Assessing meaures
The new CIP-M certification aims to move ships one step closer to resuming service by demonstrating clear infection control measures taken by cruise companies to limit the spread of pathogens and involves DNV GL’s assessment of: vessel operations, enhanced sanitation procedures, food preparation and handling, physical distancing requirements, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by crew members, maintenance of public health essential systems, emergency response plans, pre-boarding screening, embarkation and debarkation processes, and itinerary or port planning protocols.
Hospital standards
The certification builds on DNV GL Healthcare’s work in infection risk management, which has been used to certify hospitals worldwide. Customised for use in a maritime setting in cooperation with DNV GL – Business Assurance, it now integrates maritime specific standards, such as the US CDC Vessel Sanitation and incorporates national and industry guidelines. To verify continued compliance and improvement, ships will need to undergo annual surveys on board and company audits ashore.
‘The ability to demonstrate trusted infection risk prevention and mitigation is a must to win back trust from consumers,’ says Luca Crisciotti, ceo of DNV GL – Business Assurance. ‘Building organizational vigilance against infection risk today requires a level previously common to hospitals only.
‘CIP-M is unique in that it builds on proven hospital standards but is specifically tailored to the context of passenger vessels, while incorporating national requirements to enable a robust immediate and long-term response.’
Genting Cruise Lines
Genting Cruise Lines is the first customer working towards CIP-M and is targeting successful completion for its Explorer Dream vessel by the end of June 2020; pre-assessment of the company’s management system has already begun, with a certification survey of the ship to follow. In April the company revealed it has plans to make infrared screening, doctor’s certificate of fitness for those over 70, enhanced cabin/public room sanitising and twice-daily temperature checks for crew the norm across all its Dream Cruises and Star Cruises ships.
‘We were the first [from the onset of COVID-19] in the industry to launch and introduce our enhanced measures, which we will adopt as the new safety norm for our fleet and we hope for the industry too’, explains Kent Zhu, president of Genting Cruise Lines.
‘With consumers’ heightened expectations on safety and well-being, the customised CIP-M certification from a highly reputable healthcare expert like DNV GL will indeed further boost consumers’ confidence in cruising as we recommence operations in the very near future’, Zhu added.
‘Genting Cruise Lines has been very proactive in mitigating the COVID-19 crisis’, comments Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, regional manager South East Asia, Pacific & India, DNV GL – Maritime. ‘The experience gained by operating two vessels in Singapore as temporary accommodation for workers, who have recovered from the Coronavirus, could prove useful in their preparations to resume normal operations.’