By
Alex Smith |
Silversea Cruises’ Silver Spirit has received certification in infection prevention for maritime (CIP-M) from classification society DNV GL, becoming the first ultra-luxury ship to obtain the new certification.
The CIP-M has been designed by DNV GL Maritime’s Cruise Centre in Miami, USA, based upon the company’s existing prevention programme for hospitals.
“Informed by the work of the Royal Caribbean Group’s Healthy Sail Panel, we are working hard to enhance our already exceptional sanitation procedures onboard,” said Roberto Martinoli, Silversea’s president and CEO. “Beginning with Silver Spirit, we will continue to work with DNV GL to gain certification across the rest of our fleet to provide the safest possible conditions for our healthy return to sailing, when the time is right to do so.”
Silver Spirit’s three-year certification is tailored to the ship and has been awarded following an audit of all aspects of its operations. An initial company audit was completed on 5 August, while an onboard survey was conducted on 15 August. The two audits focused on the suitability of the cruise line’s Covid-19 outbreak prevention and response plan, infection prevention leadership and communication flow, medical equipment management and infection risk management processes.
“We are pleased to award Silversea our CIP-M, which was developed as a holistic solution to the protracted pressures facing the maritime and cruise industries,” says Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL Maritime. “As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to create a high level of public concern about the maintenance of health and safety onboard cruise ships, we hope that our new certification will serve the dual purpose of helping to build passenger and crew confidence while also enhancing the cruise industry’s health, safety and environment standards.”
DNV GL will carry out annual survey onboard and company audits onshore to verify that companies who have received the certification maintain an operational plan in compliance the CIP-M requirements.