The IMO has stated that it is the appropriate body to lead the international debate on safety on passenger ships in the wake of the recent accident involving the cruise ship ‘Costa Concordia’.
‘Costa Concordia’ struck rocks off the island of Giglio, Western Italy, on January 13, listing onto her starboard side and grounding a short distance offshore. To date, 17 people have been confirmed dead, while a further 16 remain missing. The ship’s master, Captain Francesco Schettino, was later arrested on preliminary charges of manslaughter, failure to assist passengers and abandonment of ship.
Speaking at the opening of the Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG) yesterday, IMO secretary-general Koji Sekimizu stated that IMO is the right international body to deal with safety of passenger ships and, in particular, a safety review after the ‘Costa Concordia’ accident.
Sekimizu has included an additional item on “Passenger Ship Safety” on the agenda of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee, which meets for its 90th session in May. This will provide an opportunity for IMO members in the Maritime Safety Committee to consider any issues arising. The secretary-general welcomed any initiatives by member governments and the industry to improve safety and encouraged them to put forward their contributions to MSC 90.
The moves come against the background of a raft of safety measures already under review at the IMO, including work going on in several sub-committees to further improve safety measures for ships, including passenger ships. Amid heightened international interest in the safe operation of passenger ships, Sekimizu urged all IMO member states to ensure that their current national safety regulations and procedures are being implemented fully and effectively, including those aiming at ensuring safe operations on board.
Sekimizu said a channel of communication with passenger ship operators – through the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) – was opened immediately following the Costa Concordia accident. CLIA had responded positively to requests to hold meetings with Sekimizu to discuss the safety of passenger ships in general and, in particular, any findings and recommendations from its own internal review of current practices and safety procedures in the operation of passenger ships.
Sekimizu reiterated that he had urged the Italian authorities to carry out its investigation into the ‘Costa Concordia’ accident and to report its findings to the IMO as soon as possible. He expressed gratitude that the Italian authorities had agreed to his request for the IMO to be represented as an observer on the body overseeing the casualty investigation in order to monitor progress closely and remain abreast of emerging issues, as they arise. He pledged that the organisation would consider seriously the lessons to be learned and take action as appropriate in the light of those findings.