Serious safety incidents on cruise ships are not limited to sexual assaults. “Man overboard” incidents, robberies and even murder have long been a reality on these voyages. A tragic example is that of George Smith IV, 26, of Greenwich, Connecticut, who disappeared from a cruise ship in 2005. In 2015, the FBI closed Smith’s case. and his family may never have answers about what happened. The Smith family bravely turned their grief into action, working closely with Congress to ensure passage of the Cruise Safety Act of 2010, the latest major reform of the cruise industry. The legislation made important progress in improving passenger safety aboard cruise ships, but additional measures are desperately needed.
I have led the effort to further reform cruise lines in the Senate since 2013 with the Cruise Passenger Protection Act, and I am proud to work on this effort with Representative Doris Matsui of California. This bill would implement additional passenger safety standards and reporting requirements for cruise lines, ensuring that consumers have adequate information about their rights before a trip and a means of recourse if something goes wrong.
My bill would require cruise lines to retain video footage of any alleged crime for one year to give investigators and victims more time to access footage that may be necessary to seek justice. It would also require cruise lines to specify whether crimes, including sexual assaults, were committed against minors. To strengthen enforcement of the law, the bill would increase the penalties cruise lines face for violations of the law.
My Cruise Passenger Protection Act would also significantly strengthen support for victims. It would require cruise lines to clearly inform passengers of the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit and establish a director of victim support services within the U.S. Department of Transportation to liaise with cruise ship victims and develop procedures for handling incidents.
Since I led this measure, Congress has passed several of its health and safety provisions. These provisions impose requirements on cruise lines, such as installing video cameras in common areas and retaining surveillance records for 20 days, installing “man overboard” imaging technology, and ensuring ships have easily accessible automated external defibrillators. While these now enacted policies are an important step forward, the Cruise Passenger Protection Act must be passed in its entirety to address current issues aboard cruise ships and protect all passengers on board.
The cruise line industry has fiercely fought this legislation, saying its requirements are “unnecessary.” As the BuzzFeed News investigation makes clear, they are questioned by experts, lawyers, and victims and their families. The bravery of those who speak will help us pass my Cruise Passenger Protection Act. I hope the cruise industry will support these important reforms, which will only make travel better for consumers. Strict safety standards and real enforcement will help protect passengers and hold the cruise industry accountable.
Richard Blumenthal is Connecticut’s senior senator.
