SAFETY AT SEA - Did you Know?
You’re just about to head off on your dream cruise!
You’ve packed everything you think you’ll need, you’ve done your research on the ports you will be visiting, and you’ve remembered to make sure someone is coming in to feed the goldfish while you’re away.
But how much do you really know about the cruise you’re about to take, about the cruise ship, the cruise line and the cruise industry in general.
The information in these “safety” pages here aboard Prow’s Edge may just tell you some things you didn’t know before and may just help to keep you safe on your dream cruise. Knowledge is your biggest weapon against crime and misfortune at sea.
Did you know, for example, that the main crimes at sea include sexual assaults and rapes, general assaults and altercations, theft, and passengers overboard?
Did you know that every month there is more than one sexual assault on cruise passengers - and those are just the cases that have been reported? The number one crime reported on cruise ships is sexual assault.
Did you know that in 2009 alone there were more than 25 cases of passengers mysteriously going over board (which is more than one every two weeks) - and that many of those cases have never been solved?
And if that doesn’t make you determined to be more aware of your cruise ship and your surroundings while on a cruise, did you know that most cruise ships are registered in foreign countries like Panama, Liberia or the Bahamas? And that this means that your home for that week long cruise is not subject to the safety rules and regulations that you might take for granted at home?
Did you know that many cruise lines have used this situation to avoid following up crimes at seas?
And finally, did you know that it is only because of the efforts of the likes of the International Cruise Victims Association, ever the voice for victims of crime on cruise ships, that legislation is finally underway to protect cruise passengers from crime at sea, and that cruise lines may soon be forced to take action when a crime is committed.
The bottom line right now, however, is that you, as a passenger, need to be more than usually vigilant for your own safety while on a cruise.
The information in these pages about safety are designed not to ruin your enjoyment of your cruise, or to sensationalize the issue, but to make you more aware of what is actually happening around you, how to make your vacation as safe as possible and how to cope with a stressful situation should it arise.
Things you can do to improve your safety at sea
We all want to avoid crime, and here Prow’s Edge reminds you of common sense ideas to make sure that you don’t become a victim of crime at sea. click here for more ...What to do if you become a victim of a crime at sea
There is a recommended procedure and a number of steps you need to take if you should find that you have become a victim of a crime at sea. Our step by step guide gives you a basic outline of those steps. click here for more...Medical safety at sea
In a recent Prow’s Edge poll, less than 10 % of the passengers taking part were aware of what medical facilities were available on their last cruise. Very few of the US passengers were aware that there are no federal guidelines to establish minimum standards for medical care on cruise ships. Prow’s Edge gives you more details on what you should be aware of to ensure your own medical safety at sea. click here for more ...If you are a victim of a crime or other incident aboard a cruise ship and would like to talk to a lawyer, email Timothy MB Farrell, author of High Seas Crimes at timothymbfarrell@yahoo.com
CLICK HERE FOR A SUMMARY OF THE CRUISE VESSEL SECURITY AND SAFETY ACT 2009
If you would like more information about the International Cruise Victims Association, please visit their web site at:
www.internationalcruisevictims.org/