ICV Update September 26, 2011

SAMMAMISH, WASHINGTON The International Cruise Victims Association, Inc. (ICV), a not-for-profit corporation formed by victims and families of victims of cruise ship crime, has been the voice promoting safety on cruise ships.

So far in 2011, 17 persons have gone overboard on cruise ships as reported by Ross Klein.  That means that 61 passengers and crew members have gone overboard just in the last 2 ½ years.

Two of these victims are Rebecca Coriam and Blake Kepley. What do these two victims have in common? 

1.      Both were young; with Rebecca just 24 and Blake only 20.  They had their entire lives ahead of them.

2.      Both disappeared off cruise ships with no explanation and with no video showing their disappearances.

3.      It was only determined hours later that they were even missing.

4.      Both left their parents filled with questions but no answers as to what happened.

Since many of us have experienced the same questions of what happened to our loved ones, ICV was formed.  We are not dealing with lost baggage, we are dealing with lost children and no answers.  

The Coriam family has taken aggressive steps in deciding not to just walk away, but to work to change the laws to protect future passengers and crew members.  They have made the loss of their daughter a national news story in the UK and around the world. If you go to our website under ICV news, you will find just a few of the articles and other media coverage of what they have done. They have also set up their own website at http://www.rebecca-coriam.com/

Blakes mother, Merri Laursen, has indicated the following:

So many people have disappeared before this happened to Blake. When are things going to change, how many people have to die?  It's an impossible thought. When I tell people about Blake, they are stunned and can't speak. They have a very difficult time comprehending how that can happen and had no idea that these simple safety precautions don't exist currently while at sea. 

What are the answers to their concerns?

1.      The laws have to be changed worldwide so that all receive the protection of their government police and not simply the protection of the Flag ship country which is often a small island or country where the ship has been flagged for convenience.

2.      It should be impossible for anyone to go off a ship without video capturing and recording it.   The new U.S. law requires that cruise ships also install systems that will be triggered to record and sound an alarm at the very moment someone goes overboard.  Several proposals have been made by major companies to provide such systems.  These proposals need to be approved and installed ASAP.

3.      Changes to the railing height and design to make going overboard much more difficult.  

The sad fact is that while there are many victims going overboard, this is only the tip of the iceberg.  There are sexual crimes, robberies, assaults and other crimes that never even make the news.  This all has to change.

It is time for a new day; a day where those responsible for any crime or other action that results in injury or death are held accountable.  That is the goal of ICV.