For Immediate Release

CONGRESS DIRECTS

CRUISE LINE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION TO WORK WITH

INTERNATIONAL CRUISE VICTIMS ((ICV) TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND ASSIST VICTIMS

Congress has already held three (3) hearings with cruise industry representatives, International Cruise Victims (ICV) and federal agencies. The latest Congressional hearing was on March 27, 2007 with Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) and International Cruise Victims. At that hearing, Congress gave CLIA six months to work with ICV in developing a proposal for consideration, at which time another Congressional hearing will be held to determine what progress has been made.

Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) says in an e-mail, I am working on a bipartisan legislative proposal to improve disclosure on crimes on cruise ships in order to increase the transparency of the industryPassengers have the right to know the safety records of the vessels they board. 

Following the latest Congressional hearing, International Cruise Victims president, Ken Carver, immediately extended an offer to meet with cruise industry representatives. 

ICV has meticulously developed a plan for additional cruise line safety called, Cruise line Law Adherence Monitoring Personnel (CLAMP), which would require that an independent security force be present onboard all cruise ships. 

Following numerous high-profile reports, ICV concludes that current onboard cruise line security management appears to lack adequate passenger and crew safety training, especially in response to reports of incidents. 

The cruise industry has historically remained focused on how to keep the ship moving.

Reasons for proposing ICV preparing CLAMP proposal are as follows:

• CRUISE LINES MAINTAIN THE POSITION THAT THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO INVESTIGATE CRIMES. Reporting is only voluntary when they contact the FBI and/or Coast Guard. As a result, convictions of crimes on cruises are very rare.
• Cruise Lines also indicate that they do not have the expertise to investigate crimes that occur on their ships. Standard operating procedures should require all missing passengers and crimes be promptly reported, and evidence properly secured. Significant delays, contamination of evidence and ships continued travels have added to the questions about cruise line safety in high-profile cases, which begs the question about handling of incidents of less stature.
• An independent security force will help ensure that there are no questions regarding conflict of interest between the cruise line and victim(s).
• With the added concern of terrorism, additional security is necessary to protect passengers and crewmembers.

Citing concerns about their safety, Kendall Carver, President of ICV, has indicated many former passengers are now indicating that they will no longer take cruises as a traveling option. As a result, ICV believes that their CLAMP proposal offers best practice in executing an independent security force on ships, and in the long run, will benefit the cruise line industry and its passengers. What we heard Congress tell CLIA in March was for the cruise line industry to get on board with ICV and work towards enacting reform. 

ICV has detailed proposals to address this matter, which may be viewed on the ICV website at: http://internationalcruisevictims.activeboard.com/index.spark?forumID=102842&subForumID=347335&p=2

Or for more information about the International Cruise; visit www.internationalcruisevictims.org; e-mail info@internationalcruisevictims.org; or call Ken Carver at 602-852-5896.