In the wake of widespread allegations of sexual harassment in the maritime industry, with five Maersk crew having been suspended recently over a charge of rape, the International Transport Workers’ Federation has called for action from employers, employees and governments to ensure the safety and security of seafarers, including women seafarers.
The issue was brought into sharp focus following the recent publication by a female cadet of the horrific experiences of sexual assault she had endured on board a vessel while attending the US Merchant Marine Academy.
In her online post she revealed the full horror of the incident on board a Maersk Line vessel while she was serving her year at sea in 2019. Going public prompted an independent inquiry from A P Møller–Mærsk, and investigations by the Maritime Administration of the US Federal Department of Transportation.
“Sadly, this is not an isolated incident, but a reality for many seafarers, both male and female, regardless of flag or company, said ITF seafarers’ section women’s representative, Lena Dyring.
“We know that women's experiences in the shipping industry, ashore and at sea often do not match the best intentions laid out in policies - although many women seafarer trainees have great support during their education ashore, including as part of mentoring programmes.
“It is an all-too-common experience that too many women seafarers suffer from harassment and bullying. Too many encounter discrimination in the workplace, and in the worst cases, assault.”
Dyring said everyone in maritime had a responsibility to change the male-dominated culture and remove obstacles and barriers faced by women in the industry.
In 2020, women made up just 1.28% of the overall global seafaring workforce, and just 0.73% of officers. While the cruise and ferry sectors were the main employers of women seafarers, the pandemic has severely affected employment in the former, with many women seafarers who were working in cruise considering a return to sea via the cargo sector, where a female seafarer will typically be outnumbered 20:1 amongst an otherwise all-male crew.
