A bill that will not only keep cruise ship passengers safer, but also enhance their powers to report crimes that occur, is on Pres. Obama’s desk, pending his signature. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act was passed by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday. The bill contains a number of provisions that maritime attorneys and cruise crime victims associations have been calling for over the past few years.

Among other things, the Act will provide for peepholes on all cabin doors, and a minimum height of 42 inches for railings. All ships must have crime information packets in cabins to give passengers the information they need to report crimes, when these have occurred. Vessels will also be required to notify the US Coast Guard and the FBI immediately, when a crime takes place on a vessel. Currently, cruise vessels are not required to report crimes to the FBI.

Ships must also carry rape kits as well as medications to prevent STDs. Cruise ships must come with medically trained staff, who can help passengers deal with the trauma of an assault. Cruise ships must provide passengers access to a confidential 24-hour sexual assault Hotline. Cruise operators are now required to keep a log of all incidents of assaults, homicides, kidnappings or disappearances of American nationals.

These rules will apply to all ships that dock at US ports. Many of these rules are currently in place on several cruise lines. But once they are formally in force, it should make passengers much more aware of their rights.

For too long, cruise ship passengers have been told to leave normal securities and protections behind on land when they board a vessel. Not anymore. This law will extend many of the same securities that Americans enjoy on land, to the sea. Having this law does not mean that crimes will never again occur on the sea, but it does ensure that families of victims don’t come up against blank walls in their fight against justice, as they have so often  in the past.

and cruise crime victims associations have been calling for over the past few years.

Among other things, the Act will provide for peepholes on all cabin doors, and a minimum height of 42 inches for railings. All ships must have crime information packets in cabins to give passengers the information they need to report crimes, when these have occurred. Vessels will also be required to notify the US Coast Guard and the FBI immediately, when a crime takes place on a vessel. Currently, cruise vessels are not required to report crimes to the FBI.

Ships must also carry rape kits as well as medications to prevent STDs. Cruise ships must come with medically trained staff, who can help passengers deal with the trauma of an assault. Cruise ships must provide passengers access to a confidential 24-hour sexual assault Hotline. Cruise operators are now required to keep a log of all incidents of assaults, homicides, kidnappings or disappearances of American nationals.

These rules will apply to all ships that dock at US ports. Many of these rules are currently in place on several cruise lines. But once they are formally in force, it should make passengers much more aware of their rights.

For too long, cruise ship passengers have been told to leave normal securities and protections behind on land when they board a vessel. Not anymore. This law will extend many of the same securities that Americans enjoy on land, to the sea. Having this law does not mean that crimes will never again occur on the sea, but it does ensure that families of victims don’t come up against blank walls in their fight against justice, as they have so often  in the past.