Category 8A

“God I wish I would not have skipped the safety procedure!”

On March 23, 2006, an awful fire on board the Star Princess took the life of one passenger. In keeping with US and International Maritime Law, cruise

lines conduct Muster Drills at the commencement of their cruises. A muster drill (also sometimes referred to as a lifeboat drill or a boat drill) is an exercise conducted by the crew of a ship prior to embarking on a voyage. The purpose of a muster drill is to prepare passengers for safe evacuation in the event an emergency occurs while on board the ship (Wikipedia) . These drills are mandatory but are avoided by some passengers.

I encourage you to attend muster drills and to pay close attention to all instructions that are provided during the drill. Oh by the way the drill is a great place for a photo op – but of course take it quickly and before the roll call starts so you won’t miss a thing!

As a result of this fire a number of International ship building regulations were adopted by the cruise industry as well as a number of safety procedures and guidelines put in place by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.