The Maritime Coast Guard Agency-UK Maritime Administration chose high speed ferries for the safety assessment because of the new technologies being introduced worldwide. IMO did not consider environmental, business or property risks. Collision was noted as a priority - high speed craft are in confined waters. Fire risk is significant. There is a degree of uncertainty about the hull integrity.
Many accidents happen at low speed - berthing.
Factors considered were reliability of hardware systems, personal performance of bridge staff, commercial drivers. Seventy-eight individual risk control measures which were identified addressed accident scenarios and their causes. Those then were grouped into 24 potential regulatory options. The conclusion was that risks to passengers and crew in high speed ferries are higher than previous experience indicated. Federal funds are available for the construction of intermodal connections to reduce risk.