Norwegian Jewel. A crew member from the ship has been charged as part of the wider US investigation. Inset: US Customs and Border Protection officers aboard a cruise ship (file image, not Operation Tidal Wave). Photos: Rashpal Singh / Unsplash; US Customs and Border Protection.
US authorities say 87 cruise ship crew members have now been removed from vessels arriving in Boston as part of an ongoing operation targeting the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the latest figures for Operation Tidal Wave, a multi-agency enforcement initiative involving cruise ship crew members entering the United States.
The Boston operation has been running since mid-August, with the latest announced action involving six crew members from Norwegian Breakaway.
Importantly, removal from a ship or the United States does not necessarily mean a crew member has been criminally charged. Some cases have been dealt with under US immigration law, while separate criminal investigations and charges have also resulted from the operation.
US Customs and Border Protection officers aboard a cruise ship. This is a file image and was not taken during Operation Tidal Wave. Photo: US Customs and Border Protection.
Six Norwegian Breakaway crew members removed
According to CBP, officers encountered six Filipino crew members aboard Norwegian Breakaway when the ship arrived in Boston on 20 September.
The six underwent secondary interviews at Boston Logan International Airport.
CBP says all six admitted to previously possessing child sexual exploitation material or child sexual abuse material. Officers also searched crew living quarters and electronic devices.
All six were subsequently processed for removal from the United States under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Their removal brought the total number of cruise ship crew members removed from vessels in Boston under Operation Tidal Wave to 87.
Norwegian Jewel crew member separately charged
A separate case involving a Norwegian Jewel crew member has resulted in federal criminal charges.
Norwegian Jewel arrived at Boston's Flynn Cruiseport on 24 September, when 35-year-old Filipino crew member Bobby Prieto was selected for secondary screening by CBP.
According to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts, a preliminary examination of two mobile phones allegedly identified multiple files containing child sexual abuse material.
Prieto was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of transportation of child pornography.
The allegations against Prieto have not been proven in court and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Photo by What is Operation Tidal Wave?
Operation Tidal Wave is a joint US enforcement initiative targeting cruise ship crew members suspected of possessing, using, obtaining, producing or distributing child sexual abuse and exploitation material.
The operation isn't limited to Boston.
Earlier stages have taken place at other US cruise ports, including San Diego and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
In April, authorities identified 27 crew members during operations involving six ships in San Diego. Further enforcement in San Juan during June and July involved 14 crew members from three ships.
Operations moved to Boston in August, where CBP and Homeland Security Investigations initially reported enforcement action involving crew aboard Holland America's Volendam and Norwegian Breakaway.
The Boston operation has since expanded considerably, with CBP reporting 87 removals by late September.
Multiple cruise lines have been involved
Although the most recent cases have involved Norwegian Cruise Line ships, Operation Tidal Wave is not an investigation specifically targeting Norwegian.
Previous stages of the operation have involved crew members working aboard ships operated by several cruise lines.
The investigation targets individual crew members and suspected illegal material rather than a particular cruise company.
Norwegian Cruise Line has said it is cooperating with authorities in relation to the recent cases.
There have been no reported itinerary changes or significant disruptions to cruise passengers as a result of the operation.
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US Customs and Border Protection officers alongside a cruise ship. This is a file image and was not taken during Operation Tidal Wave. Photo: US Customs and Border Protection.
US authorities say the operation will continue
CBP has indicated that its enforcement work involving cruise ship crew will continue.
Acting Director of Field Operations Julio Caravia said the removal of the 87 crew members was intended to send a clear message that authorities would continue identifying people involved in child exploitation material.
The distinction between immigration action and criminal prosecution remains important as Operation Tidal Wave continues.
Being removed from a ship and the United States does not itself mean a person has been convicted of a criminal offence. Individual cases may involve immigration action, criminal charges or further investigation depending on the evidence authorities say they uncover.
Does this raise questions about child safety on cruise ships?
Operation Tidal Wave will understandably raise another question for parents: just how safe are children on a cruise ship?
It's important not to draw conclusions that aren't supported by the investigation. There is no suggestion in the information released by US authorities that children travelling as passengers were involved in these cases, or that the crew members identified through Operation Tidal Wave had inappropriate contact with children onboard.
But the scale of the operation may still be confronting for families.
Cruise ships can feel like relatively safe, contained environments. Depending on their age, children may attend kids clubs without their parents, walk around the ship with siblings or friends, or take part in organised activities supervised by crew members.
Cruise lines have child safeguarding policies, security systems and procedures governing youth activities. Crew members also undergo recruitment and screening processes, although the requirements and procedures vary between cruise lines and jurisdictions.
Operation Tidal Wave is a reminder that being on holiday doesn't remove the usual need for sensible precautions.
That doesn't mean parents need to keep their children beside them every minute of a cruise. But it's worth knowing the cruise line's policies, talking to children about what to do if somebody makes them uncomfortable, setting clear rules about where they can go without an adult, and making sure they know how to find you or another trusted adult if they need help.
For parents considering kids clubs in particular, it's reasonable to ask how children are supervised, who has access to youth areas and what procedures are followed when children arrive and leave.
None of that means cruise ships are inherently unsafe for children. But nor should the fact that you're on a cruise ship create a false sense that normal child-safety conversations can be left at home.
