Lately the cruise industry has been getting bad press in regards to safety aboard cruise ships. Stories of passengers “falling” overboard, sick cruise ships and sexual attacks have received tons of headlines. While a lot of what was being passed off as fact was gossip, ignorance or flat out dishonesty there were indeed some reasons for concern. The government has taken notice and is doing something about it.
From cruise passengers to cargo ships, the Coast Guard Re-authorization bill will enhance our homeland security efforts and assure the maritime safety of millions of Americans.
In the past there was all sorts of speculation wondering if the crime numbers being reported by the cruise industry were accurate. In the future we can be sure the numbers are valid thanks to Coast Guard Re-authorization Act of 2010. This past Friday, the House of Representatives approved a bill which requires all ships serving U.S. Ports to publicly report shipboard crimes, employ U.S. Doctors and install peepholes in cabin doors (as well as other requirements). In other words this a major effort to improve how safe you are while aboard a cruise ship.
Since most cruise ships are registered in countries other than the United States they aren’t required to pay income tax, comply with labor laws or report crimes and illnesses to U.S. Authorities. We were all led to believe cruising is one of the safest forms of vacationing. This is a belief that I still hold true with one caveat, you must exercise common sense. Over time, through numerous congressional hearings which looked into cruise crime, the clouds which covered the truth began to lift. The cruise lines began to voluntarily report serious cruise ship crimes to the Coast Guard and FBI. It was revealed that over the last five years, physical and sexual assault were the leading crimes on cruise vessels. Something needed to be done.
While the bill has passed the U.S. House of Representatives, it still needs to be approved by the Senate and signed by President Obama. If this does happen it clears the way for funding for the Coast Guard funding as well as the cruise safety provisions. In addition to being required to report all serious crimes to the Coast Guard and F.B.I., the cruise lines would be required to report statistical crime information on a Coast Guard maintained website for all to see. The cruise industry would also have to comply with security provisions such as, specific rail heights, peep holes in cabin doors and addition surveillance systems to help in the prosecuting of crimes.
As lovers of cruise vacations we should all cross our fingers that this bill gets passed and signed. Although I maintain the belief that cruise vacations are no more or less safe than land-based vacations, I am all for anything which improves the cruising experience.
