The issue of sexual assault in the maritime industry came under the spotlight once again earlier this month when US transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, addressed the International Maritime Organization Assembly.
“We appreciate the work that the IMO has begun to improve the inclusion of women in the maritime industry. But we clearly have a very long way to go,” he said.
“For too long, sexual assault and sexual harassment in maritime shipping has been an open secret, affecting the industry around the world.”
He said statements and commitments of zero tolerance must be backed by concrete, deliberate action.
“My department is working with the US Coast Guard to make it easier for victims to come forward, to ensure that perpetrators can be held accountable – and, most importantly, to prevent assault and harassment from happening in the first place.”
The US would do its part to ensure that sexual assault and harassment found no safe harbour in the maritime industry, he added. “We look forward to working with the IMO, which we believe has a key role to play in addressing this crisis - just as this institution does on so many other of our shared challenges.”
The issue of sexual harassment came to the fore recently when a female member of the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) – who has come to be known as Midshipman X – came forward with her story.
She said she was one of 50 young women in her class at the USMMA where she is currently in her senior/1st Class year, who had a story to tell of sexual harassment, assault, or degradation at some point during the last three years at the academy or during sea year.
