Carnival Corp. to conduct fleet-wide cruise ship safety review

The Costa Concordia disaster, in which at least 11 lives were lost and 21 people are missing, has spurred Carnival Corp.to conduct a fleet-wide review of its cruise ships’ safety and emergency response procedures.

While expressing “every confidence” in the safety of its 100 ships — which include the fleets of Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn — Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Miami-based Carnival, said the company wants “to make sure that this kind of accident doesn’t happen again.”

Passengers described a scene of chaos, with the crew unprepared and overwhelmed, after the Concordia ran aground and capsized last Friday off the Italian island of Giglio.

The review will be led by retired U.S. Navy Capt. James Hunn, Carnival’s senior vice president of maritime policy and compliance, and will include officer and crew training and bridge management. Outside experts in the cruise industry will audit Carnival’s emergency response and safety procedures and will also review the Costa Concordia accident.