2010 SOLAS Deadline Looms For Older Ships - Cruises - Cruise Critic
For some of cruising's older ships, 2010 is a watershed that could see them sent off to the breakers' yard. That's because on October 1, 2010, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) will require all ships of 167 signatory states making international voyages -- including virtually every country where cruise ships are registered -- to comply with the latest fire safety requirements. This means that for the first time, the latest regulations will apply even to the oldest ships as the grandfather clauses protecting them will not longer apply. If your favorite ship was built before 1980, its future beyond that date could be in question.
The New Rules
Among the major points in the latest rules are requirements that there be two means of egress from all atrium levels; low-level lighting systems; installation of smoke detectors, sprinklers, fire detectors and fire alarm systems in all accommodations and service areas; and fireproof enclosures around all stairways. Most of these rules went into effect by October 1, 2005, which means all ships in service today already comply. But full compliance with the latest SOLAS regulations won't be required until 2010, when all ships regardless of age will be required to be free of almost all combustible materials in their construction. Many ships built before 1980, and especially those built before the 1970's, were constructed under older rules that allowed combustible materials. Replacing all the combustible materials in these ships may be prohibitively expensive, and owners may choose to scrap them instead and take the opportunity to replace them with more modern ships that more easily comply with today's stringent safety standards.
The complete set of regulations is highly complex and has produced a high level of safety on today's cruise ships. Even so, there have been occasional unforeseen accidents such as combustible mooring lines aboard the Carnival Ecstasy catching fire in 1998, and the far more serious outdoor balcony fire onboard the Star Princess in 2006. Both Carnival and Princess responded immediately by substituting fire retardant and fireproof materials fleetwide, actions that went beyond the existing SOLAS convention. Eventually, further SOLAS amendments will probably require that similar steps be taken by all operators, but in the meantime most major cruise lines have adopted the changes without waiting for the regulators to catch up.
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