The Shipowners P&I Club issued the second in a series of risk assessment articles, focusing on risk assessments for passenger vessel operations and promoting proper risk assessment conduction to prevent future incidents.
In particular, the Club notes the importance of an efficient supervision and care needed, when carrying passengers. The operator’s responsibility for the lives of the passengers begins as soon as they board the vessel and continues throughout the duration of the voyage until they disembark at their destination.
The Club distinguishes three sections of this operation and the corresponding three sample risk assessments based on the sections:
- embarking/disembarking of passengers,
- care of passengers during the voyage and
- care of passengers during emergency situations
Recommendations As the number of passengers regularly outweighs the number of crew and, as there are always unpredictable parameters to be considered, like the movement on board and the weather conditions, the Club advises: