The Cruise Industry's Commitment to Safety & Security

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) member cruise lines are required to comply with all international, flag and port state standards and regulations to ensure the safety and security of passengers. As an international industry, we are proud of our safety record and long-standing relationship with law enforcement agencies around the world, including the FBI and U.S. Coast Guard.

Committed to Keeping Passengers Safe and Secure

Serious crime aboard cruise ships is very rare. The industry has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to crime.

Cruise ships are required to report all allegations of serious crime to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. All such crimes involving U.S. citizens anywhere in the world while at sea are to be reported to the FBI, regardless of ship registration. In 2007, the U.S. Coast Guard testified before Congress that these procedures are working and that it does not believe Americans are at any significant crime risk while aboard cruise ships.

When an alleged crime is reported, cruise lines’ security personnel follow procedures, developed in part by the FBI, to secure a crime scene and preserve evidence that will be investigated by law enforcement officials once they board a ship. If an alleged crime is sexual in nature, on-board medical personnel are to be trained in such examinations and the proper use of evidence collection kits.

All crew are to be required to undergo pre-employment background screening. In addition, all crew who are foreign nationals aboard a cruise ship that docks at a U.S. port must have a seamen’s visa issued by the U.S. State Department.

Cruise ship design, construction and operations are governed by internationally-mandated standards designed to maximize the safety of passengers. Such standards have been adopted by those governments affected by cruising, including the United States. In addition to frequent flag state and shipping classification society inspections, the U.S. Coast Guard conducts annual inspections and regular reinspections of cruise ships that visit U.S. ports. They also inspect ship design and visit the ship during construction to ensure international and U.S. codes are being met.

CLIA's Security Committee, comprised of security officers from the member cruise lines, maintains a schedule for meetings every 60 days with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to discuss relevant issues, such as intelligence assessments. CLIA member lines are required to have thorough security plans and protocols in place and follow international guidelines to help ensure ship and passenger safety.

All cruise ships must have sufficient lifeboats, life rafts and life preservers for every person on board. Lifeboats are capable of being loaded, launched and maneuvered away from the ship within 30 minutes of the Master's signal to abandon ship.

Regulatory Framework

CLIA cruise lines must comply with international standards applicable to oceangoing vessels. In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard enforces federal regulations on ships that visit U.S. ports.

• International: International Maritime Organization (IMO), Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS), International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS)
• United States: U.S. Coast Guard Control Verification Certificate, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Maritime Transportation Security Act, Department of Homeland Security