The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 (CVSSA) prescribes security and safety requirements for any passenger vessel that is authorized to carry and has onboard sleeping facilities for at least 250 passengers, that is not engaged in a coastwise voyage, and that embarks or disembarks passengers in the United States. It provides new requirements for vessel design, public access to information about crime aboard cruise ships, provisions for emergency medical treatment, and crime prevention and criminal evidence gathering.
In passing the CVSSA, Congress found that serious incidents, including sexual assault and the disappearance of passengers at sea, have occurred on cruise vessel voyages, that passengers lack adequate understanding of their vulnerability to crime on board cruise vessels, that inadequate resources are available to assist cruise vessel crime victims, and that detecting and investigating cruise vessel crimes is difficult.
Later in 2011, guidance was issued for Coast Guard inspectors in verifying cruise vessel compliance with CVSSA requirements, and guidance and a model course curriculum for complying with the CVSSA's requirements for training at least one cruise vessel crew member in crime prevention and criminal evidence gathering. We developed the model course in consultation with the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Maritime Administration Certification of Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act Training Providers
Under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010 (Public Law 111-207), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) cooperatively established model training standards covering crime prevention, detection, evidence preservation, and reporting of criminal activities in the international maritime environment. The Act allows MARAD to certify security and safety training providers who provide training consistent with the model standards. Under this MARAD certification program, organizations wishing to have their cruise vessel security and safety training programs certified by MARAD as consistent with the model standards may voluntarily submit their programs to MARAD for review. This voluntary certification program will assist organizations in ensuring the safety and security of cruise ship passengers traveling to and from American ports.
Please review the following information on how to become a MARAD Certified CVSSA Training Provider:
- CVSSA Application and Submission Requirements - Click Here
- CVSSA Frequently Asked Questions - Click Here
- Certified CVSSA Training Provider Agreement - Click Here
View the List of Certified CVSSA Training Providers.
Contact Information
Questions or comments regarding this training certification program may be forwarded to CVSSA-MARAD@dot.gov.