Posted June 11, 2026
We recently came across an article posted on TheLawyerWorld.com website titled, How Jurisdiction Works in Cruise Ship Sexual Assault Cases.
In large part, its a well constructed article that provides valuable information for anyone who may have been sexually assaulted on a cruise vacation – whether by the crew or another passenger. Sexual assaults on cruise ships are a terrible crime. And sadly, they are greatly under-reported. And worse, greatly under-investigated.
The piece argues that jurisdiction is the central obstacle to justice in cruise ship sexual assault cases. Ship security personnel are employees of the cruise line, not law enforcement, so the real question is which authority — the FBI, Coast Guard, local police at the next port, or the ship’s flag state — actually takes charge. The answer turns on the victim’s and perpetrator’s citizenship, where the ship was sailing, and which country’s flag it flies.
On the data, the article cites 131 sexual assaults and rapes reported to the FBI in 2023 (up from 87 in 2022 and 101 in 2019), notes that experts believe the true figure is roughly triple that given chronic underreporting, and points to the Carnival Cruise Line as having an outsized share of reports.
It walks through the jurisdictional framework: the Coast Guard has primary authority within 12 nautical miles of U.S. shores; U.S. jurisdiction extends to 24 miles offshore; beyond that, the flag state (often Panama, the Bahamas, or Malta) technically governs but rarely prosecutes. The FBI can assert jurisdiction worldwide when an American is involved or the voyage touches a U.S. port, and when the operator is a U.S. company — though many cruise lines are structured as foreign corporations. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 (CVSSA) imposed mandatory FBI reporting, onboard forensic exam capability, and victim protections, but only for ships calling at U.S. ports, and the cruise lines themselves still handle initial reporting.
The bulk of the article details how these overlapping jurisdictions fail victims: prosecutions almost never happen, evidence is routinely lost or destroyed before federal investigators arrive, victims may remain aboard with their attacker until the next port, flag states decline to investigate, agencies pass responsibility among themselves, and language, cost, and differing legal definitions abroad obstruct cases.
It also alleges cruise lines exploit the confusion by forum-shopping and controlling the early narrative.
Have Questions About an Incident on a Cruise Ship? Contact Waks & Barnett, P.A.
The attorneys at Waks & Barnett, P.A. have been representing assaulted or injured cruise ship passengers for more than 35 years. Based in Miami, we handle maritime injury claims exclusively. We help you understand your rights and will assist you in filing a claim against the cruise line.
For more information from our attorneys, please call us today. There is no obligation with the call — and the call with our attorneys is free and confidential.
Call today at 1-305-271-8282.
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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique and should be evaluated by an experienced cruise ship accident or maritime injury attorney.