#CRUISE LINER SAFETY – Following the Costa Concordia incident off the Italian coast in January, there are to be "tighter" inspections of cruiseships docking in Irish ports according to the State's Marine Survey Office.

Checks on safety and crew handling of "abandon ship" drills and fire-fighting will be stepped up under the office of the Department of Transport. Marine surveyors will also conduct "detailed, additional" checks on whether or not crews are trained and familiar with their vessels, the office says.

Some 30 passengers were confirmed dead and two are still "missing" after the Costa Concordia ran aground and partially sank off Isola del Giglio, Tuscany, on the night of January 13th last.

The Irish Times has more on this story.