Stiffer design standards for smaller cruise ships

WHEN we think of cruise ships, we tend to focus on the giants that are now being built for the likes of Carnival or Royal Caribbean. Certainly, the cruise business is now a huge industry and size seems to matter, at least for the mass market.

However, increasing numbers of people are interested in going to more remote, inaccessible places - and they are prepared to pay good money for this privilege. This means smaller, so-called "expedition ships" are needed.

Recently, naval architecture and engineering company Foreship sounded a cautionary note, warning that the booming demand for such ships should not mean that good and safe shipbuilding practices for passenger vessels are compromised.