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Cruise ship crime allegations reporting bill becomes US law

As expected, President Obama on Thursday signed into law a bill that mandates reporting of all cruise ship crime allegations, regardless of their investigative status, and transfers certain related responsibilities from the US Coast Guard to the Department of Transportation.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

December 19, 2014

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

As earlier reported, this legislation toughens the Passenger Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010, which required a numerical accounting of alleged crimes that are no longer under investigation by the FBI. Cruise industry critics felt that reporting only those allegations no longer under investigation may have skewed the numbers too low.

However, for more than a year, Cruise Lines International Association member lines—more than 90% of the US industry—have been voluntarily reporting all alleged crimes on their websites, as distinct from the PVSSA just 'closed cases' mandate for the FBI numbers. This, too, may be imprecise as some allegations could be unfounded or subsequently retracted.

The new law, S. 2444, the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, also mandates that the Department of Transportation assume responsibility for a website that lists the alleged crimes, by cruise line. Previously, USCG had been responsible for that.

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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