Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2020

1 1 9 enabler, but value continues to come from human expertise and experience,” he says. “There are still experts reviewing inputs and making decisions based on their experience. Remote surveys are just a subset of remote and technology- enabled working and, as we all become more comfortable working differently because of the changes imposed on us, we will find new ways to deliver value to those we serve – all centred on our core skills and expertise.” Indeed, Lloyd’s Register always has one eye on the future, and Bollerman says it will do everything it can to help customers adapt to meet future requirements. In the months to come, this will mean a greater emphasis on risk mitigation, as well as focus on the provision of medical facilities onboard, particularly for expedition vessels sailing in remote areas. “When the virus is under control or a vaccine has been developed, we expect that existing ships will require some modification, as will vessels under construction,” he explains. “There’ll be some changes to vessel operation, and we may need different luggage handling systems, for example. After the virus, there might be a temperature scanner in every cruise terminal. This is why we are working closely with medical institutions to learn more about mitigating the risk of spreading infectious diseases onboard cruise ships and offer guidance to support our clients.” At the same time, Bollerman says the industry should not lose sight of sustainability goals. “Class rules and statutory regulations must have shared goals around minimum carbon impact while maintaining high safety standards,” he says. “An effort should be made to establish these goals in the most practical way and avoid over-complicated solutions that will jeopardise safety and environmental goals. Essential class components will still relate to the structure of the vessel and the technical solutions for propulsion and power generation and distribution. Any novel components relating to these will have to be assessed as essential class components.” CFR