Criminal law on cruise ships?

Question

I was just on a cruise with a few friends of mine,and a friend af mine brought up an interestiing, God forbid a serrious crime occurs out at sea, ie rape, murder, assult, Who procutes it? Which country? i was on a carnival cruise ship registed in Bahamma, so would they handle it? And my other question why dont cruise register there ships in USA whats the big deal.

Answer 1

NCL America is registered in the U.S. so I would feel safer on one of those.  They're the only cruise ships in 50 years to be registered in the U.S.  But anyway, I think with the law, they take it into the companies own hands unless they are docked or in a country's water.  If they are on open sea, there isn't any laws to govern so the law is the rules on the ship.

Answer 2

The legal problems on a cruise ship are enormous.  Rapes, murders, disappearances, etc have all taken part on cruise ships. I haven't heard of any conclusions, only finger pointing.  You own the boat, your country is registered as operator, the captain is registered in country X, the crew are of country Y and Z, the on-board doctor practices Voodoo, the water tanks are dirty and are not supposed to be cleaned until the year 2525, the life-jackets are from WW-1,  

To register a ship in the US, it has to follow US safety guidelines.  That would require money.

Answer 3

Not sure on the criminal part but I think it would apply to which ever nation is closest, as for the your next ? they do not register in the U.S. because our laws and polices they are stricter and taxes.

Answer 4

Usually, crime is handled (on British liners anyway) by the Master-at-Arms, which is the ship's policeman and the ship's officers.  If a trial at sea commences, the ship's Captain usually serves as judge and jury, although the ship's officers sometimes are the jury. The reason why Cruise lines register their ships in other countries (usually in Panama) is to save money when using the Panama Canal and other local waterways.

Answer 5

cruiselines have to report any crime in their port documents upon arrival in any port.  (that includes having to report bodies on board, so if a crime like a murder is committed while at sea, police in their first port of call will come on board to investigate and make an official report.  Further, the cruiseship's registry has some procedural say, but usually it is up to the home port officials (usually U.S.or Canadian), or the officials in the first port of call after occurance of the incident, or both.