Sen. John F. Kerry plans to write legislation that would mandate that staff on cruise ships immediately notify the FBI about all incidents

The Republican

U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., said he plans to write legislation that would mandate that staff on cruise ships immediately notify the FBI about any untoward activity aboard their ships including crimes, suicides and disappearances. Staff would be required to develop better protocols for collecting evidence. Kerry, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, said he made his decision after meeting this week with the Kendall Carver, the father of Merrian L. Carver. Carver said his daughter, a Cambridge investment banker, went on a cruise off the coast of Alaska in 2004 and has never been heard from since.

Other cruise passengers testified before a House panel earlier this week about crimes or disappearances and the cruise line's failure to report the incidents to law enforcement authorities or seal rooms to protect evidence.
Cruise ships that leave U.S. land are mandated by law to report disappearances and crimes to the FBI and Coast Guard, said U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, but crews don't always follow a standard procedure. Neal and U.S. Rep. John W. Olver, D-Amherst, signed legislation this week that would require cruise lines to maintain adequate security levels and to give passengers full disclosure about risks.
Kerry will work with U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., the FBI and the cruise lines to develop legislation to "create clear rules for cruise lines."