Every single year millions of people step onto cruise ships wanting to take a break from the real world and live on a giant floating paradise. The break from reality is not just a relaxing cognitive separation, it’s also in many ways a legal one. The laws that are intended (supposedly) to keep order in our society, don’t have much effect out in the seas. While this may sound like an ideal world to gamblers, it’s the worst-case scenario for someone who is the victim of an onboard crime. While the Golden Age of piracy is long gone, pirates still occupy the ocean. Back in 2005, a cruise ship off the coast of Somalia was hit with grenades. While the hijacking was ultimately unsuccessful, encountering pirates is rare and there are more crimes which are statistically more probable onboard a cruise ships. Things like theft, battery, and even sexual assault are possible. According to data that was provided by the largest cruise companies in the world, twenty-eight people have disappeared in the open sea (three of which have been found), and nearly 200 people have reported sexual misconduct and rape — and that’s just in the past three years. Maritime laws, the ambiguous and unclear regulations that rule the open seas, make it difficult to enforce the laws of the U.S. out at sea. Only afew of those cases have been investigated, let alone solved. The issue is maritime law. Maritime law is the set of laws that apply to the international waters, and they are about as convoluted as can be. Maritime laws are so loose and unregulated, it does not require cruise ships who sail outside of the normal boundaries and traverse into international waters to divulge their crime statistics data to any governing body. And as to who is supposed to initiate the investigation is up in the air. So what happens when you are the victim of a crime in a cruise ship? Here’s what goes into consideration when attempting to parce together a case for a crime committed on a cruise ship:
International Waters: Areas like bays and ports are within the boundaries of a country. That means that the laws of the land in which the ship is docked apply to the ship, passengers, and its crew.
Territorial Waters: Typically, a country’s laws apply up to 12 miles out at sea. So a U.S. cruise ship cannot commence its gambling activities until after its sailed past the 12-mile mark.
Contiguous Zone: It’s within this area – 12 to 24 miles that a nation begins to lose jurisdiction, but not completely. For example, the U.S. Coast Guard is allowed to board any ship suspected of carrying drugs, regardless of its national origin.
High Seas: Here, the law of the ship mirrors that of the ship’s origin. So an American ship 25 miles off the coast of China is subject to American law. It can be a difficult legal process, but your best bet is to call a qualified legal attorney. We have the resources and the right legal team to help you with your case. We don’t collect any upfront fees, and you only pay if we successfully try your case and get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today.
Over $500 Million Recovered
for Our Clients
By submitting this form, you agree to receive telephone calls and text messages at anytime, which include hours outside of business hours (8:00 am PST – 9:00 pm PST). This is so that we may reach you as soon as possible in order to consult on your potential case.
LOS ANGELES OFFICE
4113 Clinton Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90004
855-339-8879
info@downtownlalaw.com
BAKERSFIELD OFFICE
2005, Eye Street, Suite 4
Bakersfield, CA 93301
661-219-7455
MODESTO OFFICE
3430 Tully Road
Modesto, California 95350
209-353-4493
ORANGE COUNTY OFFICE
2372 Morse Ave.
Irvine, California 92614
949-627-8725
SAN DIEGO OFFICE
01 West Broadway
San Diego, California 92101
619-413-0161
OXNARD OFFICE
105 N Oxnard Blvd,
Oxnard, CA 93030
805-263-4423
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE
1 Sansome St. Suite 3500-11
San Francisco, California 94104
650-651-5006
VENTURA OFFICE
701 E Santa Clara St
Ventura, California 95816
805-292-0367
INLAND EMPIRE OFFICE
7121 Magnolia Ave
Riverside, California 92504
909-340-3929
VICTORVILLE OFFICE
13782 Bear Valley Rd.
Victorville, California 92392
760-563-4384
FRESNO OFFICE
5588 N Palm Ave
Fresno, California 93704
559-556-0227
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE
388 Market St #1300
San Francisco, California 94111
415-362-6079
SACRAMENTO OFFICE
1601 Alhambra Blvd
Sacramento, California 95816
916-931-1965
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE
1 Sansome St. Suite 3500-11
San Francisco, California 94104
650-651-5006
MIAMI OFFICE
11900 Biscayne Blvd North
Miami, Florida 33154
EL PASO OFFICE
4600 Alabama St #C
El Paso, Texas 79930
(915) 201-3865