Cruise Ship Safety and Security, How it Relates to You! 12/8/2007 1:17:44 PM Link Introduction
Fact, North America Cruise Lines have maintained the best safety
record in the travel industry. Cruise Lines International
Association states that approximately 51 million people have
cruised at least once.
Cruise ship safety can also relate to simply being smart while
traveling. In light of recent heightened media coverage on cruise
ship safety and security, I wanted to provide you with information
so that if you do hear concerns regarding safety and security, you
can understand cruise safety and security confidently.
Cruise ships are like small cities, some carrying thousands of
passengers, and while most of them are probably just out for a good
time as you are, it only takes one bad apple to ruin your trip.
Here are some practical cruise safety tips to help you ensure a
safe, enjoyable and memorable cruise.
Safety
In general, cruise ship safety is not that big of a problem.
Despite the fact that cruise ship safety is good, you should still
take precautions to protect yourself, your family, and your
belongings. Many individuals believe that cruise ship safety
should begin once they board the ship; however, it should begin
well in advance. The highest priority of the cruise industry is the
safety and security of its passengers and crew. Ship board fire
safety continues to be a primary concern.
Cruise ship executives say crime victims are only a tiny fraction
of the millions of people who board cruise ships in the United
States each year. Other safety issues on a cruise relate directly
to food and alcohol consumption on-board the cruise ship and when
stopping at ports. Safety concerns aboard cruise ships have
recently escalated to Congress, where cruise ship victims are
calling for the government to force the industry to tighten their
security measures.
You should take all the precautions on a cruise ship that you would
in any urban environment. Important improvements for passenger
safety (some obvious, some not so obvious) are constantly
occurring. One should also understand that if a cruise ship embarks
or disembarks passengers in a US port, that vessel, it's passengers
and its crew, are subject to both rigid safety standards and
Federal Criminal Statutes, regardless of wherever they may be
flagged (and regardless of what you may have read or heard
elsewhere).
In the case of heavy weather, large passenger ships
will often temporarily restrict passenger access to outside exposed
deck areas until the weather clears.
Ships
Cruise lines employ security experts and advisor's that train
on-board personnel in security procedures. Sexual assault is the
most common crime committed on cruise ships. Ships are subject to
unannounced inspections by CDC officials, concentrating on fresh
and drinking water, spa and pool systems, food storage, preparation
and service areas, general hygiene, and waste management equipment
and facilities. Ships are also periodically rated through the
CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) and must meet industry
standards.
Cruise operators: Say the level of serious crime is lower than it
is on land and that their ships are guarded by experienced security
staffs with training in criminal investigation.
Safety Equipment
The average cruise ship has more than 4,000 smoke detectors; more
than 500 fire extinguishers; more than 6 miles of fire fighting
hose; 5,000 sprinkler heads, and 400 fire stations or hydrants
In addition, the average cruise ship has more than 170 fully
trained fire-fighting personnel, and many with advanced
firefighting training.
Ships are designed so that the normal person would have to work
very hard to be injured. Ships have "safety officers" in uniform to
make sure protocol is followed. Safety experts are primarily
concerned with three issues: fire protection, particularly in the
big atrium's of new cruise ships, the ability of crew members in
charge of safety to give instructions in a language that passengers
understand, and the aging of the world fleet of cruise ships.
In fact, the Coast Guard gives four inspections a year to ships
that dock in the United States, but when the vessel is registered
in another country, the Coast Guard only makes sure that the ship
provides whatever is required by international Safety of Life at
Sea regulations, such as: twice as many lifeboat seats as potential
passengers, and life jackets for 125 percent of capacity, and that
the equipment is in good condition.
All vessels are subject to the rules established under the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, which are
upheld through inspections and drills authorized by the countries
that register the ships and the countries where ships call, the
"port states".
Heat and smoke detection systems presently on board passenger ships
sound an alarm on the navigation bridge or the central control
station, whereupon control center personnel activate the general
alarm.
Security
On-board Security on a cruise ship is comparable to a secure
building with a 24-hour security guard. Heightened security
measures are standard for cruise ships today and include passenger
screening procedures similar to those found in the U.S. Each
cruise ship has a dedicated security officer and staff whose sole
function is the security of its passengers and crew.
Safety Tips
Your first step to a safe cruise is to put down your rum punch and
LISTEN to the instructions. Good common sense tips for a cruise
ship include not walking down dark hallways, walking away from
disagreements or fights, not inviting someone into your room that
you don't know, and not giving out your personal information to
strangers.
If traveling with young children be sure to make them aware of the
importance of not running on a cruise ship in order to increase
cruise ship safety.
If you're planning a cruise vacation, remember that you can
minimize your risk of catching Norwalk virus and other contagious
illnesses on-board the ship by using handy wipes. In all
seriousness, many people fall from cruise ships because they're
trying to climb on a railing (such as to get from one balcony to
another), which is not a wise decision.
Conclusion
Cruises are generally safe and offer an appealing form of vacation
for many--from families to singles to the retired. According to FBI
statistics, cruise ships are safer than virtually anywhere in the
U.S. even most home towns. A simple road trip in the U.S. carriers
greater risks. Your risk is hundreds or thousands of times greater
of death or injury due to a car accident than taking a cruise
vacation.
The fact is that cruise ship accidents are few and far between.
Most may involve excess alcohol consumption or neglect of common
sense safety precautions.
Next, What You Need to Know About Cruise Ship Sanitation
The Captain
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