Cruise & Ferry Curtains

What certification do cruise ship and ferry curtains need?

At sea, land-based standards such as BS 5867 do not apply. Curtains and drapes on passenger vessels are governed by SOLAS and tested under the IMO FTP Code 2010, the International Maritime Organization's Fire Test Procedures Code. Part 7 covers vertically supported textiles and films, which is the test for curtains, drapes and hanging fabrics; Part 8 covers upholstered furniture and Part 9 bedding. Vessels flagged in the EU and UK additionally need the fabric to carry Marine Equipment Directive (wheelmark) approval, and the classification society surveying the ship will want to see it in the fit-out documentation.

Every fabric on this page carries current IMO FTP Code 2010 certification for drapes and hanging textiles, supplied with the order for class and flag-state approval. For a fuller explanation of the code and how Parts 7, 8 and 9 relate, see our IMO certified curtains page.

Choosing curtain fabrics for a cruise ship or ferry

Marine interiors are specified by shipyards, outfitters and interior designers to a programme measured in dry-dock days, and the fabric has to be right first time. The points that come up on every vessel:

• Cabins. Passenger cabins need blackout for sleep and dimout or sheers for privacy in daylight, on compact windows and portholes that reward made-to-measure sizing. IMO-certified blackout and dimout cloths are both here.
• Public spaces. Atriums, restaurants, lounges and theatres use the decorative end of the range: velvets, jacquards and wide-width cloths for tall glazing, all with the same certification.
• Ferries and short-sea vessels. Hard-wearing plains and textures that shrug off heavy passenger traffic and salt-air cleaning regimes.
• Superyachts. Where the owner's designer wants a specific handle or colour, tell us the reference and we will find the nearest IMO-certified quality across the fabric houses we carry.
• Inherently FR. Every fabric we list is inherently fire retardant, with the performance in the fibre. That matters at sea, where curtains are laundered on board through a vessel's service life and a treated finish would degrade.

Specifying and ordering

Every curtain is made to measure in the UK. Choose the fabric, enter your drop and width, select a heading (pencil pleat, eyelet, wave or pinch pleat), and the configurator prices it immediately. For a newbuild, a refit or a fleet programme, or where you would rather send us a cabin and window schedule, request a quote and we will price the whole vessel as a single quotation across all the fabric houses we carry, including Panaz, Skopos, Edmund Bell, Bancroft and Vescom.

IMO certificates are supplied with the order for the outfitter's documentation pack, and samples are available on every fabric.

Marine curtain FAQs

Is BS 5867 enough for a ship?

No. Passenger vessels are certified under SOLAS and the IMO FTP Code, and the surveyor will look for IMO certification rather than a British Standard. Most fabrics here hold both, but it is the IMO certificate that matters on board.

Do you supply to shipyards and outfitters outside the UK?

Yes. Tell us the yard, the delivery window and the documentation the class society requires and we will confirm what we can supply and when.

Can I see samples before ordering?

Yes. Request samples from the product page, or send us the scheme and we will put together an IMO-certified selection.