Yesterday’s scary cruise ship video provoked quite a bit of interest, both in terms of our posting and also on the web at large. A few interesting follow-on links and stories have surfaced in the last day, which give added dimension to the story, particularly from a risk management perspective.
The 58-page Pacific Sun investigation report (PDF) adds more details about the event itself and the aftermath. It states that 69 passengers and 8 crew were injured, with 7 injuries considered major. Most injuries were the result of falls and contact with unsecured furnishings. Part of yesterday’s video footage was filmed in the Outback Bar and Grill, where the highest number of injuries occurred – involving at least 13 passengers and crew.
Some of the report highlights include:
- Photos – pages 9, 12, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23-4 and 25
- Safety issues directly contributing to the accidents – page 47
- Actions taken – page 49
- Recommendations – page 50
The report states:
“As a consequence of this accident, Princess Cruises has taken action to: supply its bridge teams with night vision glasses; improve deck officers’ training in the risks associated with heavy weather; and review the securing arrangements for its vessels’ satellite communications equipment.
Princess Cruises has been recommended to: review the role of active stabilisers in ensuring passenger safety; review the risk of injury from moving furnishings and objects, and develop suitable means of securing such items for heavy weather; develop a standard for securing furnishings and equipment in public spaces; and develop its heavy weather guidance and instructions to include actions to reduce the risk of injury to personnel.
MAIB has recommended that the Cruise Lines International Association and the Passenger Shipping Association develop a guide on industry best practice based on Princess Cruises’ standard for securing furnishings. The trade associations have also been recommended to promulgate the lessons learned from this accident to their members.”
For more reports on safety issues related to the cruise industry, Cruise Junkie makes for some fascinating reading. The site bills itself as “your resource for the other information about the cruise industry, including reports on accidents, health issues, illness outbreaks, sinkings, groundings, disabling events, and persons overboard reports. It includes events broken down by cruise line and by ship. The site presents information from passenger reports and events that have made it into the public domain.
