Crew perceptions of training and drills in the context of cruise ship evacuation

Evacuating a cruise ship is one of the most complex and safety-critical operations following a major maritime accident. Its effectiveness depends not only on ship design and technical systems but also on the crew's readiness to act as a coordinated team during alarm, mustering, and embarkation. Safety training and drills are therefore central to evacuation preparedness. This study examines whether seafarers' perceptions of evacuation-related training and drills differ by age, experience, education, and rank. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and interviews with 79 seafarers from 24 cruise companies. Five constructs were analysed: Vessel safety familiarisation training (VSF), Crewmembers previous experience (PE), Competence of training officer (CTO), General condition of safety equipment on board cruise ship (GCSE), and Crew attendance at drills (CA). The results show that perceptions are largely consistent across demographic groups, with the exception of education related differences in drill attendance. This highlights perceptual differences in drill attendance across educational groups, with potential implications for team synchronisation during evacuation. The findings may provide useful indications for future improvements in drill participation, training officer development, and safety training practices. The study contributes a validated measurement framework for assessing evacuation readiness and offers practical insights for cruise operators to enhance training quality, strengthen drill participation, and ensure compliance with IMO evacuation benchmarks.