CRUISE INDUSTRY
RELEASES
CRIME STATISTICS
Numbers Show
People Much Safer on Cruise Ships than U.S. Average
ARLINGTON, VA, March 2006 -– The
International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) released information
regarding crime on board cruise ships prior to a hearing before the
House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and
International Relations.
What
can you expect if you become a victim?
|
The industry data, based on 15
cruise lines’ submissions, totaled 206 complaints from passengers
and crew during a three-year timeframe (2003-2005) when more than 31
million people sailed on cruise ships. There were 178 complaints of
sexual assault, four robberies and 24 missing persons during the
three-year period.
The cruise industry retained nationally-renowned criminologist
Professor James Fox, Ph.D., as an independent expert to review the
data provided to Congress. Professor Fox is the Lipman Family
Professor of Criminal Justice at Northeastern University, visiting
fellow with the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice
Statistics and author of 16 books.
“While virtually no place--on land or sea--is totally free of
risk, the number of reported incidents of serious crime from cruise
lines is extremely low, no matter what benchmark or standard is
used,” said Fox.
“Cruising is one of the safest vacations available with an
outstanding record that demonstrates the industry’s commitment to
safety and security,” said Michael Crye, president of the ICCL.
“The cruise lines cooperated with Congress in gathering these
statistics to further demonstrate that cruising is an exceptionally
safe vacation.”
Crye further explained, “Certainly, these are not just numbers;
they represent people that have gone through personal tragedies. We
do not intend to minimize or brush aside their grievances nor shirk
responsibility. The cruise industry is constantly reviewing its
practices and procedures to make sure incidents, no matter how rare,
are handled responsibly and with compassion.”
Cruise lines operate within a legal framework under which
international, federal and state authorities investigate crimes on
board cruise ships. All allegations of crimes involving U.S.
citizens are reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
and alleged crimes against Americans can be investigated and
prosecuted under U.S. federal statutes even if they arise on cruise
ships outside of U.S. waters.
ICCL member cruise lines maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy for
crime that was adopted in 1999. In the event of an incident, the
cruise industry takes all allegations and incidents seriously,
reports them to the proper authorities and fully cooperates in any
investigation. In many instances, cruise lines do not publicly
disclose detailed information to comply with directions from law
enforcement and out of respect for the families involved.
Cruise lines work closely with local, state, federal and
international authorities, such as port authorities where ships
call, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the
FBI and Interpol. Every cruise ship has a dedicated security officer
and staff whose sole function is the security of the passengers,
crew and vessel. Security staff personnel typically have a former
law enforcement or military background and are trained according to
international security regulations.
Crye offered the following advice for travelers: “While instances
of crime on board cruise ships are rare, it is important to be
observant of one’s possessions and one’s surroundings at all
times while traveling. Cruise passengers are reminded of this, as
they are in any hotel, by safety information, daily bulletins, port
visit briefings and the provision of room safes or safety deposit
boxes.”
“While a crime can occur anywhere, a cruise ship is one of the
safest ways to travel,” Crye added.
The ICCL and several cruise lines testified in a maritime security
hearing before the House Subcommittees on National Security,
Emerging Threats and International Relations and Criminal Justice,
Drug Policy and Human Resources on Dec. 13, 2005. Following the
December hearing, the Subcommittees, led by Congressman Christopher
Shays (R-CT), requested numbers from individual cruise lines on
sexual assault, missing persons and robberies ($5000 value and
above) during a three-year period (2003-2005). During this time,
more than 31 million people took cruise vacations.
About the ICCL: The International
Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) represents the interests of 15
passenger cruise lines that call on major ports in the United States
and abroad. ICCL member lines include: Carnival Cruise Lines;
Celebrity Cruises; Costa Cruise Line N.V.; Crystal Cruises; Cunard
Line; Disney Cruise Line; Holland America Line; NCL America;
Norwegian Cruise Line; Princess Cruises; Radisson Seven Seas
Cruises; Royal Caribbean International; Seabourn Cruise Line,
Silversea Cruises; and Windstar Cruises. These vessels account for
approximately 90% of the North American passenger cruise line
industry.
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