1 In an emergency on board a passenger ship most passengers are expected to be able to
evacuate themselves from the passenger accommodation to the embarkation deck. The
integration of persons with restricted mobility - including infirm, very young, elderly
and disabled persons - with the other passengers should be given special consideration
when designing a passenger ship and preparing contingency plans for such a ship.
2 For the purpose of safety, new passenger ships should to the extent possible be
designed in such a way that there is barrier free passage for elderly and disabled
persons in public spaces on board and in escape routes to muster stations.
3 Crew members required to assist passengers who may need assistance, should be given
instructions in the kind of assistance needed by elderly and disabled persons on board.
4 In ships with passenger cabins:
- .1 elderly and disabled persons who may need assistance in an emergency should
preferably be assigned cabins situated in the proximity of the embarkation deck, so
that they may be assisted to the assembly stations quickly and with minimal effort,
and
- .2 a list identifying the cabins occupied by passengers who would require
assistance from the crew in an emergency should be prepared for each voyage.
5 The Appendix contains guidelines for the design and operation of new
passenger ships to respond to elderly and disabled persons' needs. The emphasis in the
guidelines is on ro-ro passenger ferries which are part of the public transport system.
With necessary modifications the guidelines may also find use when planning the
construction and operation of other types of passenger ships.