Thread: House passes cruise safety bill

The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009 was passed by a bipartisan vote of 416-4 in the House of Representatives today. Introduced by Representative Matsui earlier this year, the legislation is a critical and common-sense fix which will provide safety and security to Americans who go on cruise vacations without realizing they are not protected under U.S. laws when they leave its territorial waters, according to a press release from the International Cruise Victims Association (ICV).

“Unfortunately, the status quo has allowed cruise ships to operate under foreign flags of convenience - but leaving our territorial waters does not mean that cruise ships should be allowed to operate without basic laws that protect American citizens,” Matsui said on the House floor during consideration of her legislation. “Over the past several years, I have met with far too many victims and their families who have experienced tragedy on the high seas, only to be left to fend for themselves. It has become increasingly apparent that this landmark legislation is both urgent and necessary.”

Rep. Matsui was contacted regarding the need for increased protections for Americans on cruise ships in 2006, when her constituent, Laurie Dishman, wrote to her for help, the ICV said in a press release. Dishman was the victim of a sexual assault while on a cruise vacation, according to the ICV, and was given no assistance by the cruise line in properly securing evidence of the assault, identifying her attacker, or prosecuting the crime once back on shore. She reached out to Congresswoman Matsui for help. Matsui began working on this legislation and held multiple hearings with the support of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Elijah Cummings (D-MD).

“Unfortunately, incidences of sexual attacks, missing persons and other serious crimes have continued to be reported on board cruise ships in recent years, despite increased media and Congressional attention on this issue,” stated Matsui. “The passage of my Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act will not only help recent victims of cruise crimes and offer them enhanced protection, but will help from preventing further crimes from happening.”

Matsui’s legislation will require the cruise industry to comply with a number of security provisions including specific rail heights, peep holes, warning devices, and cabin security measures. Additionally, the bill necessitates that vessels are equipped with a video surveillance system to assist in documenting and prosecuting crimes, and requires vessels to maintain a log book to record reports on specified complaints. Finally, the law will mandate cruise vessel personnel to contact both the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the United States Coast Guard as soon as a crime involving homicide, suspicious deaths, missing U.S. nationals, kidnapping, assault, and other serious occurrences are reported.

Passage of this legislation is in addition to the inclusion of the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009 in the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act f 2010 recently passed by the House of Representatives. The Senate is expected soon to take up consideration of companion legislation introduced by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) that was passed unanimously by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee this summer, and then be sent to the President.

11/18/09 - House Passes Cruise Safety Bill

Wonder what those "specific rail heights" are?

Originally Posted by canarymoon

Wonder what those "specific rail heights" are?

I will see if I can't get a copy and find out the exact measurements and specifications. Maybe reading through the enormous text might yield some more interesting tidbits, as well.

You can track the progress of the bill, read abstracts or the full text and view the voting record, all here:S. 588: Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009 (GovTrack.us)

Here is the brief summary:

Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009 - Sets forth cruise vessel security and safety requirements concerning: (1) vessel design and construction; (2) crew access to passenger staterooms; (3) log book entry and reporting of deaths, missing individuals, and alleged crimes; (4) a database of crewmembers terminated due to commission of a crime; (5) maintenance of rape kits on board; (6) crime scene investigation training and certification for vessel crewmembers; (7) video surveillance to monitor crime; and (8) posting of certain safety information. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act. Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act to revise the authority of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating (Secretary) to dispatch Coast Guard personnel on vessels to deter or respond to terrorism or transportation security incidents. Authorizes use of such personnel to act as:

(1) environmental observers to monitor compliance with federal laws regarding the discharge of waste into U.S. waters; and (2) public safety officers to assist vessel passengers and crew with reporting and investigation of crimes, securing of suspects, and collection of crime evidence. Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the security needs of a passenger vessel depending on the number of passengers on the vessel, with recommendations for security improvements. Amends the Death on the High Seas Act to extend from 3 to 12 miles from the U.S. shore the high seas jurisdiction wherein a death by a wrongful act, neglect, or default of a person or vessel will allow the personal representative of the decedent to bring a civil action in admiralty.

Originally Posted by canarymoon

Wonder what those "specific rail heights" are?

‘(A) The vessel shall be equipped with ship rails that are located not less than 42 inches above the cabin deck.

Now, about those peepholes -

Willl ships now have to retro-fit all cabin doors with peepholes?

How many times does someone (other than your steward or room service) knock on YOUR cabin door? You KNOW if you have ordered room service ... and you also know the hours of your steward's availability, and that he or she would NOT be knocking during other hours. Personally, I am not one to merrily hop out of bed and fling open the cabin door in the middle of the night in response to an unexpected knock . . . are you?

What does everyone think about the peephole issue? Do you see the installation of peepholes as a necessary protective measure that prevent countless crimes? Or is it legislative overkill whose main purpose is to boost the self esteem of a few politicians who think they have accomplished something grand?

Originally Posted by timwilloughby

‘(A) The vessel shall be equipped with ship rails that are located not less than 42 inches above the cabin deck.

OK - that's about what most railings on main / outer decks are now. I just measured 42" from the floor, and it came up to around or just below the point on my body where I seem to remember the 'lean on the rail' point as being.

Not quite sure what they would see. Using a princess ship, if something was going on in the bed they wouldn't see much. When you enter the cabin, the right wall is right there that is in front of the bathroom and large closet, you can see the foot of the bed and left wall that either goes to the back wall or the balcony. As far as the balcony goes and something was happening out there, if the curtain is drawn you couldn't see anything out there either.

I think the bill is talking about peepholes for the passengers inside the cabin to look out to see who is knocking on the door