The CSNCOE staff serves both the USCG and industry as in house consultants, each with their own specific areas of expertise. This uniquely qualified group of individuals serves a multitude of facets; from augmenting exam personnel to neighboring AOR's, to providing training on system testing for new technologies. With the fast pace industry of cruise ships, the CSNCOE helps the lines keep pace with regulation and policy; providing interpretations and defining intent. CSNCOE is the nexus of Coast Guard expertise and best practices on the foreign passenger vessel safety program; it is also the cruise shipping industries over-arching liaison with the USCG. The CSNCOE's focus is to raise the competency, capabilities, and CG-wide consistency in the field of cruise ship safety, environmental, and security requirements and Certificate of Compliance examinations.

This course is designed to broaden and deepen understanding of and competency in the Coast Guard's Foreign Passenger Vessel Examination program in preparation for qualification. Course lessons explain in-depth technical and regulatory concepts on standards applicable to foreign passenger vessels. The combination of lesson proficiency assessments and ship visits ensure greater awareness and consistency in decision making skills while evaluating a vessel's compliance with international and domestic safety, security, and environmental standards. The week-long interactions among participants reinforce the value of and need for frequent communication and close working relationships between the cruise industry community and Coast Guard. Likewise, participants gain valuable insight and a mutual understanding of the impacts of their decisions on cruise industry safety, security, and commercial viability. This course is the same as the previously titled Advanced Foreign Passenger Vessel Examiner (AFPVE) course

The Coast Guard examines the vessel's emergency systems including but not limited to; document checks, general structural fire protection, automatic sprinkler/water mist systems, fire pumps and hydrants, fixed fire detection systems, fire and water tight doors, engineering systems, emergency lighting, life saving appliances, pollution prevention, navigational safety and security. In addition, a fire and abandon ship drill is observed.

Ships are required by SOLAS to conduct a passenger muster to ensure that passengers undergo safety drills, including mustering at the lifeboat stations, before the ship departs or immediately on departure. This regulation was updated on January 1, 2015.

All Cruise ships will have a total aggregate survival craft capacity to accommodate no less than 125% of the total persons onboard. This is accomplished by life boats, life rafts, and marine evacuation systems.

The lifeboats are able to be launched with a trim of up to 10 degrees and up to a 20 degree list, though the lifeboats must be launched manually. All life rafts are stowed in a float free arrangement and would separate from the ship, float to the surface and inflate.

Every ship is required to have a public address system and general alarm.

Cruise ships are required to have an emergency generators that will automatic provide emergency power to vital systems in the event of the loss of main power.

As outlined in SOLAS, Chapter V, Regulation 34-1 the owner, the charterer, the company operating the ship or any other person shall not prevent or restrict the master of the ship from taking or executing any decision which, in the masters professional judgment, is necessary for the safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment.

All crew members receive training in accordance with international regulations, as set forth by Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping (STCW). This includes general training standards that all crew onboard must carry, to specific training requirements for crew members who are assigned to assist passengers in the event of an emergency.

Cruise ships are required to conduct emergency drills weekly. All Crew members onboard must participate in at least one drill per month.

All ships are required to have what is referred to as a decision support system for masters of cruise ships, whereas; the system, at a minimum, shall consist of a printed emergency plan or plans, including, but not limited to:

• Fire
• Damage to ship
• Pollution
• Unlawful acts threatening the safety of the ship and the security of its passengers and crew
• Personnel accidents
• Cargo related accidents; and
• Emergency assistance to other ships

All persons onboard all cruise ships shall be counted prior to departure. The names, nationality and genders. The numbers differentiating between adult, children and infant shall also be recorded.

There must be at minimum, a life jacket for every person onboard, plus 5% spare. The ships are required to carry different types of life jackets for adults, children and infants.