In mid-December, nine cruise industry associations announced an agreement to operate under a common organization with a unified structure[ds_preview] to serve as the voice and advocacy leader of the global cruise industry. Association members agreed to utilize the name »Cruise Lines International Association« (CLIA) with the appropriate geographic designation. The existing association offices will remain in place. The involved associations were Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) itself, European Cruise Council (ECC), Asia Cruise Association (ACA), Passenger Shipping Association (PSA), France’s AFCC, Brazil’s ABREMAR, Northwest and Canada Cruise Association (NWCCA), Alaska Cruise Association (ACA), and International Cruise Council Australasia (ICCA).
Following the joint move at the end of last year, the Dutch Cruise Council (DCC) has agreed to be a part of CLIA as its 10th association in the global structure, according to an announcement in late January. DCC was formed in 2009 and has 16 member cruise lines. It will operate as »CLIA Netherlands«. The former PSA has already become »CLIA UK and Ireland«, while in France an agreement was reached with the AFCC to become »CLIA France« in late spring. CLIA is also currently developing a German cruise council based in Hamburg (»CLIA Germany«). Later this year the association plans to establish cruise councils in Italy and Spain.
CLIA will be governed by a Global Executive Committee, chaired by Howard Frank, who is Vice Chairman, Chief Operating Officer, and Member of the Executive Committee of Carnival Corporation. Christine Duffy, President and CEO of CLIA since 2011, will serve also as the President and CEO of the unified association, leading a team with responsibilities for international technical and regulatory issues, research, communications, industry relations and public affairs.
Furthermore, Robert Ashdown has been appointed as the new Secretary General for CLIA Europe. He replaces Tim Marking who is retiring after serving in that role with distinction since CLIA Europe was established in 2004 as the European Cruise Council. Barbara Muckermann was named Global Communications Advisor, Tomas Matesanz was appointed Communications Director, Didier Scaillet will serve as Vice President Business Development, and Rob Griffiths has been named Director of Technical and Regulatory Affairs, Design and Engineering within CLIA’s global Technical and Regulatory function, led by Bud Darr, Senior Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs.
