FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 2008
CONTACT:    Whitney Smith (Kerry), 202-224-4159
                        Lauren Smith (Matsui), 202-225-7163
                        Dave Natonski (Shays), 202-225-5541
                       
Kerry Introduces Legislation to Protect Passengers on Cruise Ships
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. Senator John Kerry today introduced legislation that would
improve cruise ship safety and accountability.  The Cruise Vessel Security and
Safety Act of 2008 would require crimes aboard cruise ships to be reported to
the Coast Guard and FBI.  Cruise ships, which operate under foreign flags of
convenience, are not currently required under U.S. law to report crimes that
occur outside of U.S. territorial waters. 
 
In addition, the legislation would require cruise ships to maintain medications
used to prevent sexually transmitted diseases after assault, as well as
equipment and materials for performing a medical examination to determine if a
victim has been raped.  A United States licensed medical practitioner would be
on every ship to perform the necessary examinations and to administer treatment.

 
The legislation follows last weeks hearings on cruise ship safety, chaired by
Sen. Kerry.  Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) held similar
hearings last year in the House.  Kerry was compelled to hold hearings in the
Senate after meeting Ken Carver, whose daughter Merrian disappeared on a cruise
in 2004.  Merrian was a resident of Cambridge, MA.
 
Millions of Americans will board cruise ships this year and they should know
that they are safe, said Sen. Kerry.  The tragic loss of Ken Carvers daughter
Merrian should serve as a reminder that security and crime reporting regulations
need to be tightened.  Murky legal jurisdictions in international waters are no
longer an excuse for failing to report serious crimes so that they may be
effectively prosecuted.  If U.S. passengers are at risk, then U.S. law should
hold the industry accountable for their safety.   
 
Over the past year our organization and other victims of cruise crimes have met
numerous times with cruise lines executives in an effort to have them
voluntarily take the necessary steps as outlined in our proposals, said Carver,
President of International Cruise Victims.  The cruise line industry has failed
to step up to the challenge and make any significant changes to improve safety. 
That resistance to change is a clear signal to us that the only alternative left
is for the United States Congress to move forward with legislation.  Im
grateful to Senator Kerry and Rep. Matsui for their support in this endeavor.
 
It is absolutely appalling that the cruise industry does not have basic
reporting and prevention mechanisms in place to keep their patrons safe, said
Rep. Matsui.  When a goliath like the cruise industry will not act in the best
interest of the customers who are entrusting it with their personal well-being,
then Congress has a responsibility to step in and shed some sunlight on the
problem.
 
Its important we continue the efforts to improve cruise ship safety which
began in the last Congress, when I chaired the National Security Subcommittee,
said Rep. Shays.  The bottom line is, the crime statistics provided by the
cruise industry are inaccurate and inadequate. This must change.
 
The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2008 will:
 
-                      Improve Ship Safety.  The legislation would mandate that:
guard rails reach 54 inches in height; entry doors of each passenger stateroom
and crew cabin have peep holes, security latches, and time sensitive key
technology.  Ship owners would be required to implement fire safety codes as
well as technology to detect when a passenger falls overboard.  Procedures would
be established to determine which crew members have access to staterooms and
when.
 
-                      Provide Transparency in Reporting.  The legislation would
establish a reporting structure based on the current voluntary agreement in
place between the cruise industry, the FBI, and the Coast Guard.  Additionally,
each ship would be required to maintain a log book, which would record all
deaths, missing individuals, alleged crimes, and passenger/crewmember complaints
regarding theft, sexual harassment, and assault.  The log books would be
available to FBI and Coast Guard electronically, as well as to any law
enforcement officer upon request.  Statistical information would be posted on a
public website maintained by the Coast Guard.
 
-                      Improve Crime Scene Response.  Each ship would be
required to maintain anti-retroviral medications and medications used to prevent
sexually transmitted diseases after assault, as well as equipment and materials
for performing a medical examination to determine if a victim has been raped.  A
United States licensed medical practitioner would be on every ship to perform
the necessary examinations and to administer treatment.  Private medical
information would be protected, and would require written authorization for
release.  Additionally, all passengers would be given free, immediate, and
confidential access to a National Sexual Assault Hotline and the FBI.
 
-                      Improve Training Procedures. The legislation would
establish a program designed by the Coast Guard and the FBI, and certified by
the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, to train appropriate
crewmembers in crime scene investigation.  Each ship would be required to
maintain one crewmember trained and certified under such a program.
 
-                      Enforce Safety and Environmental Standards.  The Coast
Guard is authorized to dispatch personnel to monitor discharge of waste, to
verify logbook entries related to waste treatment and disposal, and to act as
public safety officers by securing and collecting evidence of alleged crimes. 
The bill also establishes fair and equal remedies for persons injured in boating
disasters.  Additionally, the Secretary of the Coast Guard shall conduct a study
of passenger security needs and report findings/suggestions to Congress.
 
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Whitney Smith
Deputy Press Secretary
Senator John Kerry
(202) 224-4159
http:// <http://www.kerry.senate.gov/> kerry.senate.gov