Norwegian Cruise Line Safety and Security Information
A Letter from Norwegian Cruise Line CEO, Kevin Sheehan
Dear Valued Guest,
On behalf of the more than 20,000 officers, crew and shore side team members at Norwegian Cruise Line, I would like to reaffirm our commitment to safety, which has been an overriding cornerstone of Norwegian throughout our 47-year history. Stated simply, the safety of our guests and crew is, at all times, our number one priority.
We operate all of our vessels to meet or exceed the requirements of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention and the International Safety Management (ISM) Code as well as other international safety requirements which govern the cruise industry. The United States Coast Guard and similar international agencies along with international regulatory authorities conduct periodic inspections of our ships to ensure that we are in compliance with these standards.
Our safety culture extends beyond the development and implementation of policies and procedures to take advantage of the latest in ship design and operational safety measures, including:
- The use of high pressure water mist fire extinguishing systems throughout our ships, including within the machinery spaces where our ships’ engines are located. These systems can be released immediately when a fire is detected and are effective in that they release a high velocity water mist, which displaces oxygen and has a cooling effect to quickly extinguish a fire. Our ships are also equipped with CO2 fire extinguishing systems as a back-up.
- Engine rooms across the fleet (specifically machinery space containing the diesel engines) are separate from their respective electrical – switchboard rooms, providing a redundancy in the unlikely event of a fire and allowing the vessel to retain propulsion and electrical power from alternative sources.
- All crew members are trained in the company’s stringent safety protocols, participating in weekly safety drills on board every ship. In addition, our shore side technical and safety teams provide oversight to constantly test and re-evaluate onboard safety procedures.
- Our Captains are experienced seafarers with an average of 33 years at sea. All Captains have risen through the ranks, progressing from Second Officer to First Officer and then Chief Officer up to Staff Captain before they can become Captains. It takes at least 10 years for a Captain to be promoted into that role. We further ensure that our Captains knowledge is current by regularly undergoing rigorous navigation and bridge operations simulator training.
- Prior to every cruise setting sail, we hold a mandatory safety drill for all guests during which important safety information is reviewed and demonstrated. We also show an extensive safety video which runs continuously on the stateroom televisions should further information be required.
- All Norwegian Cruise Line vessels include medical centers with physicians and nurses that are an call 24 hours a day. These medical centers adhere to the guidelines established by the American College of Emergency Physicians, the nation’s leading and largest professional organization of such specialists. The guidelines are designed to provide emergency medical care for passengers and crew; stabilize patients and initiate reasonable diagnostic and therapeutic intervention and facilitate the evacuation of seriously ill or injured patients when deemed necessary by a qualified physician. Our physicians and nurses have undergone a credentialing process to verify three years of post-graduate clinical practice in general and emergency medicine or Board certification in Emergency Medicine, Family Practice or Internal Medicine
In addition to these safety measures, all of our vessels, wherever they are sailing, comply with the U.S. Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA). Enacted in 2010, the CVSSA established a comprehensive set of industry-wide safety and security protocols to ensure cruise passengers remain safe and protected at all times during their vacation.
Safety policies and procedures are coordinated and disseminated by a central designated person at our headquarters as well as a Safety Officer on board every Norwegian Cruise Line vessel.
In recognition of our significant safety efforts, we have been awarded the 2012 Quality Ship Management Award from American Maritime Safety, Inc. (AMS), an organization that facilitates the maritime industry’s compliance with international shipping protocols and U.S. Coast Guard regulations. This prestigious honor recognized our extensive safety standards and pervasive safety culture. In presenting the award, AMS praised our strict adherence to safety guidelines and highlighted the implementation of quality controls systems that enhance crew member efficiency.
We appreciate your confidence in our company and thank you for deciding to spend your vacation with us. We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.
Sincerely,
Kevin Sheehan
Chief Executive Officer
Additional Information
-
AnneMarie Mathews
Vice President of Public Relations
Public Relations Department
7665 Corporate Center Drive
Miami, FL 33126 - 305-436-4713
- publicrelations@ncl.com
