Just How Safe is Sea Travel?
For reluctant cruisers, one of the main worries is just how safe is an ocean cruise?
Most of us will recall hearing of two infamous shipwrecks - the Titanic in 1912 (and the subject of a blockbuster movie in 1998); and the Costa Concordia in 2012 coincidentally precisely 100 years apart. Both sadly had significant fatalities (Titanic a staggering 1517, and the Costa Concordia 32). but their legacy was to review and revise maritime practices to ensure such tragedies wouldn’t happen again.
Lifeboats
The Titanic, had only 20 lifeboats that could accommodate 1,178 people, despite the fact that there were approximately 2,208 on board and this was the major contributing factor to the huge loss of life. As a result, in 1914 the Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS) Treaty was created (although not adopted till later due to outbreak of war), which decreed that ships had to have sufficient lifeboat places for all on board. Passenger ships now have to carry enough for 125% of passengers and crew. Over the years further amendments to the convention have been made, such as a requirement for all lifeboats to be partially or fully enclosed and to have an engine. To reassure yourself onboard, checkout the lifeboat deck and count up the available seats.
Musters and Crew Training
In response to the Costa Concordia disaster new legislation was passed that required musters of newly embarked passengers prior to, or immediately upon departure, instead of “within 24 hours” as it had been previously. I can’t stress enough the importance of the Muster - even if you’ve cruised many times before, on many different ships. Every ship is different, muster stations are in different locations dependent upon your cabin so it is vital to attend (roll call is done anyway) and to pay attention (I recently attended muster on Celebrity Reflection, and the gentleman next to me snored his way through the whole thing).
In addition to passenger musters, crew members attend frequent emergency drills, lifeboat equipment is regularly tested, and fire-detecting devices, systems and alarms are checked, and simulated fires are set for training purposes
Fire Safety
Other safety measures that have become part of Maritime Law include a requirement that all cruise ships (since 1987) must have all stairways enclosed in self-contained "fire zones". Smoke detectors and smoke alarms must be fitted in all passenger cabins and all public spaces; there must be low-level lighting to show routes of escape (such as in corridors and stairways); all fire doors throughout the ship have to be controllable from the ship’s navigation bridge, with audible emergency alarms in all cabins. SOLAS regulations, introduced in 2010, also prohibit the use of combustible materials in new cruise ships - so no plastic balcony furniture for example.
Since 2002, ocean-going cruise ships on international voyages also have to carry voyage data recorders (similar to the black boxes carried by aircraft).
Icebergs
Another legacy of the Titanic disaster is the International Ice Patrol, which was established to monitor north Atlantic icebergs that may pose a threat to transatlantic sea traffic. Thankfully, this is still in existence today.
Statistics
Previously, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), said that from 2005 to 2011 - (the most recent figures I could find) -only 16 people died in cruise accidents, out of 100 million passengers, putting the odds of death over that period at one in 6.25 million.
CLIA recently stated: “A cruise holiday is one of the safest forms of travel, and the safety of passengers and crew is the top priority of cruise lines. Cruise ships today are the safest that ever sailed, due to the stringent rules and regulations that govern their design, and technological innovations that make cruise ships leaders in operational stewardship.
The cruise industry has a long history of ongoing review and improvement. The comfort and care of passengers is always at the forefront of our efforts, and CLIA, on behalf of its members, will continue to advance best practices and policies for the safety of every guest.
The average ship undergoes dozens of announced and unannounced safety inspections per year, involving hundreds of man hours and covering thousands of specific requirements set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and flag nations around the world, including the U.S. for ships that embark or disembark there.
Cruise ships are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions at sea, and, whenever possible, seek to avoid bad weather.
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), which provides comprehensive regulations and standards on safety equipment and procedures for ships, mandates a safety drill for embarking passengers immediately before, or immediately after, departure from port. These drills help ensure that passengers are familiar with appropriate safety procedures and protocols.”
Viking Sky cruising similar route in better weather. Photo courtesy of Viking Cruise Lines.
In conclusion, sea travel continues to be one of the safest modes of transport and you can book your next voyage with complete complete confidence and embark on a holiday of a lifetime.