“There are 3 kinds of lies:  Lies, damn lies, and statistics.”  –Benjamin Disraeli (as quoted and made famous by Mark Twain).    

There are few if any figures or statistics out on the incidence of sexual assaults of passengers on cruise ships.  We know it has long been a problem.  We know that in the recent past the cruise lines have covered up crimes and evidence of crimes.   For example, think of the George Smith honeymooner disappearance case in which witnesses said that the crew of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line scrubbed blood off of a canvas cover to a lifeboat the morning after the incident.  This lifeboat may have been the boat onto which Smith fell on the night of his apparent death.  Think also of the cabin of Smith which was cleaned by the crew after that morning.  The examples in this one case alone go on and on, and the cruise line did not change its approach until the cruise line knew that there was a crush of media attention on them.  In fact, I was interviewed about that case over 20 times over the last 2 years on national television.  

In part because of that case, the United States Congress started hearings to gather evidence about what was happening to the more than 10 million American citizens per year who take cruises.  Some hearings started in 2006.  On March 27, 2007, I had the honor of testifying before the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation in Washington, D.C.  I testified about crimes on cruise ships including sexual assault and rape, and about the hurdles to bringing any claim-including for personal injury and wrongful death–against the cruise lines.  

One day before that hearing, the cruise lines’ trade group, the International Council of Cruise Lines, came to a voluntary agreement with the FBI and Coast Guard to report certain “incidents”.  Under that agreement, the cruise lines who participated reported 207 incidents which occurred from April 1, 2007 to August 24, 2007. 

At the recent hearings before Congress, on September 17, 2007, the cruise lines were crowing that the statistic was so low compared to the number of people who cruise.  The only problem with that interpretation is that it may be far from accurate.  First, this is the number of incidents so serious that the cruise lines actually reported it to the FBI.  Second, this reporting is voluntary.  The cruise lines are notorious for flouting required reporting of dumping of waste into the ocean and at least 2 cruise lines are convicted felons for not only misreporting but also for lying to the Coast Guard repeatedly about their illegal dumping.  Also, the officers and the captain of the ships feel that they cannot have too many of these incidents on their ships and keep their jobs and get raises.   This is an economic disincentive to report. 

Third, this statistic does not include the incidents which are reported to local police or some other law enforcement authorities.  After all, the ship when out at sea is an isolated, small town.  Yet it has no independent police force onboard.  Who wants to report something like a rape by a cruise line employee only to another cruise line employee, the ship’s doctor or pursar?  Understandably, it just does not always  happen. 

The world will be watching as the reporting requirements are ramped up by Congress.   We now need more than just statistics.  

If you or someone you know has been the subject of a sexual assault or rape on a cruise ship, call Hickey Law Firm toll free at :  1.800.215.7117.  We can help.  We know what you are going through.  See us at www.cruiseshipassault.com.  We have 27 years of maritime law and trial experience.  Call us today.      

On Monday, September 16, 2007, Congresswoman Matsui and other lawmakers introduced the Protect Americans From Crimes on Cruise Ships Resolution recognizing the lack of federal regulation of crime reporting, absence of law enforcement officials and lack of information made available to cruise customers. No legislation has been introduced to specifically address the issue, but Matsui and others have expressed interest in drafting such a bill at the request of victims.

If you have any questions about rape or sexual assault on cruise ships, call us.  We care.  (See, www.cruiseshipassault.com).  We handle these cases against the cruise lines.  John H. (Jack) Hickey has testified before the subcommittee of Congress investigating crime on cruise ships and the cruise lines.  Call us.  All consultations are free and stricltly confidential.  TOLL FREE:  1.800.215.7117.