Douglas Ward
The Telegraph

In the aftermath of the Costa Concordia disaster, questions will be asked about the safety of modern cruise ships, their reliance on high-tech computer systems and of the standards of crew training.

Others may also raise concerns about the thickness of the hull plating and ship stability. But I am convinced that this is a one-off incident – perhaps with human error a major contributing factor.

It is unusual for such a large ship to have been sailing so close to land in such shallow water – although sometimes captains do take ships close to shore when deemed safe to do so. This is usually to give passengers a close-up view when passing something of interest (an active volcano such as Stromboli comes to mind).

As the cruise industry builds more ships and passenger numbers continue to rise, so the potential for accidents increases. But modern cruise ships are far superior to their ocean-liner counterparts of yesteryear in terms of safety and back-up systems.

Since the sinking of the Titanic (2012 marks the 100th anniversary), passenger ships have been required to carry enough lifeboats (and, recently, life rafts) to equal or exceed the total number of passengers and crew carried.

Since 1986 these lifeboats have had to be either totally or partially enclosed, with diesel engines that can operate even if the lifeboat is inverted.

Since 1997, new cruise ships have had to have all stairways enclosed in self-contained “fire zones”. Smoke detectors and smoke alarms must be fitted in all passenger cabins and all public spaces; there must be low-level lighting to show routes of escape (such as in corridors and stairways); all fire doors throughout the ship should be controllable from the ship’s navigation bridge, and emergency alarms be audible in all cabins.

Since 2002, ocean-going cruise ships on international voyages have also had to carry voyage data recorders (similar to the black boxes carried by aircraft). The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations introduced in 2010 prohibit the use of combustible materials in new cruise ships.

Crew members attend frequent emergency drills, lifeboat equipment is regularly tested, and fire-detecting devices, systems and alarms are checked, and simulated fires are set.

All modern cruise ships clearly display muster stations and lifeboat information on the back of every cabin door, while safety videos, which demonstrate how to put on a life jacket, are shown on a dedicated in-cabin TV channel. As in any hotel or tall building, taking note of escape routes is sensible.

Following instructions given by ship’s officers is vital, clear communication can make or break any evacuation procedure.

Whatever the outcome of the investigation into the Costa Concordia incident, lessons will be learned for the good of all. We should be thankful that the ship was not out in open water, as many more lives might have been lost.