Originally Posted by coplatsat
I do not think that flagging the vessels out of the US allows them to lessen their safety standards. I believe since they come to the US and are in the US waters, they are subject to the same requirements as US Flagged vessels. Just like the airlines.
I know from recent news that health departments also inspect.
True a certain extent but fire control is the area of most concern, in the case of commercial vessels the Coast Guard will pay regular visits to all visiting US Port within a designated time period, conduct drills and assess their fire-fighting capabilities.
It is a lot easier to with the bulk-carriers or tankers whose crews normally number between 20 to 40 seamen or even with the cruise-ships with done their crews only.
No full scale drills with the amount of people likely to be on board these large vessels are ever carried out in anything approaching simulated conditions.
One other thing there are no US flagged Cruise ship of any appreciable size ( I bet none capable carrying more than 500 to 600 passengers)
As far US crews I bet you would be hard pressed to find enough personnel in the entire country to fully complement one Carnival vessel.
mike