International Cruise Victims Organization Submitted Recommendations To Congress For Changes To The Cruise Industry.

March 12, 2006 – Sammamish, Washington Several members of the International Cruise Victims (ICV) organization testified in a Congressional hearing on March 7, 2006. The hearing was conducted by the House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations, Committee on Government Reform, chaired by U.S. Representative Christopher Shays (Connecticut). Entitled “International Maritime Security II: Law Enforcement, Passenger Security and Incident Investigation on Cruise Ships”, members of the House Committee on Government Reform had the opportunity to hear from witnesses who spoke on crimes onboard cruise ships. This is the second hearing in less than three months after the congressional subcommittee opened its investigation into the cruise industry’s safety and security procedures and its practice on dealing with victims and their families.

This hearing served as the first official gathering of many members of ICV coming from around the country to support the efforts of the new organization. Members of ICV testified at the hearing were: Ken Carver, president of ICV; Son Michael Pham, ICV board member; Deborah Shaffer and Nancy Kelly. At the hearing, ICV submitted a list of recommendations to the subcommittee of changes needed to improve safety and security aboard cruise ships, including changes that would hold cruise companies accountable for crimes and tragedies that occur on their ships. The list of recommendations was compiled from suggestions submitted by victims and families of victims. Representative Shays directed that representatives of cruise companies review the list of recommendations and submit their response back to sub-committee.

For more information about the International Crime Victims, please visit www.internationalcruisevictims.org or write to info@internationalcruisevictims.org, phone 425-753-7711, fax 206-374-2944. List of recommendations by ICV can be viewed at INCREASING SECURITY & PASSENGER SAFETY