Himes Proposes Tougher Cruise Ship Safety, Security Regs

Congressman Jim Himes has joined with fellow federal legislators to propose more stringent safety and security regulations for cruise ships and Himes said it was the disappearance of one of his constituents — fellow Cos Cob resident that prompted his support of the bill.

The legislation that was introduced Tuesday by Himes (D-4), and Congressmen Doris Matsui of California and Ted Poe of Texas and members of the Congressional Victim’s Rights Caucus, introduced bipartisan legislation called the Cruise Passenger Protection Act (CPPA) that would build on the passenger safety measures put in place by the CVSSA, which was signed into law in 2010.

The bill clarifies and strengthens the crime reporting requirements and the video surveillance requirements, and improves medical standards, according to Himes.

“This is a personal issue for me because it has profoundly affected my district and Connecticut,” Himes said in a statement. “In 2005, George Smith IV of Greenwich went missing while on his honeymoon cruise in the Mediterranean Sea. Since George’s disappearance, his family has been fighting tirelessly to improve safety on cruise ships and to protect cruise ship passengers.”

Himes said, “The fight continues today with the Cruise Passenger Protection Act. This bill bolsters current law with tighter crime reporting, expanded video surveillance equipment and record-keeping requirements, and streamlined tracking and public reporting of alleged crimes on cruise ships. It is safety improvements like these that will help prevent more avoidable tragedies.”

Matsui said the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act was a critical first step in putting protections into place for the thousands of Americans who unknowingly put themselves at risk when they go on a cruise. Matsui said in a statement, “The Cruise Passenger Protection Act … will continue to build upon the security and safety measures aboard our cruise ships and ensure that consumers have access to accurate information and victims are given the support and resources they deserve. I am grateful to the survivors and the victims’ families who by sharing their stories have brought national attention and Congressional action to this important consumer safety issue.”

Earlier this month similar legislation authored by Senators Richard Blumenthal of Greenwich and Edward Markey of Massachusetts, which includes mandates for ‘man overboard’ technology was introduced in the Senate.

Specifically, the CPPA would:

• Ensure a cruise vessel owner notifies the FBI within four hours of an alleged incident.
• Ensure that if an alleged incident occurs while the vessel is still in a U.S. port, the FBI must be notified before that vessel leaves the port.
• Require vessel owners to also report an alleged offense to the U.S. Consulate in the next port of call, if the alleged offense is by or against a U.S. national.
• Clarify that vessels must have video surveillance equipment in all passenger common areas, and other areas, where there is no expectation of privacy.
• Allow individuals access to video surveillance records for civil action purposes.
• Mandate that all video records are kept for 30 days after completion of the voyage.
• Direct the Coast Guard to promulgate final standards within one year detailing requirements for the retention of video surveillance records.
• Transfer authority for maintaining the internet website of alleged crimes on cruise ships from the Coast Guard to the Department of Transportation.
• Require that the website breakout the crimes that are reported against minors and alleged “man overboards” incidents.
• Direct the Department of Transportation to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of having an individual on board each passenger vessel to provide victim support services
• Require integration of technology that can both capture images and detect when a passenger has fallen overboard.
• Ensure medical standards that would require a qualified physician and sufficient medical staff to be present and available for passengers, crew member basic life support training, accessible automated defibrillators, and that the safety briefing includes important emergency medical and safety information.
• Ensure that should a U.S. passenger die aboard a vessel his or her next of kin could request the vessel to return the deceased back to the United States.

Photo: George Smith IV with his wife Jennifer before he disappeared during a honeymoon cruise in 2005. Credit: Courtesy of the Smith family.