Sen. Blumenthal Seeks More Protections For Cruise Passengers

Serious security incidents on cruise ships are not limited to sexual assault. Man overboard incidents, thefts and even murders have long been a reality of these voyages. One tragic example involves 26-year-old George Smith IV of Greenwich, Connecticut, who disappeared from a cruise in 2005. 2015, The FBI closed the Smith case. and his family may never get answers about what happened. The Smith family courageously turned their grief into action, working closely with Congress to secure passage of the Cruise Ship Safety Act of 2010, the last major reform of the cruise industry. Legislation has made important strides in improving passenger safety on cruise ships, but additional measures are urgently needed.

I have led efforts to further reform cruise lines in the Senate since 2013 with the passage of the Cruise Passenger Protection Act, and I am proud to work on this effort with Rep. Doris Matsui of California. This bill would impose additional passenger safety standards and reporting requirements for cruise lines, ensuring that consumers have adequate information about their rights before traveling and remedies if something goes wrong.

My measure would require cruise lines to retain video footage of any alleged crime for one year to give investigators and victims more time to access the material they may need to bring justice. Cruise lines will also be required to disclose whether crimes, including sexual assault, have been committed against minors. To strengthen enforcement, the bill would increase the fines cruise lines face for violating the law.

My Cruise Passenger Protection Act would also greatly increase support for victims. Cruise lines will be required to clearly inform passengers of the statute of limitations for filing a claim, and will also need to appoint a Director of Victim Services at the U.S. Department of Transportation who will liaise with cruise ship victims and develop procedures for resolving incidents.

Since I led this measure, Congress has passed several of its safety and health provisions. These provisions impose requirements on cruise lines such as installing video cameras in common areas and storing surveillance recordings for 20 days, installing man-overboard imaging technology, and providing readily accessible automated external defibrillators on ships. While the regulations now in place are an important step forward, the full Cruise Passenger Protection Act must be enacted to address the current issues on board cruise ships and protect all passengers on board.

The cruise line industry fiercely fought the law, saying its requirements were “unnecessary.” As a BuzzFeed News investigation makes clear, they are disputed by experts, lawyers, victims and their families. The courage of those who speak out will help us pass my Cruise Passenger Protection Act. I hope the cruise industry will support these important reforms that will only make their travel experience better for consumers. Strong safety standards and meaningful enforcement will help protect passengers and hold the cruise industry accountable.

Richard Blumenthal is the senior senator from Connecticut.