Crimes at sea in the context of cruise tourism – a blind spot in criminology?

• In Event: Cross-National Studies on Criminal Justice

Abstract

Cruise ship tourism has been a growing business over the past decades. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act requires a reporting of serious crimes to the FBI. However, reported offences are particularly low while victims’ associations report higher prevalence of crime. These differences in reporting question the reliability of the official data. Our study is based on a systematic literature review and on a qualitative survey among crew members of cruise ships, members of shipping companies and representatives of maritime agencies. The survey shows that crime among crew members is often dealt with in an informal way. Certain crew members serve as representatives of status groups or ethnic groups who settle the conflict and regulate the crime. Reporting of offences to the command crew or documenting crime in logbooks is very rare and unpopular onboard. Crime affecting passengers has indeed reported rarely. If offences have been visible to the crew, it is usually reported and dealt with in the next harbor. Anyway, it is plausible that the prevalence of certain offences is lower onboard of cruise ships due to certain limitations (like a lack of escape possibilities or intensive video surveillance).

Author

• Dominic Kudlacek, University of Applied Sciences Bremerhaven