International Cruise Victims Association (ICV) Members to Testify at Congressional Hearingon September 19, 2007in Washington, D.C. Congress Issues Protect Americans from Crimes on Cruise Ships Resolution Congress has scheduled a hearing on September 19, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. on "Cruise Ship Security Practices and Procedures." The hearing will be conducted by the Committee on Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation, and will be held at the RayburnHouseOfficeBuilding (Room 2167), WashingtonD.C.
Congress has invited a number of members of International Cruise Victims Association (ICV) to testify regarding their experiences. These individuals include Kendall Carver, Susan DiPiero, Lynnette Hudson, and Angela Orlich. ICV has scheduled a press conference before the hearing, at 9:00 a.m. in the Concord Room of the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capital Hill, located at 400 New Jersey NW, in Washington DC.
ICV will discuss a Congressional resolution called Protect Americans from Crimes in Cruise Ships. The resolution acknowledges the lack of federal regulation over the cruise industry and the need for Congressional oversight to ensure the safety and security of American passengers.
The following ICV members will be discussing proposals to enhance passenger safety, reduce shipboard crime, and protect the victims from poor treatment by the cruise industry: Kendall Carver of Arizona lost his daughter on the Celebrity cruise ship Mercury, owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Following her disappearance, the cruise line failed to notify family members or law enforcement and engaged in a cover-up of his daughters disappearance, Mr. Carver alleges.
Mr. Carver is the President and one of the founding members of the ICV. Families of victims created this organization as a victims advocacy group to protect passengers, who choose to travel on cruise ships. The group now has members around the world, including sixteen countries and a separate chapter in Australia.
Susan (Sue) DiPiero of Ohio lost her only son, Daniel on the Mariner of the Seas operated by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Ms. DiPiero and her husband, Ron DiPiero, received a telephone call from the cruise line saying . . . we cannot find your son . . . Daniels disappearance was caused by inadequate security standards on the ship, including only a few security guards, excessive alcohol served on the ship, security cameras which were not monitored, and a delay in reporting and responding to the emergency, according to the DiPiero family. Ms. DiPiero will address her familys recommendations to avoid future tragedies to other families.
Lynnette Hudson of Delaware lost her father, Richard Liffridge, a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, on the Star Princess, owned by Carnival Corporation, during a cruise with his beloved wife, Victoria Liffridge of Georgia. Ms. Hudson will testify regarding her familys experience following the fire. She will explain that one of the greatest threats to the safety of passengers on cruise ships is fires at sea. Ms. Hudson created the Richard Liffridge Foundation to educate and bring awareness to this issue. For information, go to www.RichardLiffridge.com
Angela Orlich of Massachusetts was on a vacation cruise aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Liness Nordic Empress, when she was sexually assaulted during a cruise sponsored scuba excursion in Cozumel, Mexico. The cruise line did not provide her with any assistance or timely report the incident to law enforcement authorities, according to Ms Orlich. She was required to travel to Mexico and initiate legal proceedings alone. She will testify regarding her efforts to seek justice for the crime, notwithstanding the lack of cooperation and assistance from the cruise line regarding their excursion.
For more information about the ICV, please contact us: * Web: www.internationalcruisevictims.org * E-mail: info@internationalcruisevictims.org * Telephone: (425) 753-7711 * Facsimile: (206) 374-2944
Source: International Cruise Victims Association-- Edited by Webmaster at 16:09, 2008-02-23
