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News
August 2008 SAGA CRUISES TAKES THE INITIATIVE ON PASSENGER SAFETY
ASaga Cruises has launched a new initiative in passenger safety with a major purchase of modified Intrepid Mk 8 immersion suits through ADEC Marine Limited from International Safety Products Ltd (ISP). The suits will be available for emergency use by passengers during Antarctic cruises aboard the company’s ships.
Although there is no statutory requirement for it to do so, Saga Cruises is the first major cruise operator to equip a ship with immersion suits. The company decided to take the initiative following the sinking of the cruise ship Explorer off Antarctica last November. The incident resulted in passengers and crew spending a considerable time in open lifeboats and rafts. There were no injuries arising from the incident but passengers had been vulnerable to hypothermia and Saga Cruises noted that the situation could have been different if the weather had been less favourable.
Saga Cruises has consequently purchased 460 of the uninsulated Intrepid immersion suits from ISP and these will be stowed at emergency muster stations around the ship. The Intrepid Mk 8 is one of ISP’s most successful products but they have all been specially modified with longer zips and larger feet so they can be donned more easily by Saga’s customers. Because a risk assessment concluded that it is unlikely that passengers would find themselves in the water, Saga has been able to equip with uninsulated immersion suits. These have the advantage of being easier to put-on and occupy less stowage space yet they will keep wearers warm and dry whilst awaiting rescue.
The absence of legislation requiring the carriage of immersion suits for passengers on polar cruises is considered by some as an oversight by the Internatiolnal Maritime Organisation. The growth of adventure cruises has resulted in an estimated 35,000 passengers sailing into Arctic and Antarctic waters this year. The potential dangers presented by the ice and the extreme weather conditions can be combined with the difficulty of rescue to suggest that these passengers face significantly greater risks than other cruise passengers. Saga Cruises has, therefore, become a pioneer in passenger safety through being the first to recognise and to respond to these dangers.
Press enquiries: Paul
Eastaugh PEMS Marine & Offshore PR
