In recent years the "Safe Return to Port" (SRtP) regulations, issued by IMO, have come into force. The new regulations are compulsory for passenger ships constructed on or after 1^st July  2010, having length of 120 metres or more, or having 3 or more Main Vertical Zones. The aim of the standards is that of ensuring a safe return to port of a ship – by its own systems – after a casualty (flooding or fire) below a certain threshold. Furthermore, when the casualty threshold is exceeded, an orderly evacuation and abandonment of the ship shall be ensured.

Even if, so far, small passenger ships are not involved with the above-mentioned regulations, the concept of the SRtP should not be disregarded for such vessels, considering that the safety of life at sea cannot be a mere question of size. At the same time, it should be born in mind that for small ships, in general, and especially when the number of passengers is relatively high, it can be quite demanding to find proper solutions.

In the present paper the problems concerning the SRtP concepts applied to a small cruise vessel 110 m long, with 404 passengers and 70 crew members have been tackled. With reference to the functional requirements and performance standards of the essential systems involved, a proper methodology for the engineering analysis has been set up. In particular, the subjects related with a fire casualty and with the abandonment of the ship have been focused.

Important lessons drawn from the work done are that for small passenger ships the SRtP concepts imply the necessity of carrying out well in advance proper studies of the coordination plans of the essential systems on board, along with significant modifications of the general layout of the ship.