Some observers suggest that the Costa Concordia accident will be an impetus to overhaul cruise ship standards and safety regulations.
One issue is the sheer size of cruise boats.
International standards set out by the IMO require that all passengers and crew evacuate a ship within 30 minutes in the case of an emergency, says Palmiotti. But on a boat like the Costa Concordia with 4,000 passengers and likely a 1,500-person crew, the 30-minute rule is one example of an out-of-date regulation.
"Ships have been getting bigger faster than our ability to keep up,” he argues.
“To have the perfect evacuation, everyone has to do exactly what is expected of them,” Palmiotti adds. “Which is hard to do when a vessel is heeled over. In essence, you can’t be having an emergency to evacuate safely [in that time frame].”
Another rule that may come under scrutiny is the 24-hour window allotted by the IMO for drilling passengers in boat safety and evacuation protocols. The most dangerous night on a cruise ship is the first night out, says Palmiotti. He notes that Concordia planned to conduct its safety drill the next morning – something that was within the legal time frame.
But, he says, “you have 4,000 people new to the ship. They don’t know where they’re going or how to get anywhere. Regulations like this seem to be reactive, not proactive.”
Part of the need to update regulations, Palmiotti says, is driven by the fact that they are not just vehicles for moving from Point A to Point B, implying additional duties and priorities for staff. “Many people don’t see [cruise boats] as ships but hotels and entertainment centers.”
The shipmaster’s duties are thus quite different from those of a cargo boat captain. “What they’re selling is this experience … of showing up in different places every day. It’s now about entertainment” on top of standard navigational and safety duties, Palmiotti says.
Part of Captain Schettino’s job, particularly on the first night out of port, likely involved dining and visiting with passengers, says Palmiotti. “So much of [being] the cruise ship captain is being a part of the show,” he says.
