CLIA voices support for new European cruise safety guidelines

Stunning coastal view on one side of the coastline and the Adriatic Sea
By Alexandra Coulton


The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has voiced its support for a new set of safety guidelines for the resumption of cruising in Europe.

The EU Guidance for Cruise Ship Operations, which was penned by the European Maritime Safety Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, aims to provide guidelines for the development of ship and port management plans in line with COVID-19.

The guidance follows the publication of EU Healthy Gateways guidance on the return of cruise ship operations, which, alongside the new guideline helps to establish a European benchmark for maritime transport and public health for the future return of cruising in Europe.

CLIA and its member lines contributed to the guidelines, which the association said will inform the development of protocols at the national level.

Joel Katz, managing director for CLIA across Australasia, said the new guidelines were an important resource for governments and cruise lines focused on the safe resumption of cruising in Europe.

“Globally, we envisage a gradual, phased-in approach to the resumption of cruise operations,” he said.

“The progress made in Europe is a welcome step forward and will help inform processes underway in other parts of the world.”

“In Australia and New Zealand, CLIA and its cruise line members will continue to engage with health authorities and governments to demonstrate the work underway internationally to uphold the safety of guests, crew and communities, so that we can discuss a pathway towards a controlled resumption in our own region when the time is right.”

Featured image source: iStock/joci03

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