U.S. House Of Representatives
Health And Safety Practices Of Cruise Industry
September 28, 1994 And October 6, 1994
103th Congress
Serial No. 103-124
STATEMENT OF HON. WDLLIAM O. LIPINSKI, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM ILLINOIS, AND CHAIRMAN, SUBCOMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE
"Good morning, everyone. Welcome to today's hearing on cruise ship safety.
It is not my practice to make long opening statements, as Members of the committee know. I believe it is more important to hear from our witnesses. I would, however, like to make a few points before we proceed today.
First, the cruise ship industry is a growth industry. By the year 2000, it is projected over 8 million Americans will leave our ports on cruise ships each year; 8 million American citizens will pay an average of $1,000 for a six- to eight-day vacation on the high seas. It is our responsibility on the Merchant Marine Committee to over-
see the safety of these citizens.
I am deeply concerned that recent events indicate a need to take a long and hard look at cruise industry safety practices. I do not need to point out that almost all cruise ship lines operating from our ports are foreign flagged. That means that they are not required to meet the Coast Guard's strict safety regulations. They do
not adhere to our fair labor practices and it is safe to say that they also do not follow our health practices.
In addition, the foreign-flagged cruise industry takes roughly $7 billion out of our economy each year without paying one cent in U.S. corporate income taxes. And while, try as we may, we cannot get them to pay their fair share to the U.S. Treasury, we are committed to assure the safety of our citizens.
So let me leave you with this promise. We will find a way to make sure we regulate the safety practices of ships calling on our ports and protect the Americans traveling on the high seas.
I would also like to state this morning that I am extremely disappointed and enormously unhappy with Celebrity Cruise Lines, Incorporated, for not sending a representative to this hearing this morning. They know that we wanted them here. We tried to persuade them to attend. But up to this point, they have refused to
do so.
We have talked about issuing a subpoena to them. In light of the fact that these hearings are going to continue in the future, we are once again going to invite them to testify before the Merchant Marine and the Coast Guard Subcommittees. If they fail to agree to come and testify, the Merchant Marine Subcommittee and the
Coast Guard Subcommittee will meet and discuss subpoenaing them. I personally will strongly recommend we do subpoena them if they are not willing to come voluntarily."
STATEMENT OF HON. W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM LOUISIANA, AND CHAIRMAN, SUBCOMMITTEE ON COAST GUARD AND NAVIGATION
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Let me first commend you, Mr. Lipinski, and your staff for the efforts that have led to this hearing and the examination of cruise ship health and safety practices. We do so on a day of course when wire services report to us the loss of an Estonian ferry, capsized and sank with about 850 people aboard, and a huge apparent loss
of human life, as many as 760 apparently feared missing and dead.
Safety and health in the cruise ship industry are indeed suitable items for examination, particularly as the Chairman has pointed out, when it regards foreign-flagged cruise ships to which our laws and regulations have sometimes difficulty reaching, but which invite many Americans, particularly older Americans, to come aboard as paying passengers for what should be a pleasant, safe and healthy journey.
I look forward to working with the cruise ship industry and certainly with the Coast Guard and public health safety agencies, and with you, Mr. Chairman, to ensure in fact that the promise of healthy and safe voyage is a promise that is kept.
Just about a year ago, Mr. Lipinski, you recall our Coast Guard Subcommittee had hearings on an incident involving a whistle-blowing passenger who took some videotape of midnight dumping of garbage. As a result of that hearing and as a result of the cruise ship industry responding to our complaints, I am pleased to report to you today that the environmental beach cleanup effort that was
conducted just last weekend preliminarily indicates a much lower percentage of materials that apparently are finding their way on American beaches, dumped from these cruise ships and other ships in the areas. So progress is made as a result of these kind of hearings.
I firmlv believe as you have pledged to this hearing today, that as a result of what you are doing, passengers will in fact have a greater degree of certainty that the promise of a healthy and safe trip when they board a foreign-flagged cruise ship, as when they board an American-flagged cruise ship, is a promise that will be kept and not one that will result unfortunately in a sad story on the wire services."
STATEMENT OF HON. HERBERT H. BATEMAN, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM VIRGINIA, AND RANKING MINORITY MEMBER, SUBCOMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I, too, commend you for scheduling these hearings, and would share somewhat in your distress that the witness from Celebrity Lines did not choose to appear. These hearings should have a value, not only to us as Members of the committee, in determining whether or not there are things that reasonably might need to be
done to better assure the health and safety of passengers who are on cruise lines operating out of American ports.
It would be also, it seems to me, a very good opportunity for the cruise ship industry to be able to present their point of view and hopefully be able to allay any fears or concerns that their potential customers might have as to utilizing their lines and participating in the cruises. That, too, can have a useful purpose. I do commend
you for conducting the hearings and look forward to the testimony from our witnesses."
