Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# 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.

CVSSA cabin safety stateroom security cabin security

## 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

1. Verify that every passenger cabin has a compliant peephole (metal frame, glass lens, external diameter no more than 25mm).
2. Verify the presence of the supplementary security latch on every cabin door, in addition to the main lock.
3. Verify the accessibility of cabins for passengers with disabilities per the applicable CVSSA requirements.
4. Keep CVSSA compliance documentation available for US Coast Guard verification before calls at US ports.
5. 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

The CVSSA was introduced in response to a series of assault and violence incidents on board cruise ships that had highlighted specific shortcomings in the physical security of passenger cabins; the very specific technical requirements (such as the exact peephole diameter) reflect the legislator's intention to leave companies as little interpretive discretion as possible.

## 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

The US Coast Guard verifies CVSSA compliance (including cabin security technical requirements) as a condition for operating to/from US ports; it is not typically a PSC check under the Paris/Tokyo MOU outside the US context.

## 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

## FAQ

What does the CVSSA require regarding the cabin peephole?
A metal frame with a glass lens no more than 25mm (1 inch) in external diameter, on every passenger cabin door.
Which ships does the CVSSA apply to?
Passenger ships that embark or disembark passengers at a United States port.
Who verifies CVSSA compliance of the cabins?
The US Coast Guard (USCG), as a condition for operating to/from US ports.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

## Related Topics

Persons with Reduced Mobility: Accessibility on Board Passenger Accounting: The Accuracy of the Roll-Call after Costa Concordia

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