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ACE COLUMN


navigation equipment, shipboard safety management systems, life saving equipment and safe return to port standards. Lessons will be learned and implemented. Following the incident, ACE,


together with our colleagues within the Passenger Shipping Association, sought to reassure both travel agents and the public through various media channels and communications continue with ACE travel agent members – which we hope that you the passenger received.


Safety is still the number one priority


Association of Cruise Experts’ Andy Harmer looks at what lessons can be learnt from the Costa Concordia tragedy – and ahead to this year’s big ship launches


E


veryone at the Association of Cruise Experts, together with our partners and friends from all areas of


the cruise sector, has been touched by the tragic Costa Concordia incident. Our thoughts have been with those affected and our thanks go to the people who worked tirelessly to help minimise casualties. I think it’s important to


remember, however, that cruising is one of the safest holidays, and incidents such as this are extremely rare. While even one death is one too many, over the last 10 years more than 153 million people have enjoyed a cruise holiday – with just six passenger and 22 crew deaths related to marine incidents – that’s 0.13 fatalities per million.


CRUISE-INTERNATIONAL.COM As a direct result of the incident,


the cruise industry has already put in place a number of new safety measures. A new policy has been introduced which requires embarking passengers to undertake a muster drill prior to departure from port. If a passenger arrives late, cruise lines will promptly provide an individual or group safety briefing. An Operational Safety Review has also been introduced which includes a comprehensive assessment of the critical human factors and operational aspects of maritime safety. The sector is highly regulated and


is constantly reviewing and improving safety standards, including introducing new laws to improve


Ship launches The industry is a resilient one – as are passengers. The number of cruise holidays taken by British passengers continues to grow every year with 1.73 million UK passengers predicted to take a cruise in 2012. Hand in hand with ongoing


improvements in safety, cruise lines are also investing in new ships and I am fortunate enough to have received an invitation to the first new ship launch of 2012 – Disney Fantasy in New York – which I am very much looking forward to. Disney Fantasy is the first of a


Over the last 10 years more than 153m people have enjoyed a cruise


number of high-profile ship launches taking place this year including Oceania’s Riviera, Carnival's Breeze, MSC Cruises’ Splendida and Celebrity Cruises’ Reflection. I have no doubt that the great variety, excellent value and


wonderful destinations offered by a cruise holiday will continue to appeal. There are some great offers available at the moment so visit one of our ACE agents to discover just which cruise holiday is right for you.


›› To find your nearest ACE agent visit discovercruises.co.uk


APRIL/MAY 2012 | 97


PHOTO: DISNEY CRUISE LINES/STEVE DUNLOP


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