further Costa management team is supporting our crew and our guests on board. In the meantime, Costa Fascinosa has left Tunisia and is currently at sea.
We are in constant contact with the Italian Government and the security authorities of Tunisia as well as of other countries. We would like to thank the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and his structure for their co-operation".
UPDATE 2: Thirteen passengers of Costa Crociere’s Costa Fascinosa are missing and nine are dead from MSC Cruises’ MSC Splendida in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Tunis on Wednesday, which has claimed at least 23 lives, including the perpetrators.
“Based on the communication made by officials authorities, MSC Cruises, its ownership and entire management team report with profound sadness that at the time of this announcement nine of its guests are reported to have lost their lives, 12 were injured, and six (two Spanish nationals, one Belgian, one British, one French and one Japanese) are still unaccounted for in conjunction with the tragic event at the Bardo Museum. However, these numbers are still subject to modification whilst official identification is on-going,” MSC Cruises said in a statement.
“According to sources it would appear that of the victims, three were of Japanese nationality, two French, two Spanish and two were Colombian. The wounded, of which three Japanese nationals, one South African, one Belgian and seven French, are currently being treated in various hospitals. All of them are being assisted in person by members of the MSC Cruises Crisis Team that was immediately sent to Tunis to provide on the ground support,” the company said.
Meanwhile Costa Crociere said in a statement that Costa Fascinosa had sailed from Tunis at 0155 am today, at which time 13 passengers of the vessel had failed to return on board. A 12 member care team remains on the scene in Tunis, it added.
UPDATE 1: Costa Crociere has issued the following statement:
"Further to this morning attack in Tunis, Costa Crociere confirms that some of its guests had booked a Shore Excursion in the City. Upon being notified the Ship’s Command have immediately recalled all excursions to return on board. The company is in close contact with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Local Security Authorities, the Captain of Costa Fascinosa and our local Port Agent for a continuous assessment of the situation on site and its evolution so to collect updated information from the Authorities. 3161 Guests were on board this cruise. The departure of the ship from Tunis which is scheduled for tonight at 8pm will most probably be delayed. Costa HQ management and Care Team are travelling to Tunis to reach the ship tonight in order to liaise with the local Authorities and passengers on board. Extra security measures are taken by local security Authorities around the port to ensure the security of ship, its passengers and the crew."
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Forty passengers of Costa Crociere, the Genoa based contemporary market unit of Carnival Corp & plc, were at the Bardo museum in Tunis at the time of a terrorist attack this afternoon, a media report in London said.
"Then there were no gunshots outside, then we heard of things outside. We were all inside sitting on the floor in the room. We could hear Allahu Akbar and lots of firing. There are around 40 French tourists with Costa Cruises. People are shooting outside. Earlier there were shots in the museum, now it’s outside.” the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on its website, citing rench media. Seventeen people are reported to have been killed at the attack, including two terrorists shot by the security services.
Two cruise liners are docked at La Goulette, the port of the capital Tunis this afternoon. These are Costa Fascinosa of Costa Crociere and MSC Splendida of MSC Cruises, according to data retrieved from marinetraffic.com
European cruise market growth rate dived to 0.5% in 2014
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 18 March 2015 18 March 2015
The rate of expansion of the European cruise market dived to 0.5% in 2014 from 4.0% in the previous year, figures from the Cruise Lines' International Association (CLIA) show.
Talking about the 0.5% growth rate for 2014, Pierfrancesco Vago, Chairman of CLIA Europe, said in a statement: “This may sound like a small achievement, but if we consider the European economic climate, we can see that this is an extraordinary result, and continues our industry’s trend of steady growth year-on-year. While Europe is struggling to recover from the economic crisis, our industry has continued to grow. We have grown by an incredible 44% since 2008.”
The British market contracted for the first time in more than a decade last year - despite a good performance of the British economy - while Spain and Italy also showed contraction. German and French source markets expanded - by 5% and 13.7%, respectively.
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