Four years ago, Merrian Carver was a 40-year-old single mom taking classes at Harvard College and enjoying life in Cambridge.

But the Simmons College grad mysteriously disappeared in 2004 while on a cruise to Alaska. Now, her family is using her tragic story to push a new federal law aimed at beefing up safety on the high seas.

“We’re pushing for independent security on those cruise ships and full, public disclosure of all crimes,” said Carver’s father, Ken, a Manhattan insurance executive. “We’re trying to bring some accountability to an industry that frankly has operated without any.”

Based on Carver’s disappearance and other high-profile cruise tragedies, U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) and other Washington lawmakers are filing a comprehensive plan today to crack down on cruise ship crime. In addition to improving safety and training, the bill would require cruise operators to carry rape kits and provide doctors for sex assault victims as well as report crimes committed in international waters to United States authorities. Currently, companies do not have to report crimes.

Carver, whose daughter has never been found, learned first-hand the difficulties of dealing with cruise crimes following his daughter’s disappearance. It took five weeks before she was officially reported missing to the FBI and he had to hire a private investigator and two law firms just to get basic information, he said. His frustration led him to join with three other families to form the International Cruise Victims support group, which now has hundreds of members in 16 countries.

“Twelve million Americans will board cruise ships this year and they should know that they are safe,” Kerry said.

###