After expressing his condolences and sympathy for all those involved in the Costa Concordia accident, IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu said “IMO must not take this accident lightly. We should seriously consider the lessons to be learnt and, if necessary, re-examine the regulations on the safety of large passenger ships in the light of the findings of the casualty investigation.”
Speaking at the opening of the IMO Sub-Committee on Stability, Load Lines and Fishing Vessel Safety yesterday Mr Sekimizu said he appreciated "the Italian Coast Guard for their rescue operations over the night of the accident and the continued efforts deploying patrol boats, tugs, helicopters as well as diver teams, which have resulted in the highest number of people rescued in the history of the Italian Coast Guard.”
Full Investigation as Soon as Possible
“Causes of this accident are still not yet established. We must wait for the casualty investigation and should not pre-judge or speculate at this stage. I would like to urge the Flag State administration to carry out the casualty investigation covering all aspects of this accident and provide the findings to the IMO under the provisions of SOLAS as soon as possible,” he said. “In the centenary year of the Titanic, we have once again been reminded of the risks involved in maritime activities.”
NVKK Meeting on Saving Lives at Sea
SWZ Maritime's January issue features an article on a conference organised by the Nederlandse Vereniging van Kapiteins ter Koopvaardij (NVKK, a Dutch association of captains of the merchant fleet). Subject was: Save our souls; saving lives at sea. The focus was on whether current regulations now safeguard us from disasters such as with the Titanic one hundred years ago and how cruise company Holland America Line prepares for calamities and what difficulties they face. Visit https://www.swzonline.nl/page/21[this page] to subscribe to SWZ Maritime. Source: https://www.imo.org/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/Pages/IMO-Secretary-General-urges-rapid-and-full-casualty-investigation.aspx[IMO] Picture by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Concordia_disaster[J. J. Hornung]
