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**Ally** · 08-28-2006, 08:53 AM

Safety, Training and Security

The safety, health and well-being of cruise passengers are Star Cruises’ top priorities. Star Cruises is one of the first cruise lines to be certified for the ISM (International Safety Management) Code in 1998 as directed by the IMO (International Maritime Organisation). Star Cruises has a young and modern fleet equipped with the latest in navigational control and fire systems and has implemented extensive safety features such as “Hi-Fog” even in the engine rooms which are not required by IMO (International Maritime Organisation) regulation until 2005.

In training her officers, Star Cruises has built its own ship training simulator located within the Star Cruises Terminal, Port Klang complex. Completed in 1998, the Star Cruises Ship Simulator Centre (SCSS) is the only one of its kind in the world owned by a shipping company. The operation of the Centre is a joint-business agreement between Star Cruises and FORCE Technology-DMI (formerly known as Danish Maritime Institute).

Star Cruises also created history by becoming the first shipping company ever to be accredited by the Panama Maritime Authority to carry out the STCW-95 (Seafarer’s Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code) without involvement by other external training institute. The STCW-95 training programmes are conducted on board Star Cruises’ vessels and is fully endorsed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and used to train captains, officers and crew.

The company has also scored a first with one of its ships SuperStar Aries (which has since been sold) being the first passenger ship in the world to obtain an International Ship Security Certificate under the recently adopted International Ship and Port Facility Security or ISPS Code. All ships in the Star Cruises fleet have now obtained the International Ship Security Certificates.

In addition, the Star Cruises Terminal in Port Klang and the Jetty Terminal on Langkawi Island, Malaysia have been awarded Statements of Compliance under the ISPS Code.

The Code which came into mandatory effect in July 2004 sets out a framework involving cooperation between contracting governments, government agencies, local authorities as well as members of the shipping and port fraternity to detect and assess security threats and to take preventive measures.