SAFETY AT SEA: Mandatory muster of Passengers prior to departure

This anticipated regulatory change would be incorporated in SOLAS, which provides comprehensive mandate on safety equipment and procedures for ships. The global cruise industry had already announced these measures with immediate effect on February 9, 2012, as part of the Global Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review, which was launched in January.

Additionally, the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) incorporated three other policies from the Global Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review during its meetings in London, held on November 26-30. The three policies address the loading of lifeboats by crew members for training purposes, the recording of passenger nationality and the common elements of musters and emergency instructions, according to a press release. They are now included in IMO guidance specific to Passenger Ship Safety and have been implemented via industry-wide policies.

"The global cruise industry appreciates and shares the unyielding commitment of the IMO, its Secretary-General, the Maritime Safety Committee and the 170 IMO member States around the world to continuously enhance the safety of passengers and crew - our industry's number one priority," said Christine Duffy, President and CEO of CLIA.

"Ongoing innovation in safety has been a hallmark of the cruise industry for decades. We remain fully committed as an industry to building on our rich heritage of leadership in improvement of shipboard operations and safety," he added.