New Video Project to Enhance Passenger Safety on Arctic Expedition Cruises

03 July 2025

A non-verbal, easy-to-understand video will contribute to guiding passengers through key steps of a maritime emergency evacuation in the Arctic from alarm to rescue and post-rescue phases.

A new informational video "Safety Briefing Video for Arctic Expedition Cruise Vessel Passengers" launched by Arctic Council’s Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group (EPPR) in collaboration with the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) aims to improve passenger safety during maritime emergencies in the Arctic. The project was originally launched following a key finding from the 2022 ARCSAR LIVEX exercise, organized by an EU Horizon Project ARCSAR, which revealed a critical gap in passenger preparedness during mass rescue operations (MROs).

Passengers Need Better Evacuation Guidance

Arctic Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise findings have highlighted the need to enhance communication and improve cruise passengers awareness of what to do in the event of a maritime emergency evacuation, particularly beyond the initial safety briefing. The lack of knowledge on what to expect might pose challenges for responders and can result in delayed evacuation procedures.

The aim of this video is simple: to turn uncertainty into understanding. If passengers know what to expect and how to act, they become part of the solution during an emergency.Benjamin Strong, EPPR Chair, U.S. Coast Guard

In response to these findings, Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Norway (JRCC N), in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), proposed a project to the Arctic Council’s Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) Working Group. One of EPPR’s strategic objectives is to enhance safety and emergency response in the Arctic, which corresponds well with the project’s aims, drawing on collaboration between rescue authorities and the Arctic expedition cruise industry.

Funded by the Norwegian Coastal Administration, the project created a whiteboard-style animation video designed for universal understanding. The video could be shown at muster stations, during safety drills, in living areas onboard expedition vessels, and could also be shared with passengers ahead of their journey.

Improved Passenger Awareness Will Support Safety and Search and Rescue Efficiency

The video covers essential topics such as actions to take upon hearing the alarm, what to expect in lifeboats or life rafts, procedures for transferring to a rescue vessel, and what happens after being rescued.

In a mass rescue operation, time and efficiency are critical. When evacuees understand the process better and stay calm, we can respond faster, safer, and with better outcomes. This video will contribute to passengers’ understanding of the operation.Tore Hongset, SAR coordinator, JRCC Norway

The initiative particularly targets the Arctic expedition cruise industry, where vessels typically carry fewer than 200 passengers and navigate remote high-latitude areas under strict Polar Code compliance. With AECO representing nearly all cruise operators in this sector, the project benefits from close cooperation with industry stakeholders.

By collaborating on this project, we’re helping the guests of our member operators feel more prepared and confident, ultimately contributing to safer, smoother experiences for everyone involved. Collaboration with industry is a key for these types of projects, and we have an excellent position to facilitate this connection in a meaningful manner.Frigg Jørgensen, Executive Director, AECO

The development of the video focused on identifying behavioral gaps among passengers during evacuations and presenting storylines that could guide ideal responses. By setting clear expectations and familiarizing passengers with real-life rescue scenarios, the objective of the video is to reduce panic and confusion during emergencies and facilitate smoother operations for Arctic SAR teams in case of an incident. This initiative marks a proactive step toward strengthening maritime safety in Arctic environments, that might pose additional challenges for SAR operations and passenger safety alike.