Coming in 2007: PROJECT SAFE CRUISE
Project Safe Cruise will consist of a one week cruise in 2007 that will showcase the type of security and safety system that could be put in place by cruise lines to insure the safety and security of all passengers and crew and at the same time preserve evidence of crimes and/or accidents. On this Maiden Voyage we hope to offer short entertaining seminars and panel discussions by various security experts and perhaps some celebrities, on missing persons, identity theft, date rape, kidnapping, teenage and young child safety, security, safety, and health issues while in other countries or at sea, investment scams for seniors, how to buy art work, etc. We must focus on a postive solution that will benefit all parties involved and prevent future tragedies. This will be a win/win proposition giving all American passengers peace of mind and at the same time reducing crime and saving lives. If you are interested in learning more and perhaps joining the cruise or if you represent the press or would like to sponsor or help plan the cruise please leave contact information in the comments section or send an email to safecruise@hotmail.com. Become a charter member and be a part of history.
Project Safe Cruise could be a win-win solution for parties on both sides of the cruise ship safety issue. Look at it as an outside the box idea that is sort of like pre-event arbitration, a partnership if you will. Even though focusing on prevention is less glamorous and less dramatic than solving crimes, it is more efficient and gratifying, especially if we save one life or reduce the suffering of one family. We must work with the cruise lines to set up a cadre of independent contract employees that would act as security ombudsman who would –
- Know how to deal with a terrorist situation.
- Have the authority to lock down crime scenes and secure the chain of evidence .
- Deal immediately and directly with the FBI, Coast Guard, and other agencies and organizations in all ports of call.
- Provide ongoing security and safety training to crew and travel agents and organizers including shore excursion groups.
- Record and maintain a database of incidents and present some analysis of current procedures and conduct of parties involved and recommend improvements for all.
The cadre could be staffed by ex-military and ex-law-enforcement personnel who would get salary and/or some free cruise or vacation packages for their work, kind of like how many campgrounds have frequent campers act as hosts. What works good on land should work good on the water including a Neighborhood Watch or Guardian Angel type system that could include frequent customers, crew members, contract employees, travel agents, etc. Design an Amber Alert system for use on ships. The use of this and an independent cadre perhaps named Sea Marshals would provide the most important factor or element for preventing and solving crimes: TIME. We will contact Congressman Shays or his subcommittee for possible grants to solve the problem by thinking outside of the box?
posted by Timalantoo at 1/31/2006 11:30:00 PM
6 Comments:
I am confused about how this force you are describing are any different than the lines own security personnel who, as I understand it, are former military and law enforcement and carry out exactly the same functions you are describing here.
When a couple disappeared from our Carnival cruise last year, we saw no security or law enforcement personnel investigating the case. Carnival kept all passnegers in the dark and would not provide us with any information for the last three days of the cruise. Carnival did not notify the Coast Guard until four hours after they were reported missing. Carnival did not return the ship to the location they were last seen for over 12 hours. We are proposing that port fees be used to pay for INDEPENDENT, trained, experienced law enforcement staff who would follow strict protocols once a crime or accident is reported. Current security staff reports to the Cruise company, who might be liable for safety violations or crimes committed by the crew. This could help prevent tragedies and would allow those individuals or companies that commited crimes or safety violations to be held accountable. It would help solve the cases and provide some closure for surviving family members instead of leaving them with no answers about what happened to their loved ones.
If the cruise companies already have security personnel on board, then they need to question the effectiveness of this. Independent, trained and experienced people should be a consideration. It may not be a total solution, but too many lives have been affected by these types of crimes and it should be addressed. You are doing a great job highlighting this problem.
Interesting article , you make some interesting points .
Cruises directory
Safety on cruises is really important specially with the news that there are increasing pirate attacks to both cargo and cruise ships. Having a sea job is not really that easy but it pays well that is why there are a lot of people who would still work in spite of all the dangers of the doing so.
Great article. And very good blog. You are raising some interesting debates.
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