US: New cruise law seeks to protect passengers 

US lawmakers are pushing for the increased protection of vacationers at sea in a new bill that calls for everything from improved onboard medical care to sea marshals and better video surveillance for detecting passengers who fall overboard.

Senators Richard Blumenthal and Edward Markey have renewed calls to improve safety at sea with what is known as the Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2015.

According to Blumenthal, since January of this year, 12 passengers have fallen overboard while vacationing on cruise ships.

One of the more recent incidents happened in March aboard the Carnival Triumph involving a 54-year-old man whose body was found in the Gulf of Mexico.

Lawmakers and advocacy group International Cruise Victims says the proposed bill could help set new standards in the US but also around the world.

It is estimated that about 23 million Americans board cruise ships every year.

New proposals include:

-integrating better technology to detect passengers who fall overboard

-improved surveillance cameras for capturing images of passengers who fall overboard

-improving medical standards

-more sea marshals

-clearly summarizing the terms and conditions of cruise contracts

-a consumer complaints hotline

-the reporting of crime against minors

-establishment of a victim’s advocate

Blumenthal promoted the new proposal this week alongside the family of a Connecticut man who fell overboard from a Royal Caribbean ship during his honeymoon cruise 10 years ago.

SOURCE: euronews