"We should seriously consider the lessons to be learnt and, if necessary, re-examine the regulations on the safety of large passenger ships in the light of the findings of the casualty investigation, " Koji Sekimizu, secretary-general of the U.N. agency, said in a statement Monday.

WSJ: Cruise Operators See Shares Fall, Defend Safety

Long ago, in the days before passenger ships featured climbing walls, ice rinks, on-board zip lines and nonstop gastronomic gorging sessions, stately ocean liners plied the transatlantic route between London and New York.

FORBES: Captain Bernanke At The Helm Of The QE2 Hopes To Avoid A Titanic Outcome

The yard, based on the River Torridge, has built more than 350 ships, including naval fishery protection vessels, trawlers, passenger-vehicle ferries, dredgers and bulk carriers.

BBC: NEWS | UK | England | Devon | Financial help 'floods' into shipyard