Cruise News - International Cruise Victims Association - Safety on Cruises
February 09 - 2012 : International Cruise Victims Association (ICV) Promotes Safety on Cruise Ships
In conjunction with efforts by the International Cruise Victims Association (ICV), major legislation to improve safety on cruise ships has just been announced in California by Assembly member Roger Hernández (D – West Covina).
He has introduced legislation that would ensure the rights of cruise ship patrons when a crime is committed against them while they are at sea. Assembly Bill 1060 would allow California law to apply to crimes committed at sea, and would require every cruise line to provide notification to passenger victims that they can pursue additional avenues of recourse when reporting a crime.
Unfortunately, despite the cruise industry claims, tragic events on cruise vacations are not extremely rare and when they do occur, ICV simply wants those responsible to be held accountable. ICV has experienced, first hand, the cover-up of many of these cases.
It was just six years ago that four families joined together to take on an industry that for too long has put profits ahead of accountability for their actions.
ICV is now recognized around the world and over the past few weeks the media has turned to ICV to provide information about this industry.
ICV members have taken on an industry that has significant resources to maintain the status quo. What lessons have been learned?
Some of the points of interest include:
• The cruise lines have clearly developed close relationships over the years with those in charge of regulating them. This would include the IMO and various other enforcement agencies.
• On a worldwide basis, standards have been set by the International Maritime Authority (IMO), which is a division of the United Nations. However, the enforcement has been left up to the various countries where the ships have been flagged. These countries are neither equipped nor motivated to take the action necessary since this represents a business to these countries.
In response, the IMO put out a Press Release which indicated the following:
The International Maritime Organization, through its Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu, said the IMO needs to "seriously consider the lessons to be learnt [from the accident] and, if necessary, re-reexamine the requirements on the safety of large passenger ships."
ICV has been instrumental in the passage of the Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act. And now, members of the Board of ICV will be meeting in Washington, yet again, in early February with both the FBI and the Coast Guard.
Under discussion will be the enforcement of the CVSSA by these agencies.
ICV is hopeful that their conversations will be positive. However, they also fully recognize that there has been a close relationship between these agencies and the very industry they are to police.
ICV will not go away and will continue to press for proper regulations and enforcement.
For more information about safety at sea take a look at the Prow’s Edge section Safety at Sea or visit the ICV
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