Safe Return to Port requirement explained

The International Maritime Organization is helping members comply with the Safe Return to Port requirement in the 2009 International Safety of Life at Sea treaty.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

The requirement was prompted by the increasing size of passenger ships.^{[1] [2]} The more passengers a vessel has the longer it takes to evacuate.The requirement defines thresholds, and how long the vessel should remain safe for evacuation. It defines threshold where ship's crew should be able to return to port without requiring passengers to evacuate.

References

1. News: Agulhas II picks up Antarctic mantle . . John Feld . 2009-08-09 . 2011-10-12 . “The purpose… was to ensure maximum safety for passengers in the event of fire or flooding. One of the basic principles is that the ship is its best life boat and that every precaution should be taken to maintain the integrity of the structure until such time as the vessel can reach a safe port,” said Nqayi. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160306020314/http://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/agulhas-ii-picks-up-antarctic-mantle-1.1114159 . 2016-03-06.
2. News: Safe Return to Port Guideline . . 2010-02-13 . 2011-10-12 . The new SOLAS regulations are a pro-active action of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) regarding the increasing size of passenger ships and the difficulties in safe evacuation of passengers. The Safe Return to Port regulations will imply a change of the design process for designers, ship builders, classification societies and Flag State Administration. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20101125182036/http://marinetalk.com/articles-marine-companies/art/Safe-Return-to-Port-Guideline-GER02290922TU.html . 2010-11-25.
3. News: "Safe Return to Port": Requirements and Compliance . . 2011-10-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120425062538/http://www.skibstekniskselskab.dk/public/dokumenter/Skibsteknisk/2009/21%20sept%202010%20safe%20return%20to%20port.pdf . 2012-04-25.
4. News: Casualty threshold and safe return to port in line with the IMO safety framework for passenger ships . . Luis Guarin, Markku Miinala . 2008-05-21 . RO-RO 2008 Conference . 2011-10-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090108050913/http://www.deltamarin.com/technical-papers/SafetyLevel_RoRo2008_DM_SaS.pdf . 2009-01-08.
5. News: New Rules Challenging Ship Design and Life Cycle Management . . Markku Miinala . 2007 . 2011-10-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090108041056/http://www.deltamarin.com/technical-papers/NewRules_ABBAzipodSeminar2007.pdf . 2009-01-08.
6. News: Safe Return to Port Guideline . . 2011-10-12 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120126060037/http://www.gl-group.com/en/15494.php . 2012-01-26.