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The Cruise Lines International Association has moved to allay fears after a passenger spent ten hours in the water after falling overboard from Norwegian Star.
Kay Longstaff plunged into the sea from the cruise ship as it sailed to Venice from the port of Vargarola near Pula, Croatia, over the weekend.
The 46-year-old an air hostess from Cheltenham then spent ten hours floating at sea before being rescued by the Croatian coastguard.
In response, the organisation issued a statement arguing a cruise holiday is one of the “safest forms of travel”.
“Cruise ships today are the safest that ever sailed, thanks to the rules, regulations and technological innovations that govern their design,” explained Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland director.
“There are no known cases of someone acting responsibly who has accidentally fallen over the railing of a cruise ship.”
There have been reports Longstaff may have jumped from the ship following a row with her partner.
“Safety regulations, including uniform minimum railing and balcony heights of one metre, plus other structural barriers in place to prevent passengers, who are acting responsibly, from simply falling off a cruise ship,” added Harmer.
“Cruise lines are highly regulated with robust enforcement.
“The average ship undergoes dozens of announced and unannounced safety inspections per year, involving hundreds of man hours and covering thousands of specific requirements set by the International Maritime Organisation.”
Cruise Lines International Association is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, providing a unified voice and leading authority of the global cruise community.
Source: breakingtravelnews.com