PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International Cruise Victims (ICV), a grassroots movement started just eight years ago to improve safety and security onboard cruise ships, requested to be heard by the National Transportation Safety Board at this month’s upcoming forum, “CRUISE SHIPS, EXAMINING SAFETY, OPERATIONS, AND OVERSIGHT.” This meeting will be held on March 25th and 26th at the offices of the NTSB in Washington, D.C.
Powerful industry giants and trade groups will participate along with regulators at the forum held by the NTSB Office of Marine Safety, which has strong ties to the cruise ship industry. ICV is an organization that is made up of victims of crimes on cruise ships. During the past several years maritime experts have joined with ICV to promote all safety issues regarding cruise ships.
The ICV through its Chairman, Kendall Carver, says the victims and the maritime experts working with ICV should not be excluded because they have much to contribute to understanding the safety issues on cruise ships. Though NTSB generally investigates only transportation losses which occur within the jurisdiction of the United States, the agency's reach is often extended worldwide to assist other nations and protect American interests. The agency is also charged with the duty to assist the families of victims of accidents and also to advocate and promote safety recommendations. This forum is an opportunity for dialogue between different interests. But that won’t happen.
Cruise ships, operated by United States-based companies such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean, generate most of their revenues from American citizens. To avoid income taxes the cruise operators flag their vessels in foreign tax havens which lack the resources to effectively enforce international maritime laws and safe practices. The result is crushing for families when absent regulation results in disaster. Carver says the Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act of 2010 passed by Congress shows the United States can act to protect its citizens by legislating safety measures the flag states lack the resources to provide despite the mandates of international maritime treaties.
ICV has promoted safety improvements and enhanced law enforcement to prevent crime and prosecute criminals for wrongs against passengers. The industry opposed the recent legislation and lobbies to resist proposed legal enhancements to protect passengers. Carver says, “If they won’t give us a seat at the forum table we have no way to be heard unless we speak out publicly.”