MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US Congress looks into cruise vessels' crime

Twenty four passengers have gone unaccounted for in United States cruises in the Caribbean and 178 have suffered sexual attacks in the last three years claimed this week relatives and solicitors from the alleged victims before the United States Congress.

The mysterious disappearances, rapes and other irregular situations like serving alcohol to minors were exposed by several witnesses before the US House Government Reform Committee's International Relations Subcommittee, chaired by Christopher Shays.

Witnesses included Ira Leonard of Hamden, whose wife Myrtle had 7.000 US dollars worth of jewellery stolen from the couple's locked cabin aboard a Royal Caribbean ship in June of 2004. The Leonards sought compensation from the cruise line, which simply responded by directing them to read their ticket agreement, which waives the line from any liability for lost items.

"Our experience with Royal Caribbean International since June 2004 has taught us that there is no one capable of advocating for the passenger," Ira Leonard told Shays.

The passenger's only recourse is litigation, which for many theft victims would cost more than their loss, Ira Leonard argued.

Another witness, Janet Kelly, 46 and married claims that one of the ship's stewards allegedly drugged and raped her while on a Caribbean cruise.

In December Jean Scavone of Meriden testified about the disappearance of her son, James Scavone, 22, on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship in the Caribbean, shortly after his graduation from Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. Two more witnesses, Kendall and Carol Carver of Phoenix and Son Michael Pham of Bellevue, Washington, testified to the mysterious disappearances of loved ones from cruise ships. In both cases the carriers immediately ruled the deaths suicides despite a lack of supporting evidence. Newly wed George Smith disappeared July 5, 2004 from a Royal Caribbean ship in the Aegean Sea off Turkey, after a night of drinking with his wife, Jennifer Hagel Smith and other passengers.

George Smith's disappearance is currently under investigation by the FBI. Witnesses reported hearing loud noises coming from Smith's cabin, while bloodstains were later found on the side of the ship beneath the cabin window.

US Congressman Shays has proposed legislation that would simply require all cruise lines operating out of the U.S., regardless of national registration, to report all crime. "It's nearly impossible for cruise line passengers to understand their rights", said Shays. "Even attorneys find it difficult to navigate the complex jurisdictional boundaries, statutory definitions, treaty provisions, maritime traditions and fine-print liability disclaimers", and even when the law is clear "the effective reach of U.S. authority depends on the willingness and ability of cruise ship operators to make security a visible priority, recognize and report incidents, preserve evidence and conduct thorough on-board investigations", he added.

At the committee's first hearing on the issue late last year, J. Michael Crye, president of the International Council of Cruise lines, told lawmakers that cruise ships are statistically among the safest means of travel in the world, while in 1999 the industry adopted a "zero tolerance" policy on crime.