Moving safety beyond compliance is a mixed effort requiring cooperation between the industry and class. RCCL’s focus on fire and environmental issues is an example of how such cooperation can increase safety beyond the day-to-day operations.
One of RCCLs most important safety objectives is to upgrade all its vessels to the new Additional Fire Safety Protection (F-M) Class. According to Jens Lassen, Vice President, Fleet Management in RCCL, DNV has helped them move fire safety from being a standardised concept to a modern system, far beyond what other class societies offer. The F-M Class is a proactive approach to fire safety, focusing on preventing fire instead of what should be done after the fire is a reality.
RCCL has now finalised the first air and water survey conducted by DNV. The aim is to avoid bacterial contamination. It has given RCCL valuable knowledge of how to avoid risks by being above and beyond environmental compliance. They have implemented a limit of 5 instead of the required 15 ppm bilge separation on all vessels.
RCCL has one environmental officer and one environmental engineer onboard each ship. They are now in the process of developing a new sewage system together with Swedish and American-based suppliers, as there is no approved and practical means of sewage treatment available today.
According to Lassen, increased safety beyond the day-to-day operations can only be achieved by good cooperation between class and owners. Establishing a partnership where class core competence is mixed with the owners practical experience can contribute to moving the cruise industry above and beyond safety compliance in the future.