What you need to know about sexual assault on cruise ships and what you should do after if it happens to you.

1. Cruise Ship Assult
W H A T Y O U S H O U L D K N O W
H I C K E Y L A W F I R M

2. About Us
At the Hickey Law Firm, P.A., we are
experienced personal injury attorneys
who can help you in your time of need.
Led by John H. (Jack) Hickey, who used
to be a lawyer for the cruise industry,
he understands how cruise lines work
and will help you fight for your rights
and compensation in the event
you're assaulted while on a cruise
vacation. Please view the following
slides to learn more about cruise ship
assault.
H I C K E Y L A W F I R M

3. Cruise Ship
Assault
Because of the confined
environment, lack of quality crew
members, and ill-equipped and
improperly trained security
personnel, the potential for assault
and sexual assault on a cruise ship is
real. There have been incidences of:
H I C K E Y L A W F I R M
Assault by another passenger or by a crew member
Sexual assault by another passenger or by a crew member
Rape by another passenger or by a crew member

4. Your Rights on a Cruise Ship
H I C K E Y L A W F I R M
In 2010, congress passed the Cruise
Vessel Security and Safety Act
(CVSSA). This legislation was created to
address safety concerns on cruise ships,
including sexual assault prevention and
the appropriate response to help the
victims. According to the CVSSA, your
rights include:
A copy of the security guide
A sexual assault forensic exam
Right to confidentiality

5. Security on
Cruise Ships
H I C K E Y L A W F I R M
The cruise lines have a duty to
provide sufficiently-trained security
on board the ships. These security
personnel and security devices (like
monitored security cameras) should
provide the capabilities to detect
problems on board the ships. If the
cruise ship has insufficient security
personnel or equipment they may be
liable for assault or injury that occur.

6. Sexual Assault
by the Numbers
In 2017, 76 sexual assaults on cruises were
reported to the FBI. Of those, 59 were
committed by passengers, 16 by a crew
member, and one by other. The three
major cruise lines had sexual assaults
reported:
H I C K E Y L A W F I R M
Carnival Cruise Lines: 28 in 2016 and 35
in 2017
Royal Caribbean Cruises: 15 in 2016 and
17 in 2017
Norwegian Cruise Line: 11 in 2016 and
15 in 2017

7. What to Do After
an Assault
General Maritime Law applies to any
sexual assaults and rapes on board cruise
ships. Some important steps you should
take if you have been sexually assaulted or
raped on a cruise ship include:
H I C K E Y L A W F I R M
Report the crime immediately to the security officer
Go to the infirmary to report the incident and to obtain treatment for
any physical injuries
Do not shower or wash your clothes/bedding until you have had a
forensic examination
Try to collect the names of the those who were involved (perpetrators)
Collect any witness information

8. What to Do After
Continued...
H I C K E Y L A W F I R M
Take photos of any physical injuries or
bruises
Get proper medical care as soon as possible
for your physical injuries
Call the FBI to report the crime
At port in the U.S., go immediately to the
nearest rape treatment center
Seek psychological counseling
Call an experienced cruise ship assault
lawyer

9. Contact Us Today
If you’d like to learn more about how the Hickey Law Firm
can help you with your cruise ship accident case, please call
us for your free consultation.
Hickey Law Firm, P.A.
1401 Brickell Avenue, Suite 510
Miami, Florida 33131
(305) 371-8000