Today’s news that a man is charged with killing his wife on a cruise ship off the coast of Mexico is a grim reminder that cruise ship passengers are far more vulnerable than cruise lines’ carefree and romanticized marketing suggests.

A cruise, after all, is supposed to be about fun. Yet from murder, robbery and sexual assault to food poisoning, medical maladies and slip and fall accidents, a cruise ship can be a risky place.

That’s why new legislation is being proposed in Washington, D.C. to enhance cruise ship safety and accountability. Introduced by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.),  the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009 would require cruise lines to report on-board crime allegations to the FBI and the U.S. Coast Guard.

This legislation also calls for cruise ships to provide materials and licensed medical practitioners to handle exams if a passenger reports being raped. Also proposed are rules to place peep holes, security latches and time sensitive keys on cabin doors, and to raise guard rails on balconies from 44 to 54 inches.

Ships also would be required to install technological devices which could detect when a passenger falls or jumps overboard.

One problem with this legislation is that few cruise ship lines are registered in the United States. Most are registered as being owned and operated from other countries, even though about half of the world’s 12 million cruise passengers embark from the U.S. So even with most of their passengers being American, such ships largely aren’t bound by U.S. laws.

However, if a death occurs on any cruise ship within the three-mile territorial limit of U.S. waters off America’s coastline, then wrongful death laws for the particular state should apply. Since many cruises depart from large coastal states such as Texas, California and Florida, those states’ laws might have a bearing.

In short, cruise ship laws can ripple in murky waters, and those waters need the navigational skills of an experienced cruise ship accident lawyer or personal injury attorney. If you or a loved one has suffered a cruise ship injury, notify a cruise ship lawyer with Jim S. Adler & Associates and steer your course toward a full and fair financial recovery.

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