Cabin Safety: Stateroom Security Requirements under the CVSSA
A peephole with an external diameter no greater than 25mm, metal-framed: a technical specification precise enough to seem excessive, until one remembers that the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act was born from assault incidents on board, not regulatory whim.
Operational Explanation
Distinct from cabin fire safety (already governed by SOLAS Chapter II-2), the US Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) imposes specific technical requirements on the physical security and privacy of passenger cabins (staterooms), for ships that embark or disembark passengers at a US port. Among the requirements: a compliant peephole on every cabin door, with a metal frame and a glass lens no more than 25mm (1 inch) in external diameter; a supplementary security latch in addition to the main lock; and improved access for persons with disabilities.
The CVSSA, in force since 2010, arose specifically from incidents of assault and violence on board cruise ships, and is verified by the US Coast Guard (USCG) as a condition for operating to/from US ports. The US Department of Transportation publishes quarterly reports on incidents reported by cruise companies under the CVSSA, still current in 2025.
Regulatory Reference
Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA), United States, in force since 2010: technical requirements for passenger cabins (peephole with metal frame and lens no more than 25mm in external diameter, supplementary security latch, improved access for persons with disabilities), verified by the US Coast Guard as a condition for operating to/from US ports. Applicable to ships that embark or disembark passengers at a US port.
Scope of Application
Passenger ships that embark or disembark passengers at a United States port, subject to the cabin security technical requirements set out by the CVSSA.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Verify that every passenger cabin has a compliant peephole (metal frame, glass lens, external diameter no more than 25mm).
- Verify the presence of the supplementary security latch on every cabin door, in addition to the main lock.
- Verify the accessibility of cabins for passengers with disabilities per the applicable CVSSA requirements.
- Keep CVSSA compliance documentation available for US Coast Guard verification before calls at US ports.
- Integrate maintenance of cabin security devices (peephole, latch) into the ship's routine maintenance programme.
Practical Example
Example: while fitting out a cruise ship intended to also operate from US ports, the shipyard installs a CVSSA-compliant peephole and a supplementary security latch on every cabin door, documenting compliance ahead of the USCG checks scheduled at the first US port call.
Real Cases
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| CVSSA cabin compliance checked only generically, without verifying the exact technical specifications (e.g. peephole diameter) | Technical non-compliance detectable in a targeted USCG inspection | Verify the exact technical specifications required by the CVSSA, not just the generic presence of the devices |
| Maintenance of cabin security devices (peephole, latch) not included in the routine maintenance programme | Damaged or non-functioning devices discovered only at the time of an inspection | Explicitly include these devices in the ship's planned maintenance programme |
PSC Observations
Operational Tips
- Do not just check that the peephole and latch are present: verify they meet the exact technical specifications required by the CVSSA.
- Integrate maintenance of these devices into the ship's routine maintenance programme, not a separate, occasional check.
- If the ship also operates non-US routes, still maintain CVSSA compliance if even a single US call is included in the itinerary.
Checklist
- Compliant peephole (metal frame, lens no more than 25mm) on every passenger cabin
- Supplementary security latch present on every cabin door
- Cabin accessibility for passengers with disabilities verified per the CVSSA
- CVSSA compliance documentation available for USCG verification
- Maintenance of cabin security devices included in the routine maintenance programme