The US is leading industry-wide calls to make sexual assault, harassment and bullying prevention training mandatory for seafarers.
The training could even be expanded to include medical care for victims of sexual assault.
The proposals have been made as part of an ongoing review of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), which is now taking place at the International Maritime Organization.
It also comes amid increased public awareness of the problem after officer Hope Hicks published details of her rape on board a Maersk Line Ltd vessel under the pseudonym MidshipmanX.
Following the claims, the US Coast Guard pledged to do more to prevent sexual assault and bullying at sea.
In a recent submission to the IMO, the US said: “Recent events and news on sexual assaults in the maritime industry have highlighted the need for a concerted effort to prevent bullying and harassment, including sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH), and to reaffirm the need for a culture of personal safety and inclusion in the maritime industry.”
The IMO’s Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping is now prioritising the development of mandatory training provisions to address sexual assault and bullying.
The move has multinational support from a cross section of countries including the Bahamas, Dominica, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, South Africa and Kenya.
Main shipping associations such as the International Chamber of Shipping, International Transport Workers’ Federation, WISTA and InterManager are also backing the move.
Repeated assault
“Repeated issues of sexual assault and sexual harassment occur in the maritime sector, across all cultures, demographics, socioeconomic groups and ages, in the same way as they do in wider society,” a multinational submission to the IMO explained.
The US idea is to develop a new competence and knowledge, understanding and proficiency category under STCW.
This will include training for officers and seafarers in basic prevention, awareness, bystander intervention, reporting and response to bullying and harassment, including SASH.
The US also wants to see companies be required to develop policies and procedures on preventing, reporting and responding to bullying and harassment, including SASH.
The development of a company policy might be something, the US suggests, that is made mandatory through the International Safety Management Code as well as the STCW.
In addition, the US suggests the STCW should include training for seafarers to provide first aid and take charge of medical care on board ships for victims of SASH.
“A culture change cannot happen without full commitment from the company, starting with the highest level of company leadership through each member of its staff,” the US said in its submission.
