The House voted Thursday to require the cruise industry to be more transparent in reporting cruise ship crime and comply with new cabin security and surveillance measures.
CLIA backs the current version of the Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act of 2009. It didn't back an earlier version with a clause enabling relatives of cruise ship crime victims to recover damages for emotional suffering and bereavement.
CLIA worked with victims rights groups and lawmakers over the summer to revise the bill.
"This legislation codifies many existing regulations and industry practices while also setting forth additional safety requirements," said CLIA in a statement.
The bill mandates a minimum height for railing as well as peepholes and security latches on cabin doors.
The law also would require cruise lines to report crimes on a website operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Ship personnel would be required to contact the FBI to report incidents involving homicide, assaults or missing U.S. nationals as soon as they occur, even in international waters.
In addition, ships would be required to deploy technology to detect passengers who fall overboard, if and when that technology becomes available.
The bill now goes to the Senate floor for a vote.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) after one of her constituents was sexually assaulted on a cruise by a ship employee in 2006.
"For far too long, American families and particularly young women have unknowingly been at risk when signing up for cruise vacations," Matsui said in a statement.
"The passage of this legislation will not only help recent victims of cruise crimes and offer them enhanced protection, but will help from preventing further crimes from happening."
