Rape on the High Seas

So you’re a woman on a cruise ship, sailing off to some exotic destination. You’ve planned the trip for months. Brought the finest clothes for all those intimidate evenings, the shows, and for all those wild and crazy hours by the pool. Free flowing glasses of alcohol will be everywhere. You’ve thought about it all, planning every detail so nothing can go wrong. And if it does what’s the worst that could happen? You eat too food? Take in too much sun? Or have too much fun? How about getting raped?

I’m reading a CNN.com report about the startling investigation conducted by the FBI. It’s regarding sexual assaults on the high seas, which is the leading crime committed on cruise ships. In recent years the cruise industry has come under fire in light of some high profile cases involving not only rapes, but also the mysterious disappearance of passengers. Within the last 5 years 184 criminal cases have been opened, and although this number appears relatively low if you consider during this same time 64 million travelers have sailed off into the sunset, these alarming incidents prompted members of Congress to introduce new legislation this past spring.

It’s called the 2009 cruise vessel security and safety act, and will require cruise ship operators to make cruise ship crimes public and take additional security reinforcements. Unbeknown to me, and really a disturbing bit of information is currently sexual assaults need only be reported to the FBI and coast guard. That means as a paying customer you could board a ship with a history of sex crimes, and not even know it. Of course the new bill is under tremendous scrutiny by industry loyalist who insist traveler safety is their top priority. Royal Caribbean International points to the hundreds of closed circuits television in public locations its ships use to monitor potential problems. However, let’s be honest. Cruise ship operators control the scene of any crime committed on their ships so they’re free to lie, hide evidence, or make up bogus statements with or without closed circuit televisions. Knowing this expect the bill to be probably watered down, while the industry continues to points a finger at whomever, or whatever is most convenient. Like the ever convenience availability of alcohol argument coupled with the just as convenient party mentality of passengers, which they claim are two main causes for many of these incidents. Regardless, there’s no reason why travelers shouldn’t feel safe and be safe whatever they’ve been drinking, and whatever their mentality. I personally think the exploitation of foreign workers hired as cheap labor, and these workers lack of respect for American law is one major problem. Michael Crye, executive vice president of the Cruise Lines International Association probably disagrees. He says, “The cruise ship is a closed community.” Security officers “have absolute access to everyone on board, because each person has been documented before boarding the ship.” To that I say bull! The FBI statistics show in nearly half of these incidents the suspect is a crewmember. “They (cruise lines) will commit to nothing,” says Ken Carver, whose daughter disappeared on a Celebrity cruise in 2004. He is now president of a non-profit group, International Cruise Victims. “They will sell you the tickets, and then fail to take responsibility.”

The cruise industry would have us believe most women are wide-eyed, semi-delusional dreamers caught in some sort of love boat fantasy. The industry needs to wake up and start taking proactive actions to stop these crimes. I get sick and disgusted reading stuff like this, especially when the people who have the power to force change completely ignore the physical violence and humiliation forced on unsuspecting travelers.