Face the Music
COSTA CONCORDIA FORCES THE CRUISE INDUSTRY TO
TAKE ONE HARD LOOK IN THE MIRROR
April 14th 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the
Titanic – creating a dark and powerful backdrop for the Costa Concordia
tragedy. The story is known to all: on January 13, 2012, Costa Cruises’
vessel, the Costa Concordia, struck rock off the coast of Tuscany, Italy after
departing from Civitavecchia, on a seven-day voyage with approximately
3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members. In the aftermath of the
ensuing chaos, the yet-to-be-confirmed death toll stands at 32.
A
s a response to the Concordia in-
Furthermore, collaboration with the
cident and as part of the industry’s
IMO, governments and regulatory bodies
continuous efforts to review and improve
will be intensified to implement any nec-
safety measures, the Cruise Lines Interna-
essary regulatory changes.
cidents and are ready to do their part in
order to make the seas safe.
Even before the CLIA announcement,
Carnival Corporation & plc, parent compa-
tional Association, Inc. (CLIA) wasted little
While the cruise industry has an out-
ny of Costa Cruises and nine leading cruise
time to announce the launch of a Cruise
standing safety record, CLIA says that it is
lines around the world, had announced
Industry Operational Safety Review.
fully committed to understanding the fac-
a comprehensive audit and review of all
The Review will include a compre-
tors that contributed to the Concordia in-
safety and emergency response proce-
hensive assessment of the critical human
cident and is proactively responding to all
dures across all of the company’s cruise
factors and operational aspects of mari-
maritime safety issues. The Cruise Indus-
lines.
time safety. As best practices are identified,
try Operational Safety Review will enable
Carnival Corporation maintains that
they will be shared among CLIA members
the industry to do so in a meaningful and
it has an excellent safety record over the
and any appropriate recommendations will
expedited manner.
years, but the tragedy has called into question the company’s safety and emergency
be shared with the IMO. RecommendaHOLD THE LINE
response procedures and practices. Micky
Speaking out at a London press conference
Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Cor-
CLEANING HOUSE
shortly after the tragedy, CLIA President
poration, has commented that this review
According to CLIA, key components of
and CEO Christine Duffy remarked that it
will evaluate all practices and procedures
the Review include an internal review by
is understandable that people have ques-
“to make sure that this kind of accident
CLIA members of their own operational
tions about how the cruise line industry is
doesn’t happen again.”
safety practices and procedures concern-
regulated. Still, she pointed out that safety
ing issues of navigation, evacuation, emer-
is the cruise industry’s number one priority.
tions will be made on an ongoing basis.
MAN ON A MISSION
gency training, and related practices and
“Per passenger, cruise liners are one
The review is being led by Captain James
procedures. Consultation with independ-
of the safest forms of recreation and mar-
Hunn, a retired U. ˈ